© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Jim Ralston – Director of Sales
Softing Industrial AutomationData Exchange & Network Diagnostic Solutions
Ethernet Cable Testing, Certifying & Diagnostics
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Topics
• Softing Introduction • Industrial Network Trends• Risks to Production – Poor/Degrading Network Infrastructure• Best Practices for Ethernet Cabling
– What is Certification?– What is Qualification?
• Advanced Network Monitoring Tools– Preventive maintenance
• Questions
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Softing in North America
• Softing (German publicly traded company)– 30 years industrial networking technology leader (Automation & Automotive)– Acquired OLDI in May 2014 – Original Developer/Manufacture Rockwell Partner
• Expertise– Embedded Fieldbus protocol stacks– Automotive diagnostic systems– OPC & OPC-UA (development tools & servers)– Advanced networks testing & monitoring
• Products:– Data Exchange Solutions– Network Diagnostic Tools
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Softing Worldwide
Softing Inc.Softing Inc.
SalesProduct Marketing
DevelopmentTraining
Boston, MASales/Service
Softing AGMunich, Germany
Softing AGMunich, Germany
Knoxville, TNHeadquarters
US Headquarters in Knoxville, TN
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Products sold through the Rockwell Automation Channel
eATM…Enterprise ApplianceTransaction Modules
cATM…Controller ApplianceTransaction Modules
SAM…Special
ApplicationModules
WireXpertAdvanced Cable
CertifierNetXpert
1G Qualifier &Troubleshooter
Move Data
Run Custom Code
Certify/QualifyCable
ControlLogix®ControlLogix®
TH Scope; TH LinkMonitor; Diagnose EtherNet/IP and other networks
MonitorNetworks
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Industrial Automation Hot Trends
• “Big Data”– Need for more reliable data collection/storage
• OPC-UA – data security & standardization
• Industrial Ethernet – growth continues– OT/IT convergence– Need for diagnostic monitoring & quick repairs– Following industry standards (TIA 568)
• IT/Data Center Faster Standards– CAT 6, CAT 6A– CAT 8 – soon….
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yesterday Today Emerging Tomorrow
Network DH485 DH+ DH-RIO DeviceNet
ControlNet
EtherNet/IP(10/100)
Ethernet/IP(1000)
EtherNet/IP(10G)
Data Rate(mbit)
.0192 .0576 .23 .5 5 10 or 100 1,000 10,000
0.0192 0.0576 0.23 0.5 5 551000
10,000
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
DH485 DH+ DH-RIO DeviceNet Control EtherNet/IP Ethernet/IP EtherNet/IP(10G) ?
Data Rate (mbps)
Industrial Ethernet – Why is Cable Certification Important?
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Why is Complete Cable Testing Important?……..
• As network bandwidth (data rate) increases…..− Carrier frequency increases
− Impedance (attenuation) increases
− Signal/noise ratios tighten
− Crosstalk between pairs increase
• High frequency signals traveling over copper− Poor wiring = poor network performance (DOWN TIME)
− DC Continuity (zero baud) is not a complete test!
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Proper Cabling Practices Reduce Risk
• According to an ISA.org online article, Physical Layer
(structured cabling) failures accounted for 35% of total failures
in plant automation.
• Physical deterioration, electrical failure, or poor installation and
maintenance practices can all lead to unreliable network
performance.− loss of critical data− system downtime− even catastrophic failure
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Best Practices for Ethernet Testing
• When installing cabling for industrial
Ethernet applications, don’t just
assume it is going to work.
• Proper installation, configuration,
testing and certification will greatly
reduce any start up problems and
minimize future downtime.
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What are the cable “Gotcha’s”• It is easier to terminate an Ethernet outlet than plug
− RJ45 outlets are used in patch panels & wall outlets
− Jack to jack wiring = permanent link
− Patch cords (with RJ45 plugs) connect equipment to outlet
• If plugs wear out, replace the cable!
• If the patch cable is LONG (e.g. run through conduit), repair time is LONGER
Best Practices for Ethernet Testing
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What are the cable “Gotcha’s”• Connector termination issues
− Obvious – miswiring/shorts/opens
− Shield not connected
− Precision terminations to limit de-pairing
• Cross talk/noise too high
Best Practices for Ethernet Testing
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What are the cable “Gotcha’s”
• Cable installation issues
• Too close to other cables or electrical equipment (noise)
• Cable (pairing) damaged
• Bend radius exceeded
• Cable crush/kinked
• Tie wraps used!!!!
• Cable is too long
• Cable is defective (counterfeit?)
Best Practices for Ethernet Testing
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What Certification is All About
• Ensuring that the cable infrastructure MEETS the standards
• The network DEPENDS on Layer One!
• Reducing start-up time
• Reducing “finger pointing” when network problems arise
• 80+% of industrial network problems are cabling oriented!
• A REQUIREMENT for the manufacturers warranty (Belden, etc)
• Certification is PART of the TIA 568 standard!
• Certification is the NORM for commercial installations – why not industrial?
• Certifiers also make excellent troubleshooting tools – reduce downtime
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What is required to Certify a cable?
