e-Report

April 2008

Achieving the Always-Available Network: Ensuring Constant Network Availability and Control Through Secure Remote Management
Barry Cox, CTO, Uplogix
Like many industries, the oil and gas industry has long been faced with the challenge of how to securely manage its distributed network infrastructure and remote locations. Maintaining availability of communications equipment and network infrastructure on offshore oil rigs is essential in order for companies in this industry to thrive. In many cases, these offshore oil rigs are outfitted with elaborate network infrastructures and computing systems that enable operators to do everything from maintain the rig’s position to transmit production data in real time to company management, geophysicists, sales associates and engineers.

Link: http://www.remotemagazine.com/images/uplogix.pdf

New Branch Office Remote Site Manager from WTI

Western Telematic, Inc. has released its new RSM-8R4, which provides in-band/out-of-band console access, temperature monitoring, power load shedding, remote power reboot, SSHv2 encryption and reverse telnet to the remote branch office.

The RSM-8R4 Remote Site Manager allows administrators to securely access remote servers, routers, firewalls, DSLAMs, telco craft ports and other network equipment in order to change configuration parameters, connect users to restricted ports, collect buffered data, perform remote power reboot on/off control and a variety of other related functions.  The unit provides secure in-band and out-of-band access to eight RS232 console and maintenance ports along with the control of four power outlets. 

An onboard temperature sensor allows for alarm notification and or power on/off switching (load shedding) of individual or grouped outlets if user-defined temperature thresholds are breached.  If devices at a remote site are hung or frozen, the RSM-8R4 monitors the network status and sends alarms to system administrators or automatically restarts the device by performing a power reboot. 

The RSM-8R4 is accessible via TCP/IP, using SSHv2 or Telnet, or out-of-band via internal modem or local terminal.  Well suited for remote locations where rack space is limited and security is a must, this 1U device has a built-in SSL Web browser, address-specific IP security masks, SSHv2 encryption, four levels of user control and is supported by any MIB based SNMP enterprise management software.

"Most systems are developed for large-scale commercial customers. Several years ago, we saw distinct voids in the solar products and services market for the under 100 kw system size,” said Ezra Green, chairman and CEO of Clear Skies Solar. “X-Trax fills the production monitoring void as it can track solar electrical production for customers in both the residential and commercial sectors while preparing and distributing the data to the appropriate end user such as SREC aggregators."

X-Trax was designed to maximize data management efficiency by removing all the unnecessary fields and concentrating on hard-core production values. Because X-Trax transmits on a cellular frequency, there is an added level of reliability at a low price point. Additionally, the X-Trax program will be the first of its kind in the US that will fully support the energy production industry.

"The technology of X-Trax will monitor solar electrical production and ensure that customers' systems are performing at optimal levels," said Green. "With firmware development, software development and sophisticated programming all completed in-house, X-Trax will lead the way to a new era of energy production tracking and ensuring solar systems are working at optimal levels at all times."

Clear Skies Group is one of the only solar energy integrators in the US to house its own research and development department, through which it designs, develops and implements solutions for Solar PV systems. The X-Trax monitor is the result of several years of extensive research, development and testing, and Clear Skies Group now has several systems operating in the US.

Ethernet Switches Work Around Line Breaks

The new CyberResearch ESW 405-series ring-redundant 10/100 Mbps Ethernet switches read the header frame of each Ethernet packet so they know how and where to forward it. This capability both provides redundancy and increases available bandwidth.

Rugged DIN-mount ESW 405 switches come with a heavy-duty aluminum case (ESW 405M) or an industrial plastic case (ESW 405P). Both styles are functionally identical and include five RJ-45 Ethernet ports as well as an RS-232/485 port on a single RJ-45 connector, so users can communicate with both serial and Ethernet devices or peripheral switches. Each ESW 405 switch has two independent DC power supplies for enhanced reliability. Legends printed on the sides of the cases give switch settings and LED meanings.

