Wenden, October 11, 2022 - At this year's SPS in Nuremberg (Hall 9, Booth 401), EKS Engel will present the “TSN Analyzer” (Time-Sensitive Networking), a new diagnostic device in a robust design that has been developed in particular for project planning as well as commissioning, maintenance and continuous monitoring of TSN networks. Thanks to InnoRoute's TSN technology, which has been tested in the LNI 4.0 and IIC testbeds, it provides a simple and cost-effective approach to the analysis of TSN data traffic, unlike expensive laboratory equipment. Management and diagnostic functions can be accessed either via web interface and a self-explanatory graphical user interface (GUI) or via Command Line Interface (CLI). Supported real-time standards include methods from the IEEE 802.1Q bridge and bridged network standards and the IEEE 802.1AS profile based on the IEEE 1588 time synchronization specification. The range of functions can be individually extended via optional software modules. These include TSN endpoint, traffic generator and various protocol converters, for example from TSN to Profinet or Modbus-TCP.
For access to the management and diagnostic functions, the TSN Analyzer has a WLAN interface with dual-band antenna in accordance with IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac, which can be used for secure communication via SSH (Secure Shell). Other interfaces include two RJ45 ports for analyzing TSN traffic, two SMA ports (clock-in/clock-out), and a six-pin terminal block for trigger signals (Trig IN/Trig OUT, PPS-IN/PPS-OUT, reference voltage). Network parameters that can be evaluated include data rate, latency and jitter of selected TSN flows.
The passively cooled TSN Analyzer is designed for a temperature range of -25°C to +65°C and meets IP20 requirements. The redundant power supply can optionally be provided via a power supply unit (12-36 VDC) or a USB-C port. The robust housing made of powder-coated stainless steel measures 145 x 70 x 130 mm (height x width x depth) and can be mounted in various positions on DIN rails, but can also be used as a desktop device. LEDs on the front panel signal various status messages such as operation as a PTP master/PTP slave or the readiness of the device for measurement.
EKS Engel offers intelligent network solutions that are used wherever maximum reliability is required, for example in factory and process automation, in transportation or in security technology and smart city applications. The product range includes fiber optic systems for fieldbuses and Ethernet switches as well as systems for the transmission of audio, video and telephone signals. The company also supports users with a wide range of services, from customer-specific hardware and software developments to the planning and implementation of customized infrastructures for data communication.