Measurement DescriptionDynamic Wiremap Accurately detects Open/Short and “Distance to Fault” from both ends of the cable
Loop Resistance The resistance between the two conductors of a twisted pair which is looped back at the far end
Cable Length The length of the cable under test
Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) The interference at the near end of a pair caused by signal on another pair
PowerSum NEXT The sum of the individual NEXT effects on each pair by the other three pairs
Insertion Loss (Attenuation) The decrease in signal strength from one end of the cable to the other
ACR-N The difference between insertion loss and near-end crosstalk (NEXT)
PowerSum ACR-N The sum of the individual ACR-N effects on each pair by the other three pairs
Return Loss (RL) Signal loss caused by structural imperfections in the cable
ACR-F (ELFEXT) The interference at the far end of a pair caused by signal on another pair, with the insertionloss subtracted
PowerSum ACR-F The sum of the individual ACR-F effects on each pair by the other three pairs
Propagation Delay Time it takes for a signal to travel from one end of a cable to the other
Delay Skew The difference in time between the fastest and slowest pairs within a cable
Each cable test collects 190,000 data measurements!!!!
190,000 different measurements needed to Certify!
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What is required to Certify a cable?
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fastest, Most Accurate, User Friendly and Future Proof Cable Certifier on market!
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
WireXpert
Advanced Cable Certifier► Certifies and tests:
► CAT 5e, 6 and 6A (CAT 8) Copper Standards
► Multi-mode and Single Mode Fiber
► RJ45 & M12 connectors
► Documents and reports cable/connector manufacture models
► Produces Certification Reports
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What Does Certification Measure?
► What tests are performed?► 9 seconds Autotest
► Pass or Fail on display
► Wiremap & crosstalk data on display
► Location to fault
► Data downloadable to PC– Formal reports
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
eXport - Professional cable test management software
• Quickly organize, edit, view, print, save, or archive test results by jobsite, customer, campus building, and more
• Deliver professional, customized (your company’s logo), graphical test results
• Export in summary or graphical layout, all or any number of tests, to either .csv or .pdf format
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Example Cable Certification Report
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Ethernet Cable Qualification
Qualification is NOT Certification, but Cable Qualifiers:
• Use many of the same measurement methods as certifiers
• Identify cable issues and location of faults
• May perform additional online tests
• DO NOT produce certification reports
• But may offer other useful reports
Qualifiers cost less than Certifiers – may fit the budget!
PROFIBUS Diagnostics
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Cable Testing, Speed Testing, Network Testing
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Gigabit Cable Qualifier and Network Diagnostic Tool
• Qualifies data cabling for IEEE 802.3 compliance at transmission rates of up to 1Gbit/s (BERT)
• Determines signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
• Measures delay skew
• Performs full TDR for pair length and distance to fault measurements
• Full-color wire map shows opens, shorts, mis-wires, and split pairs
• Results can be saved in the unit and standards-based reports generated
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Network Testing and Diagnosis
• Link test up to 1 Gbit/s to identify link capability and link status
• Ping to a single or lists of IPv4 and IPv6 as well as any URL on the internet
• CDP/LLDP/NDP and VLAN discovery
• PoE / PoE+ detection and load test for voltage drop
• DHCP test
• Traceroute
• Switch Port identification by blinking the port LED
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
NetXpert Products
Product Description
NetXpert 1400 NetXpert 1400 network/cabling qualifier; IEEE 802.4 testing up to 1Gbit/s; Tests ethernet, coax, audio; security cables; w report sw
NetXpert RJ45 to M12 cable 1 meter, RJ45 to M12 D-Code
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Advanced Network Monitoring
Online Diagnostic Benefits
• Early detection of problems
• Preventing production downtime
• Simple error detection and correction
• Also usable by non-experts (maintenance)
PROFIBUS Diagnostics
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TH Scope and TH Link Monitoring Solution
• TH Scope with TH Link(s) are intended to inform users of network health in an easy-to-understand manner• TH Link modules connect directly to networks and their built in webservers provide basic network info• TH Scope is a software package that enables additional monitoring beyond the built-in webservers
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TH Link Connection Options
Separate subnet with no “routing/switching” between Ports
Industrial Ethernet model also supports Modbus TCP & PROFINET devices
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TH Link Network Monitoring
Basic Monitoring with TH LINK
• Early error detection and correction• Email alarm in case of problem or fault• Access through web browser
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TH Link Network Monitoring
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TH Scope Network Monitoring
Advanced Diagnostics with TH SCOPE PC-Software for monitoring and maintaining industrial networks
• Supports maintenance work processes (trend view, reference comparison, data export, printing)
• Integrates existing applications (OPC Server, SNMP Agent, web link)
• Cross-protocol information analysis, PROFINET, standard Ethernet TCP/IP, Modbus TCP, Ethernet/IP
Visualizes collected data from multiple TH LINK gateways
Inventory
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TH Scope Network Monitoring
Advanced Diagnostics with TH SCOPE (optional)Additional Features
• The trend feature provides a summary of the network quality over a time period of up-to one month
• The topology features provides a clear and accurate overview of the network infrastructure
Topology ‐ PROFINET
Trend
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TH Scope Error Statistics
© 2016 Softing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Thank You!Questions
See us at Booth 222 for a demo!
www.softing.us/ra