One limitation of conventional Ethernet networks is that line breaks cut off contact with downstream devices. The CyberResearch ESW 405 switches detect a break in the ring and route relevant signals around it. More rings provide more protection. Double rings protect against a simultaneous single break in each ring.

IEC 61850-3 Compliant Ethernet Switches Deliver Seamless Communications in Substations

Moxa has introduced a wide range of IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 compliant Ethernet switches suitable for electric utility environments. Designed to be 19 inch rack mountable, these switches feature the highest level of reliably, offering the new Turbo Ring technology with faster network fault recovery as well as IEEE80201W/D.

Additional features include fan-less operation at a wide temperature range of -40°C to 85°C, dual redundant and integrated power supplies and high EMI noise immunity. These features allow these products to withstand the extreme conditions and electromagnetic interference commonly found in power substation automation. Maximum flexibility is achieved by modular design with high fiber optic and gigabit port density, along with optional rear or front wiring.

Utility substations are beginning to take advantage of the flexibility of Ethernet for mission critical substation LANs. A major obstacle in developing substation automation systems involves interoperability. Often time’s devices from different manufactures can not communicate with each other due to different communication protocols. IEC 61850 is being applied to standardize all aspects of communication protocols between newer devices and legacy devices. The reliable network operation is essential to protect against electrical surge, EMI, extreme temperature and other environmental threats.

These rack mounted switches are designed for completely fan-less operation and maximum uptime is ensured by the use of dual redundant power supplies of 24/28 VDC of 110/220 VDC/VDA. In addition to front wiring, these switches are equipped with rear wiring that provides users with the flexibility to access all communication and power cables from the rear of the rack.

Moxa modular switch series supports up to 24 fast Ethernet power and four Gigabit Ethernet ports. Two different Gigabit modules are available for copper of fiber connections, which be used to build a fiber optic Gigabit backbone, redundant ring or redundant Gigabit uplinks. The modularity gives users the flexible media configuration to fit their specific application and further allows for ease in implementing future plant upgrades and expansions.  

Visit Moxa’s Booth at the Remote 2008 Conference and Expo!
For more information please visit: www.remotemagazine.com/rem08_index.php

ZBB Energy Corp. Unveils Commercial Product Platform for Zinc Energy Storage Systems

ZBB Energy Corp. has introduced its commercial product platform ZESS, the Zinc Energy Storage System. The new name more accurately describes the function of ZBB’s regenerative fuel cell type product as well as its green, renewable energy storage system. The unit is a proprietary 50 kWh energy module that can be sized and packaged as a fully customized, large format energy storage system.

“We wanted a name that is more descriptive of our zinc energy storage system,” said Rob Parry, CEO of ZBB Energy Corp. “ZESS reflects the system’s make-up as well as its versatility as an energy storage system. ZESS is a green energy storage system that is manufactured from plastics that are recyclable, is highly compatible with wind and solar to store and then re-supply generated power during high demand periods and can be used to eliminate damage to utility infrastructure during peak demand periods.

The ZESS 50 is a 50 kWh storage system based on ZBB’s core module and the ZESS 500 is a 500 kWh storage system utilizing ten of these core modules into one larger industrial product. ZBB’s ZESS products provide technical performance at a low overall cost compared to traditional lead-acid batteries and other energy storage sources. ZBB’s core module is an aqueous flow system using a circulation loop to continuously feed reactants to the module’s three cell stacks.

VideoComm Debuts RTWave OFDM Systems

VideoComm Technologies has introduced its RTWave OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) systems. This entirely new category of digital video systems offers new opportunities for real-time mobile applications normally not possible, convenient or economical. With a range up to 40 miles line of sight, the all-new RTWave wireless digital video series transmits secure DVD quality video in real-time. Directional point-to-point and true diversity omni-directional systems are available for the most demanding wireless mobile applications.

RTWave features the ViXS processor chipset and is based on the industry’s 802.11ieee standards for fixed, portable and mobile wireless applications. These systems are NTSC and PAL capable each with a digitally secure two-way communication ID code. RTWave boasts a 64 Bit encrypted data stream, a hardware based MPEG encoder and decoder and automatic channel selection, which ensures the highest possible data-rate.

