Information Networks

Large systems use a two-level network architecture. Controllers are combined into groups (system modules), and each group has its own dedicated network. These lower-level networks are connected to the upper-level network through special gateways that isolate the information flows of different system modules from one another.

Redundant Ethernet network in Kvint-6

In small- and medium-scale systems, gateways are not required: all system elements—controllers and workstations—are connected to a single shared network.

All Kvint-6 networks, except field networks, use 100 Mbps Ethernet. When necessary, networks are duplicated; Kvint-6 redundancy tools provide self-diagnostics for each network path and automatically switch network traffic between them (see the figure on the right).

Standard Ethernet switches are used to connect multiple workstations and controllers, as well as to combine an enterprise’s separate automated process control systems into a common network.

Kvint-6 includes all OPC technology components. They allow other systems to:

• access Kvint-6 archived data;
• write information to the Kvint-6 archive;
• display their data at Kvint-6 operator stations;
• exchange information with Kvint-6 controllers.