Client server-based distributed architecture for concurrent design of DCS networks: a case study

Traditional network management tools (NMT) are centralised in nature, as a result of which they are not flexible enough when large control network (e.g. SCADA network) design is desired for. In this paper conventional NMTs have been segmented into components with unified and dedicated functions. Each component has been configured as a client with regard to a central database (i.e. server). The components co‐operate with other components. The work includes the design of flexible NMTs in terms of advanced software architecture for the management of control networks. Three software components (Installation, Configuration and Testing) based on CS architecture and object‐oriented philosophy have been developed. The components are realised with LON™ (Local Operating Network) platform; a proprietary fieldbus system from Echelon, Microsoft’s Visual Basic‐4 platform and Microsoft’s Windows98 operating system. LON Component Architecture Object Server (LCAOS) serves as the network kernel in this design. The configurable components can be used concurrently for the design of control networks.