Kazio Networks

ISA18, the Standard for Instrument Signals and Alarms has been around (but rather dormant) since the 2003. Saying that, the standard has experienced a revival this year… the ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009 standard was finally approved on June 12, 2009 (ISA board) and June 23, 2009 (ANSI) respectively.

What is ISA18?

ISA18 is the standard and guideline for alarm systems including annunciators, process automation systems, and the general development, design, installation, and management of alarm systems in the process industries. It’s main purpose is to establish terminology and practices for alarm systems, including the definition, design, installation, operation, maintenance and modification and work processes recommended to effectively maintain an alarm system over time.

ANSI/ISA-18.1-1979(R2004), Annunciator Sequences and Specifications. This standard is primarily for use with electrical annunciators that call attention to abnormal process conditions by the use of individual illuminated visual displays and audible devices. Annunciators can range from a single annunciator cabinet, to complex annunciator systems with many lamp cabinets and remote logic cabinets. The sequence designations provided can be used to describe basic annunciator sequences and also many sequence variations.

ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009, Management of Alarm Systems in the Process Industries. This standard provides requirements and recomendations for the activities of the alarm management lifecyle. Lifecycle stages include philosophy, identification, rationalization, detail design, implementation, operation, maintenance, monitoring & assessment, management of change, and audit.

Update: For those of you who are within the Berks County and Lehigh Valley, PA area, the ISA Lehigh Valley Section is holding a free presentation of ISA18 (by Todd Stauffer, exida) on September 10th. More details on the event here. Registration is necessary; Members/ Non-members are welcome.

Do you use a network tap or SPAN (Switched Port Analyzer)/ RSPAN (Remote Switched Port Analyzer) when doing network troubleshooting?

This discussion has come up quite often in the field. Here are my thoughts …
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The latest firmware for the UDS1100, version 6.6.0.1, is now available for download. Firmware v6.6.0.1 has several new features including:

• DNS lookup in Connect Mode – Allows the name of a remote machine to be resolved automatically

• Expanded Monitor Mode commands ‘NC’ and ‘co’ to include name server IP address – Shows the unit’s current IP address, gateway, subnet mask, and DNS server

About the UDS1100

The Lantronix UDS1100 networks any RS232, RS422 and RS485 equipment to Ethernet, allowing quick remote access, management, monitoring and control capability. Configuration can be done via HTTP, DHCP, Telnet, serial or the Lantronix DeviceInstaller utility.

Other features:

• Transparent network device enabler that uses serial tunneling
• Web page management capability that can be customized to your applications
• On-board flash memory for future system software upgrades and non-volatile web page storage
• Onboard modem emulation mode that replaces the need for dial up modems; accepting standard modem AT commands on the serial port — thus eliminating dedicated modem and phone lines while leveraging the bandwidth of Ethernet
• Total Com Port Control with TruPort Technology enabling Windows-based applications to access and control serial ports on the UDS1100 as if they were actually local PC serial ports. This allows “existing applications to seamlessly transition from controlling local devices to true remote monitoring and control of devices around the world”.

UDS1100 version 6.6.0.1 download and release notes

UDS1100 product store link