| Q |
What products and serviecs does
DEDICATEDengines offer? |
| A |
DEDICATEDengines provides all of the hardware,
software and services to connect your plant and equipment to the www Internet.
Our Vi VIRTUAL instruments products connect to items of plant to feed Web pages
which show the current status of the plant. The DEDICATEDengines internet based
enterprise Management Information System provides complete web sites for use on
the Internet to be viewed by PC, Laptop or mobile phone. DEDICATEDengines can
provide everything to show the status of plant and assets anywhere in the
world, live on the Internet. |
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 top |
| Q |
What is a "Browser"? |
| A |
A browser is an application program that
provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the World
Wide Web. The most common browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape
Navigator. |
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| Q |
What is the difference between
Intranet and Internet? |
| A |
Intranets are networks within an organisation,
usually using Internet protocols. They are not accessable from outside the
organisation which makes sharing data difficult. The Internet was originally
designed to allow computing systems from different organisations to safely
communicate with each other, which is why it used today for inter-company
collaborative networks, like supply chains, or plant asset maintenance service
networks. |
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| Q |
What is Industrial
Ethernet? |
| A |
Ethernet is a LAN (local area network)
protocol originally intended for computers to talk to peripheral devices.
Because of its widespread usage with PCs it has become very low cost. Ethernet
is increasingly used in Industrial situations, where it can provide an
extension of office systems to the shop floor. |
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| Q |
Why are TCP/IP protocols
used? |
| A |
Physical networks (such as Ethernet) can carry
data in a variety of formats. Once such format is TCP/IP which was originally
developed for the Internet network. |
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| Q |
If I have Ethernet and TCP/IP
am I Internet enabled? |
| A |
No. Equipment which has TCP/IP functionality
means that it will connect to an Internet type network. But this does not mean
that you will be able to view anything. Unless the equipment has a server you
will not be able to see anything with a standard PC browser. It will be
possible to communicate with the equipment but only at a low level where
protocols and formats are not standardised (special software may be required
for your PC). |
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| Q |
Why can't I connect any TCP/IP
equipment to the Internet? |
| A |
Connecting to the Internet network will
normally require a physical connection to the World Wide Web. When you use a PC
to "surf the net" you are actually making a temporary connection, usually via a
phone line. To connect your equipment with built in Web Pages would require a
permanent connection to the Internet, so that the pages are available at any
time to be browsed by any user. this can be very expensive and requires more
equipment than just an "Ethernet" or "TCP/IP" connection. DEDICATEDengines
products allow you to browse Web pages on your plant and equipment without a
permanent www connection. |
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| Q |
How is plant data displayed on
the DEDICATEDengines internet based enterprise Management Information System
open platform and on products such as Vi VIRTUAL instruments ? |
| A |
Data is displayed in standard graphical
formats, or in the form of standard SCADA graphics. Custom formats and
presentations can also be generated. |
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| Q |
What are active web
pages? |
| A |
These are Web pages which can be viewed using
any standard Web Browser with live data embedded in them. This live data
changes as the measurement changes. |
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| Q |
How do you display plant data
using a PC browser? |
| A |
Using Active Web Pages. |
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| Q |
What is SCADA? |
| A |
SCADA stands for Supervisory, Control and Data
Aquisition. |
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| Q |
What types of Browser can be
used? |
| A |
All browsers should follow a standard data
format for display. All DEDICATEDengines web pages are designed to work on all
modern browsers, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
Particular information can also be viewed on internet enabled WAP phones. |
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| Q |
What about Mobile use and WAP
phones? |
| A |
Data from an Active Web Page can be duplicated
as a Wap standard page which can be accessed and viewed directly on a WAP
phone. |
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| Q |
What is Java and why is it
useful for industrial applications? |
| A |
JAVA is a programming language which is very
useful for the Internet. It has built in security and allows complex activities
to take place on the browser, giving a fast and responsive web page. Ideal for
data analysis. |
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| Q |
Do I need Microsoft
Windows? |
| A |
All modern browsers are designed for Windows
to make use of the graphics capability. Other display devaices, such as PDAs or
WAP phones do not need windows. |
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| Q |
Where are the Web pages
produced? |
| A |
On the Server, itself on the Internet. |
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| Q |
Can I write my own Web
pages? |
| A |
You can write your own Web pages for use
within your own company and private Web sites and domains, but the
DEDICATEDengines internet based enterprise Management Information System open
platform does not support user-written Web pages. DEDICATEDengines does,
however provide a comprehensive range of standard Web pages and provides a
customisation service. |
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| Q |
Is the data displayed in Real
Time? |
| A |
By using innovative (patent applied for)
techniques the information presented on the screen is an up to date live
representation of what is going on on the plant. The DEDICATED DATAengines on
the plant continually acquire readings from the plant sensors and
instumentation to which they are connected and automatically update the Web
page server, according to pre-defined schedules. Also exceptional changes or
excursions are reported immediately, where they exceed pre-defined boundaries,
thus providing an up to date live representation of what is going on on the
plant. |
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| Q |
What environmental testing/CE
rating/electrical environment checks have been done? |
| A |
The DEDICATEDengines units are CE marked to
the same standard as office "data" computers. They use external power supplies
which are fully rates for CE and LVD. All DEDICATEDengines products are in
metal enclosures for rugged long term use, and do not have any fans or
ventilation holes. The MIMIC DATAengines do not have any moving parts. They are
designed for continuous 365 day operation. Special version are available with
enclosures to IP65 and special EMC testing can be arranged for specific system
configurations. |
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| Q |
What turnkey facilities do you
offer, i.e. do your build cubicles/panels for multiple module set ups? |
| A |
DEDICATEDengines has been designing and
building turnkey sysems for the last 9 years. The company is ISO9001 registered
and has Home Office design approval. We are also able to design special
functions and interfaces in small quantities. |
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| Q |
What is the expected life of
the product or the expected support duration? |
| A |
Although DEDICATEDengines products are
basically computers, we do not rely on the ever shifting PC market for
components and systems. The parts we use are all designed for the industrial
market and have long term supply expectation. Specific long term support can be
agreed for specific projects. In the past, we have supplied Military and home
Office systems which require 10 year support. We are currently still supporting
industrial systems based on the BBC micro which are well over 15 years old!
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| Q |
What about legacy plant with a
large number of both analog and digital signals? |
| A |
DEDICATED DATAengines can connect to a wide
range of analog and digital signals and has the capacity to cope with a large
number of signals. |
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| Q |
Can OEMs modify the operation
of DEDICATEDengines products for special applications? |
| A |
DEDICATEDengines provides customisation
services for OEMs. |
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| Q |
What is the difference between
Vi VIRTUAL instruments and eMIS? |
| A |
DEDICATEDengines Vi VIRTUAL instruments is a
product offering based on the eMIS internet based enterprise Management
Information System open platform. |
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| Q |
How does DEDICATEDengines
connect plant to the Internet? |
| A |
DEDICATED DATAengines on the plant connect to
the Internet via a pre-defined local ISP (Internet Service Provider) over a
telephone line (PSTN or wireless). |
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