"Two years of research and development with ViXS Systems has made VideoComm’s debut of the RTWave a significant milestone in bringing reliable, real-time 802.11ieee compliant products to market,” said Mitch Unger, product development engineer, VideoComm Technologies. “Until now, Real-Time wireless digital video solutions were not possible.”

Trilliant Selected by Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited for AMI Solutions

Trilliant, Inc has been selected by Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (Toronto Hydro) to provide AMI smart suite-metering equipment, supplies and services for residential multi-unit buildings. Suite metering involves measuring the electricity use of individual suites in multi-occupant buildings and allows accountability for each suite’s own costs.

A benefit of converting from flat-rate metered service to smart suite-meter service is that electricity consumption is measured hour-by-hour.   With the ability to measure electricity when it is used, different rates can apply at different times of the day.  With time-of-use pricing, money can be saved by using electricity when rates are lower.  Smart suite metering will allow for accountability of each suite’s electricity usage and encourages conservation.

“We are pleased to work with Trilliant to deliver suite-metering solutions and meter data-collection services for our customers,” said David O’Brien CEO and president of Toronto Hydro Corp. “By providing flexibility and strong technical capabilities, we are on target to deliver excellent load management and billing services.”

The contract continues and extends a Trilliant suite-metering services program that has existed for more than two years and will now encompass up to 50,000 meters.

Current Deploys the First Real-Time Utility HAN in the Nation

The Current Group, LLC has deployed the nation’s first high-speed utility HAN (home area network) using programmable communicating thermostats (PCT’s) and load control switches communicating over the Smart Grid deployed for Oncor Electric Delivery company in Dallas, Texas.

The system communicates demand response requests and other critical information from the utility to the customer and verifies the results of the requests, all in real-time. This unique solution will be used initially by retail electric providers Direct Energy, Reliant Energy and TXU Energy as part of a joint collaborative effort by the Center for the Commercialization of Electric Technologies (CCET) to bring innovative technologies to Texas.

“The Current Smart Grid solution allows consumers to participate in programs designed to reduce the cost or environmental impact of electric usage and for the utility to verify in real time that usage has actually declined, thus allowing the use of less generation with the resulting reduction in emissions,” said Tom Casey, CEO, Current. “These capabilities, along with our announcement on underground cable fault detection, show how the CURRENT Smart Grid solution is solving real problems of utilities that are not solved by AMI systems.”

FERC Approves New Reliability Standards for Cyber Security

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved eight new mandatory critical infrastructure protection (CIP) reliability standards to protect the nation’s bulk power system against potential disruptions from cyber security breaches. These reliability standards were developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which FERC has designated as the electric reliability organization (ERO).

Additional actions in this final rule direct the ERO to develop modifications to these reliability standards, via its reliability standards development process and then submit them to FERC for approval. The modifications directed for development concern various oversight and technical issues pertaining to cyber protections. These include removal of language that allowed variable implementation of standards based on “reasonable business judgment” and a new framework of accountability surrounding exceptions based on technical feasibility.

The final rule also directs NERC to monitor the development and implementation of cyber security standards by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to “determine if they contain provisions that will protect the Bulk-Power System better than the CIP Reliability Standards,” said FERC. But FERC did not direct NERC to adopt the NIST standards because that could lead to possible delays in putting into place any mandatory and enforceable standards.

The mandatory reliability standards require certain users, owners and operators of the bulk power system to establish policies, plans and procedures to safeguard physical and electronic access to control systems, to train personnel on security matters, to report security incidents, and to be prepared to recover from a cyber incident.

Interested in Learning More About Cyber Security?
If so, then you should attend ISA’s Securing Industrial Networks: Cyber Protection for Automation, Control and SCADA Systems workshop at the Remote 2008 Conference and Expo!

