Mr. Gieseler, is the TSN Analyser the first diagnostic device on the market for TSN networks or TSN data traffic?

Christian Gieseler: There are other devices on the market, but they are not intended for use in industrial applications. These are often very expensive laboratory devices that do not remain permanently in the system in order to continuously monitor the operation of the network.

What are the unique selling points of the TSN analyzer on the market?

The TSN Analyzer provides an intuitive introduction to the diagnosis of TSN networks. It is versatile and can be used both for product development in the laboratory and for permanent operation in the production network. Thanks to its robust design, top-hat rail mounting and redundant power supply with a wide input voltage range, the device is designed for continuous operation in industrial environments with changing ambient temperatures.

Can the TSN analyzer also analyze OPC UA over TSN data traffic?

The TSN analyzer cannot evaluate encrypted OPC UA data traffic, which also applies to expensive laboratory devices. However, as with any other protocol that communicates via TSN, the TSN streams with OPC UA communication can be analyzed separately and their behaviour monitored.

Does the data traffic analysis take place in real time?

Data traffic can be analyzed in real time via a graphical user interface and command line interface or later using an external PC. During product development, we attached great importance to being able to create a diagnosis quickly. In more complex networks, however, a more detailed analysis is often necessary, which can then be carried out externally using other tools such as Wireshark.

How widespread is TSN data transmission in industry?

There are already the first installations in which TSN is being used. And we assume that more and more new chips and development boards with TSN functionality will soon mean that significantly more end devices will support TSN. This will allow more and more projects to be implemented in the future in which TSN is combined with OPC UA or a real-time Ethernet protocol such as Profinet.

What functions do the software protocol converters mentioned in the press release perform? For which protocols are they available?

Greenfield installations, i.e. pure TSN networks, will not be the rule in the short term. But in brownfield installations, there is a need to integrate data traffic from existing installations with different protocols into a TSN network. This is where optionally available add-ons come into play, which enable the integration of protocols from existing installation parts into the new TSN network segment. Of course, these protocols can easily be integrated into TSN networks as best-effort traffic. However, latency is then not guaranteed. The protocol converter, on the other hand, can be used to tunnel the respective protocol via TSN. Profinet and Modbus-TCP are our pilot protocols. However, thanks to the flexible structure of the software, we are able to quickly implement other protocols on request and thus provide customer-specific solutions.

How does the collaboration between EKS Engel and InnoRoute work? Who contributes which aspects?

We work together as partners and everyone contributes their expertise. InnoRoute has years of experience in TSN with its IP core hardened in testbeds from Labs Network Industrie 4.0 and the Industry IoT Consortium. And EKS Engel, with its expertise in hardware and software development for industrial Ethernet devices, is the perfect complement to develop a product that is functionally optimized for the target group and designed for long-term use in industry. We are also responsible for marketing, sales and support.

SPS 2022: Hall 9, Stand 401