Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/906742
done. In some cases, the expected service life of these assets can be as high as 40 years, so there is a desire to maximise their use. Reliable devices and sen- sors with serial connections will therefore remain in place and must be seamlessly inte- grated into the IP backbone. To achieve this, robust and secure legacy connectivity is required to preserve the value of invest- ments and enable smooth migration without disrupting a working system. The main issue when look- ing to migrate a serial system to an IP-based solution is how to interface between the two. The good news is that the vast majority of asynchronous serial protocols can be trans- ported over an IP network without the existing serial device being aware of any change in the interconnecting media. Devices that require a RS-232 or RS-485 serial port can be connected to the IP net- work through the latest indus- trial Ethernet switches which provide a device server solution. With remote access via an internet connection comes the need for cyber security to ensure that the network can- not be interfered with, either through error or maliciously. The latest networking tools enable secure remote connec- tions to the network edge, pro- viding individual secure net- works completely isolated from each other. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are in effect virtual leased lines running between two points on the WAN (the internet). Once a VPN link has been established, IP packets can pass from one node to DECEMBER 2017 WET NEWS 9 PROJECT SPECS • Ensure greater network reliability • Obtain access to equipment located remotely to help reduce time and costs TECHKNOW • IP-based networks enable inter-operability between devices • Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are in effect virtual leased lines running between two points on the internet THE VERDICT "The main issue when looking to migrate a serial system to an IP-based solution is how to interface between the two" Ray Lock, Westermo NEED TO KNOW 1 Networks using Ethernet as a backbone provide the necessary reliability and resilience 2 The cost of installing fibre optic cabling can far exceed the cost of the actual networking devices 3 The vast majority of asynchronous serial protocols can be transported over an IP network With remote access via an internet connection comes the need for cyber security to ensure that the network cannot be interfered with other nodes with a high degree of certainty that data is safe and cannot be intercepted and read or altered. By using net- working tools with strong encryption techniques, it can then be possible to remotely access any device on the net- work using a PC, smartphone or tablet. This allows the net- work to be managed from any- where in the world, resulting in significant time and cost savings. Once a move has been made towards an IP-based solution it is only a short step to being able to integrate any media that can support IP. It is entirely feasible to move to a hybrid solution using both wired and wireless broadband in the same system. The ability to integrate wired and wireless systems increases the flexibility of the new IP-based solution and allows sites that were previously une- conomic to reach to be accessed via wireless broadband. n Ray Lock is network technology director at Westermo. • 24/7 Emergency Breakdown | Flood Dewatering Planned Maintenance • Bespoke and tailored Rental Solutions • We offer ATEX submersible pumps • We hire only our own Flygt and Godwin pumps • Full range of pipework and accessories available PLUS telemetry and monitoring equipment • Free site survey and system design • Same day installation available* Xylem Rental at Birkenburn Reservoir, Scotland SUBMERSIBLE AND DIESEL PUMP HIRE 24/7 RAPID RESPONSE NATIONWIDE AVAILABILITY DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR ULTIMATE PEACE OF MIND *subject to availability 0845 707 8012 fgb.rental@xyleminc.com | www.xylem.com/uk flygt_godwin rental advert rev aug 2017_Layout 1 04/08/2017 15:16 Page 1