Visit www.remotemagazine.com/rem08_workshop.php  for more information

Ampro Acquired by ADLink Technology

Privately held Ampro Computers, Inc. has accepted an offer to be acquired by ADLink Technology. The acquisition merges Ampro's expertise in board-level embedded computers with ADLink’s low-cost manufacturing capabilities and products targeting the industrial control and communications markets.

"This acquisition will be a win-win for ADLink and Ampro, as it combines the competitive edge of both parties," said Jim Liu, ADLink president and CEO.  "ADLink will gain access to Ampro's unmatched expertise in developing rugged board-level embedded computers, as well as its strong and mature US sales channel."

"We are excited about this opportunity to grow, lower our costs and bring our high-quality, standards-based modular embedded computing technologies into new markets," said Joanne Mumola Williams, president and CEO of Ampro. "I am confident that our customers will be as pleased as we are with the addition of these significant new engineering, low-cost manufacturing, and support resources."

Remote 2008 Conference Call for Papers Deadline - April 25th

The Remote 2008 Conference and Expo call for papers deadline is fast approaching! April 25th will be your last day to submit proposals and receive equal consideration for placement on the preliminary program. After April 25th all submissions will be considered on a first come, first served basis with program space limitations in mind.

This year the Remote 2008 Conference and Expo will feature four session tracks including Remote Monitoring, Remote Networking, Onsite Power and our new Cyber and Physical Security track. This will add up to some 50+ sessions! Also new for 2008 will be sessions on Remote Smart Services! Don’t miss out and submit an abstract today!

Click the link below to learn more about submitting an abstract, or contact Program Chairman Nick Depperschmidt directly for more information: Nickd@infowebcom.com or 800-803-9488 x.111.

Call for papers website. www.remotemagazine.com/rem08_call.php

Half Day Workshop: Intellectual Property Issues for New Product Development

May 14, 2008 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) - Beverages and Course Materials Provided

The workshop will start with an overview of the various types of intellectual property, including patents, trademark, copyrights, trade secrets, non-competes and publishing. It will feature a detailed discussion of patents, including type of patents, what is patentable, patent laws and rules, the patenting process and patent strategy. Also covered will be the integration of the patenting process with the new product development process and discussion of critical patent strategy issues. It will conclude with a practical training session for writing technical disclosures for patenting purposes.

For more details about what attendees can expect to learn from this workshop visit http://www.magneticsmagazine.com/mag_conf08_workshops.htm#akc.

• Register before March 14, 2008 - $395 • Register after March 14, 2008 - $495

Register Now!

Visit http://www.magneticsmagazine.com/mag_conf08_workshop_reg.php/.

May
4-6, Niagara Summit, Chapel, Fla. Contact www.niagarasummit.com

4-7, UTC Telecom, Orlando, Fla. Contact - http://utctelecom2008.utc.org

5-7, Battcon 2008, Pompano Beach, Fla. Contact www.battcon.com

5-8, Offshore Technology 2008, Houston, Texas Contact www.otcnet.org/2008

14-15, West Coast EMC, Seattle, Wash. Contact - www.aeecenter.org/shows

18-19, ISA100 Solutions Summit, Cleveland, OH. Contact www.isa.org

20-22, Connectivity Week, Santa Clara, Calif. Contact: www.connectivityweek.com/about.asp

28-30, Utilities Field Service 2008, New Orleans, La.
Contact www.utilitiesfieldservice.com

Center for Connected Health

We are engaging patients, providers and the connected health community to deliver quality care outside of traditional medical settings. Visit our site to learn about our connected health programs and access research articles, patient stories and news in the areas of Remote Monitoring, Cardiac Care, Diabetes, E-Visits, Medication Adherence, Remote Consultations, and more. Join our discussions and learn what others are saying about connected health. www.connected-health.org.

West Coast Energy Management Congress – EMC
May 14-15, 2008
Seattle, Wash.

