Fieldbus Foundation releases Host Test Kit

FF has released its Host Test Kit with hardware and software for testing the functionality of a fieldbus host and its conformance with the Foundation Host profile specification

Thanks to the Host Test Kit DD Application Test Module, end users will benefit from significantly improved host-to-device integration.

Foundation fieldbus host suppliers will benefit from standardised test requirements and test cases for all hosts within a profile tested to the same requirements; standardised DD and CF files assuring hosts can parse files; and standardised test devices for all basic I/O function blocks and specialised test transducer blocks.

The Host Test Kit DD Application Test Module is designed to validate host applications implementing DD Services 4.2 or greater.

This includes DD Services 5.0 constructs such as charts, graphs, images and waveforms for visualisation; files for persistent storage of functional parameter data; and grids for vector data visualisation and manipulation.

The Host Test Kit, developed in co-operation with the Fieldbus Foundation EUAC and System Integration and Maintenance team, was driven by end users to bring about consistent interoperability between hosts and devices regardless of the host supplier.

Specifications now include profiles for functionally different hosts and the appropriate features that apply to each profile.

Under the new host registration programme, hosts successfully completing the test requirements will be authorised to bear the official Foundation fieldbus product registration symbol.

The Fieldbus Foundation will continue to offer the current host interoperability support test through the end of 2008.

At that time, the existing HIST test will be superseded by the new host registration programme.

To purchase a licensed copy of the Host Test Kit DD Application Test Module, please contact the Fieldbus Foundation.

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