July 6, 2009 -- The Fieldbus Foundation recently announced the release of its updated Foundation fieldbus Host Test Kit (HTK) DD Application Module (Version 1.1.0). The test kit, driven by the foundation's End User Advisory Council (EUAC), includes hardware and software for testing the functionality of a fieldbus host and its conformance with the Foundation host profile specifications.
The Foundation fieldbus Host Test Kit is designed to validate host applications implementing DD Services, files for persistent storage of functional parameter data, and grids for vector data visualization and manipulation.
Under the new host registration program, hosts successfully completing the test requirements will be authorized to bear the official Foundation fieldbus product registration symbol.
According to the Fieldbus Foundation's manager, fieldbus products, Stephen Mitschke, the updated HTK will streamline the process for automation suppliers to test and validate their fieldbus hosts prior to formal registration. For end users, the enhanced testing capabilities will provide greater assurance of seamless integration and interoperability within a Foundation fieldbus system. "The Host Test Kit DD Application Module Version 1.1.0 is yet another solution offered by the Fieldbus Foundation to support the needs of automation equipment stakeholders around the world," said Mitschke. "This versatile tool will bring added value to our overall product registration program."
The Host Test Kit DD Application Module Version 1.1.0 has been updated with enhanced performance features. The most significant additions include support for device-level menus, enabling visualization of multiple blocks and significantly improving the device integration experience; and support for Unicode, providing device and system suppliers with an expanded ability to write and visualize DDs using local languages (including Asian languages). The updated test kit also includes cross-block built-ins and references, as well as testing for enhanced DD support.
Thanks to the Host Test Kit DD Application Test Module, end users benefit from significantly improved host-to-device integration. Foundation fieldbus host suppliers benefit from standardized test requirements and test cases for all hosts within a profile tested to the same requirements; standardized DD and CF files assuring hosts can parse files; and standardized test devices for all basic I/O function blocks and specialized test transducer blocks.
The Host Test Kit DD Application Test Module is designed to validate host applications implementing DD Services 4.2 or greater. This includes DD Services 5.0 constructs such as charts, graphs, images and waveforms for visualization; files for persistent storage of functional parameter data; and grids for vector data visualization and manipulation.
The Host Test Kit, developed in cooperation with the Fieldbus Foundation's EUAC and System Integration and Maintenance team, was driven by end users to bring about consistent interoperability between hosts and devices regardless of the host supplier. Specifications now include profiles for functionally different hosts and the appropriate features that apply to each profile.
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