The Association of Energy Engineers is proud to team up with Puget Sound to present the largest energy conference and technology expo held in Washington specifically for business, industrial, governmental, and institutional energy users. Celebrating its 26th year, West Coast Energy Management Congress 2008 is designed to help end users, business leaders, and energy managers find solutions to control their energy costs, improve power reliability, upgrade existing systems and equipment, explore renewable energy options, and leverage financing and performance contracting options to implement new and retrofit projects. At the West Coast EMC 2008 you can explore an array of technologies showcased in the expo hall by leading companies and talk with experts face to face to discuss your unique application needs. The concurrent multi-track conference and lineup of seminars offer you an unparalleled training opportunity to stay current on industry trends and to enhance your skill knowledge base. Featured topics this year include:• Strategic Energy Planning • Landfill • Cogeneration • Profiting from Energy Management • Geothermal • Energy Efficient Buildings • Solar • Absorption Chillers. This year, we have added a lineup of complimentary workshops held on the expo floor to help attendees further explore real-world case studies, success stories, energy and facilities management strategies, and more.

View complete details at www.energyevent.com

ACE 2008
June 8-12, 2008
Georgia World Congress Center
Atlanta, Georgia

Come explore a world of ideas and innovation with your peers and leaders in the world of water. ACE08 registration is now open! Plan to attend the one event where you can get all the information you need, sharpen your skills, and replenish your passion to become better stewards of water for the greatest good of the people and the environment. The ACE08 Professional Program will bring you knowledge and insight to cutting-edge research and exceptional best practices on both universal topics and items specifically focused to meet your needs. At the ACE08 Exposition, more than 500 exhibitors will be on hand to answer questions and educate you about the latest technology available. Learn more and register.

NXTcomm08
June 16-19, 2008
Las Vegas, NV

Communications is your business. NXTcomm08 is your show.
Don’t miss the one event delivering the entire ecosystem of network-enabled voice, video and data. From VoIP and IPTV to WiMAX and wireless, the key players that drive communications and the technology and services making history converge here. NXTcomm08’s conference partners include: ATIS, Broadband Wireless World, IEC and FierceMarkets. NXTcomm08’s summit partners include: Telephony, Yankee Group and iHollywood Forum’s.
Exhibits Plus Pass Includes Access to:

1. The entire NXTcomm exhibit floor
2. Every single NXTcomm keynote speaker
3. All NXTcomm programming (special free conference sessions each day!)
4. Each NXTcomm Special Interest Program
5. The entire InfoComm exhibit floor

Register for your free Exhibits Plus Pass using code: REM8

www.nxtcommshow.com

IQPC’s 5th Remote Device Monitoring & Management Summit
June 22-26, 2008
Nashville, Tennessee

IQPC’s 5th Remote Device Monitoring & Management Summit, happening on June 22-26, 2008, in Nashville, Tennessee, is the leading cross-industry event on intelligent remote service. Attend and learn how to develop a Go-to-Market strategy for smart remote services, create intelligent service offerings to differentiate you from the competition, increase ROI and customer satisfaction through your Remote Service operations. Hear case studies from some of the world’s leading organizations in Retail, Transportation, and IT Managed Services.

Visit www.iqpc.com/us/remoteservicestrategy for full conference details.

SCTE Cable-Tec Expo®
June 24-27, 2008
Philadelphia, PA

Meet Us at the Corner of Engineering and Innovation during SCTE Cable-Tec Expo®

For 25 years, SCTE Cable-Tec Expo® has unlocked the industry’s best engineering practices for all cable professionals—from field technicians and engineers to executives and marketing specialists. Learn about the latest engineering issues, technical developments and applications with 20+ workshops in one convenient cost-effective setting. Explore tools and techniques in the hands-on exhibit hall to help save time and money and keep operations profitable. This four-day event also features the International Cable-Tec Games; Expo Evening; the Opening General Session; the Annual Awards Luncheon and key networking opportunities.

Get full show details and register today at http://expo.scte.org.
SCTE Cable-Tec Expo® ● June 24-27 ● Philadelphia, PA

Submit editorial content to Nick Depperschmidt at
720-528-3770 X111 or nickd@infowebcom.com.

For more information on advertising or exhibiting contact Scott Nash at
800-803-9488 X114 or scottn@infowebcom.com.

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