Device Level and Communications Path Based Redundancy

KEPServerEX's Media Level Redundancy establishes a reliable and uninterruptable network for monitoring and controlling your automation processes. Media Level Redundancy is a standard feature within KEPServerEX, and is used to establish a redundant connection of a single device or a pairing of two devices. Both redundant methodologies can be used together to eliminate a single of point of failure within a system.

Communications Path Redundancy is the ability to communicate with the same device over multiple communications paths.

Examples:

1. A device supporting communications via TCP as well as RS-485/RS-232 serial ports. The device could be to set up with a primary communications path via TCP but then fall back to RS-485 if there are issues with the Ethernet network.
2. A PC/Machine with multiple Ethernet cards communicating with a single device can establish primary communications through a primary Ethernet card and fall back to the secondary Ethernet card.
3. A PC/Machine supporting multiple RS-485/RS-232 serial ports and a Device with multiple RS-485/RS-232 serial ports. The RS-485/RS-232 Port 1 of PC and Device could be set up as the primary and fall back to Port 2 of PC and Device.

Device Pair Redundancy is the ability to communicate with two identical devices that are configured as a redundant unit, each running the same logic, and on the same network. Client monitoring software needs to be able to receive information from at least one of these devices in order to maintain the integrity of information.

Example:

Device Pair Redundancy configuration always begins with identification of the primary device and proceeds by choosing a different, yet compatible device to use as the secondary.