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FEATURES Key features of the FBM233 are:  Redundant 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps Ethernet network transmission rate to/from field devices  Communicates with up to 64 field devices  I/O software driver is downloadable from a library of available protocols  Up to 2000 DCI block connections  Integrates field device data into a Foxboro Evo control database using Ethernet connectivity  Field mounted  Class G3 (harsh) environments. I/O DRIVERS This FBM is a generic Ethernet hardware module in which different software drivers can be loaded. These drivers configure the FBM to recognize a particular protocol used by the device. Several of these software drivers are a standard product offerings. Other custom drivers can be developed to meet specific needs. These drivers are dynamically downloaded to the FBM233 with software code specifically designed to interface with the third party device’s protocol. The configuration procedures and the software requirements for each driver are unique to the device(s) being integrated into the system. ETHERNET LINK SETUP Data communication between the FBM233 and field devices are through the RJ-45 connector located on the front of the FBM233 module. The RJ-45 connector of the FBM233 can be connected through hubs, or through Ethernet switches to the field devices (refer to “ETHERNET SWITCHES FOR USE WITH FBM233” on page 7). The FBM233 is connected to Ethernet switches or hubs in order to communicate with one external device or up to 64 external devices. CONFIGURATOR The FDSI configurator sets up the FBM233 port and XML based device configuration files. The port configurator allows for easy setup of the communication parameters for each port (such as, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), IP addresses). The device configurator is not needed for all devices, but when needed it configures device specific and point specific considerations (such as, scan rate, address of the data to be transferred, and the amount of data to be transferred in one transaction). OPERATIONS Each FBM233 pair can access up to 64 devices to read or write data. From the Foxboro Evo control station to which the FBM233 is connected (refer to Figure 1), up to 2000 Distributed Control Interface (DCI) data connections can be made to read or write data. Supported data types are determined by the particular driver loaded on the FBM233, which converts the data to the DCI data types listed below:  An analog input or output value (integer or IEEE single-precision floating point)  A single digital input or output value  Multiple (packed) digital input or output values (packed in groups of up to 32 digital points per connection). Thus a Foxboro Evo control station can access up to 2000 analog I/O values, or up to 64000 digital I/O values, or a combination of digital and analog values using the FBM233. The frequency of access to the FBM233 data by a control station can be as fast as 500 ms. The performance is dependant on each device type and the layout of data in the device.