If you manage or operate an industrial automation network, then network management is something that you are already doing. All of the activities that are involved in configuring, maintaining, monitoring, and troubleshooting your network are network management. For example, it is important to know which parts of your network are dependent on each other, how heavily each section of the network is being used, whether some devices are more prone to failure than others, and when devices should be replaced to prevent failure while in use. In industrial networks, chances are that most of these complicated tasks are done manually. Would it be not ideal to automate these management tasks with software in order to improve the efficiency of the process? That is exactly what network management software (NMS) does.
What is network management software (NMS)?
With network management software, it is possible to quickly to assess the health of your most valuable asset: the network. Many networks today are so complex that if something goes wrong it takes a long time to locate the problem. In this kind of situation, attempting to fix the problem without an accurate picture of what is wrong amounts to trouble-shooting in the dark. With proactive network monitoring, it is possible to locate problems before they become emergencies, and locate emergencies before they become catastrophes.
Enterprise-based information technology administrators have long enjoyed the benefits of NMS on enterprise networks. With NMS, IT administrators can identify which services are most heavily used and when or where to add more resources that maximise uptime. Industrial automation (IA) engineers, envying the efficiency and reliability that NMS provides to IT networks, have long wished that a similar solution existed for their own networks. Some have even gone so far as to attempt to use existing enterprise NMS (eNMS) software for their industrial networks. Unfortunately, the results have been less than ideal.
Shortcomings of eNMS in industrial networks
The problem is that most NMS software packages available today are not actually network management software in the broad sense of the term: they are actually enterprise network management software (eNMS). eNMS is an excellent solution when used in the scenarios for which it is designed: IP-based office networks, commonly arranged in a dual tree or star topology. But when eNMS attempts to manage industrial networks, it is like asking a F1 race car to run an off-road rally course: eNMS simply is not designed for the rigors of this kind of challenge. A number of key obstacles prevent eNMS software from truly fulfilling the dreams of IA engineers.
Readers wanting to read the full white paper and find out more about Moxa’s new industrial iNMS solution can visit: http://instrumentation.co.za/+C13995
Five data centre trends to watch in 2025
IT in Manufacturing
Any innovation that comes out in 2025 – whether it’s flying cars, highly advanced AI or a breakthrough medical treatment – will be built on the back of an equally innovative IT foundation driven by data. Data that needs to be stored, managed and made accessible in the data centre, in the cloud or at the edge. Is it too much of a stretch to say the future of humankind is dependent on data storage? We don’t think so.
Read more...Recovering from a cyberattack
IT in Manufacturing
While many organisations have invested heavily in frontline defence tools to try to keep out bad actors, they have spent far less time and money preparing for what happens when the criminals eventually get in. And they will get in.
Read more...The value of proactive maintenance management Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Maintenance has come a long way from the days when we waited for things to break, and thanks to the ever-increasing capabilities of technology, predictive maintenance has become a viable solution for keeping equipment running smoothly and efficiently around the world.
Read more...Pinpointing pipeline occurrences in seconds, not hours Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
At any given moment, thousands of kilometres of critical assets flow through pipelines that cross veld, mountainous areas, dense forests, and even busy streets. Surprisingly, many of these pipelines operate either unmonitored or with scant oversight, leading to missed opportunities for operational continuity and efficiency.
Read more...Next-generation AI-enhanced electronic systems design software Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software has launched the latest advancement in its electronic systems design portfolio. The next-generation release takes an integrated and multidisciplinary approach, bringing a unified user experience that delivers cloud connectivity and AI capabilities to push the boundaries of innovation in electronic systems design.
Read more...Spatial computing and AI – where no man has sustainably gone before Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Some will argue that we now live in a sci-fi world where we dream of electric sheep, and today’s technology – unlike HAL – can provide us with the answers we seek. To the realist it might seem a bit implausible, but when you start using terms like ‘spatial computing realises sustainable AI’ it doesn’t seem that far-fetched.
Read more...Safeguarding DCS today and tomorrow Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Today’s distributed control systems (DCS) are highly intelligent, converging OT and IT in a centralised manner that allows for simplified management and coordination of operations. It is technology evolution at its finest, but with a caveat, cybersecurity challenges.
Read more...Quantum computing is not as futuristic as it sounds
IT in Manufacturing
The first quantum computer was created almost three decades ago. While its applications are still unknown to many, this advanced field combines computer science, physics and mathematics to deliver solutions the world has been trying to find for aeons – and those it doesn’t yet know it needs.
Read more...Transform field data into actionable business data
IT in Manufacturing
As part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing industry connectivity, Teledyne Gas & Flame Detection is making its new and proprietary Teledyne GDCloud available with the company´s GS700, GS500 and Shipsurveyor portable gas leak detectors, and also its PS200 portable four-gas monitor for personal safety and confined-space applications.
printer friendly version