Chapter 1
Introduction
1-2
ni.com
The NI-FBUS Communications manager software is used by the interface
boards to communicate over the bus. Additionally, it provides a high-level
API advanced users can use to interface with the National Instruments
Foundation Fieldbus communication stack and hardware.
Most users use the NI-FBUS Configurator. In addition to providing the
functionality of the NI-FBUS Communications Manager in a graphical
format, it includes additional functionality to allow you to configure
a Fieldbus network. It can automatically generate the schedule for the
network and configure field devices and hosts to transmit and receive
alarms and trends.
Choosing Configuration Software
Foundation Fieldbus links must be configured. Only with configuration
software can you do things like set device addresses, clear devices, and
download (necessary if you are setting up a system for the first time).
Your configuration software must match the interface card your computer
is using to connect to the bus. National Instruments offers the NI-FBUS
Configurator with a National Instruments Foundation Fieldbus interface
card to let you configure your Fieldbus links.
Interface cards and configuration software are sold separately because
multiple interface cards can reside in the same computer. The NI-FBUS
Configurator, by default, is licensed for use on one machine, with up to four
Fieldbus links (segments). If you have more than four links (ports on the
cards), you need to purchase a link upgrade for each link in excess of four.
To do so, download the order form from
ni.com/fieldbus
.
Note
The connection to one interface port on the interface card is viewed as one link
by the NI-FBUS Configurator, regardless of how many links might actually be joined
by repeaters. This is important for software licensing of the NI-FBUS Configurator.
If you only want to use the card to read and write values only (not
configure) and you are a programmer, you can make calls to the API in
the NI-FBUS Communications Manager and do not need the NI-FBUS
Configurator. This is possible only if you have already used third-party
hardware and configuration software to configure the link.
