Systems that incorporate several devices located at remote sites present a big challenge to solution providers. This is particularly true for industrial applications that use several headless embedded computers distributed over a wide area. Although this type of computer is generally accessible from over the network, the existing remote management options present a rather clumsy solution for managing large numbers of embedded computers.

One of the most common methods of managing embedded computers remotely over the network is to use Telnet/SSH. However, one of the main drawbacks to this type of management is that you can only connect to one embedded computer at time. In addition, the administrator must actively type in the IP address of the embedded computer to establish the Telnet/SSH connection. It can be a real nightmare to keep track of which IP address is associated with which embedded computer.

Another method of managing an embedded computer includes working from the command line. Although this can be done from over the network, most administrators find it difficult to remember all of the commands that are required to manage files and run programs. Script files that combine several commands in one text file can be used to automate the command line method, but this option can also be quite time-consuming for administrators that manage tens if not hundreds of machines.

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The critical task for this kind of system is finding a way to create a well-designed management tool. MOXA now provides a new management tool that helps system administrators overcome this "remote management nightmare."

Moxa Device Manager (MDM) is an efficient online device management tool that can be used with all of MOXA's embedded computers. One of the key benefits of this tool is that management tasks, such as configuring the network or serial ports, managing and/or transmitting text and binary files, and monitoring and controlling processes, can be handled easily using a Windows-based user interface. In addition, MDM can be used to manage different models of embedded computer, and embedded computers that use different operating systems, all from one centrally located computer. As long as the individual embedded computers are pre-installed with an MDM agent, they can be recognized and managed by the unified MDM tool from your PC. These features help ensure that MDM gives system integrators an efficient tool for handling all remote devices from one computer.

In addition to controlling heterogeneous computer systems, the traffic between the MDM tool and any of the MDM agents is encrypted. This feature protects data transmitted from the system. Users can comfortably manage the remote devices without worrying about the usual risks associated with transmitting data over a network.

Moxa Device Manager is scheduled to be launched in March. For more information about MDM, please contact Dr. CF Lin by e-mail at cf.lin@moxa.com.

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MDM was designed to work with all of MOXA's embedded computers, regardless of which operating system is being used.

MOXA's embedded computers are effective RISC-based communication platforms for applications in front-end data processing, serial communication, protocol conversion, and remote device control and monitoring.

Please click on one of the following links for detailed information about MOXA's embedded computers:

Rackmount Embedded Computers
Rugged/DIN-Rail Embedded Computers
Box Embedded Computers
Wide Temperature Embedded Computers
Embedded Module

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MOXA is pleased to present the latest firmware update for the ioLogik E2000 I/O server. The new update includes the powerful new "peer-to-peer I/O" function for signal transfer between I/O servers. With peer-to-peer I/O, digital and analog signals can be reproduced remotely without a PLC or master controller.

What's new with this firmware version?

Peer-to-peer I/O that requires no network controller

SNMP trap with I/O status message

TFTP for remote management of configuration and logic

User-defined communication port for secure network

Time trigger for heartbeat status messages

Active message monitor in HEX or ASCII

Supported models:

Availability:

Technical information:

Download the new firmware now at http://web4.moxa.com/support/download.asp.

* Note:If you are interested in peer-to-peer I/O with 4 to 20 mA signals for a project or for evaluation, the beta firmware is available by request.

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The installation of kiosks is a rapid growth industry, particularly as far as airports are concerned. In fact, a variety of kiosks have been installed at airports around the world to serve the needs of passengers. Kiosks are available to provide fast food, different types of merchandise, bill payment, musical entertainment, printing of digital photographs, retail self-checkout, and more. The tremendous growth in the use of kiosks around the world has motivated hardware manufacturers and system integrators to join forces and develop a wide range of innovative kiosks.

Introduction
Shanghai, which is the most advanced city in China, has various types of kiosks installed in airport terminals, subways, museums, banks, and department stores. A new type of kiosk, the self-help e-ticketing kiosk, has recently made an appearance in the Shanghai airport. Passengers who have electronic tickets can go to the self-help kiosk to check in without needing to wait for assistance from a human clerk. In addition, passengers only need a valid ID to use the machine; once the ID has been validated, the passenger can use the kiosk to check seating options. The passenger's boarding pass will be printed out automatically.

An IBM slim-panel computer, which has one serial port and two USB ports, serves as the brains of the kiosk. The problem this presented to designers is that the system uses a total of 5 different serial devices (passport reader, e-ticket printer, boarding pass printer, ID card reader, and frequent flyer card reader). To overcome the hardware limitations, they used MOXA's UPort 1410, a 4-port USB-to-serial hub, to add 4 serial ports through one USB port. This was all done without needing to remove the outer cover of the computer.

Another attractive feature was the top transmission performance provided by the UPort 1410. With 921.6 Kbps serial transmission, up to 480 Mbps USB transmission (USB 2.0), and a 128-byte FIFO, the UPort 1410 enhances the self-help kiosk transmission performance and reduces the system's overall loading.

Benefits:

System Architecture

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Maintaining alertness and high security at harbors and airports is a major concern of national governments around the world. A prime example is in China, which uses sensors from the German manufacturer SICK as part of their cargo checking system at harbors. The highly sophisticated sensors developed by SICK are used by customs officials to detect hazardous substances inside the cargo.

One of the problems faced by system integrators when setting up the system is that the SICK sensors use non-standard baudrates. In fact, non-standard baudrates as high as 500 Kbps must be used to transmit the large volume of serial data required to operate the sensors successfully.

SICK sensors are often used with SICK's LMI (Laser Measurement Interface), which does front-end data processing and supports several cutting edge functions. Users who do not need the LMI system for their application, but instead only wish to transmit data to back-end PCs, can use MOXA's NPort device servers as a cost-effective alternative to transmit serial data over the network.

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Power substations, which are an essential part of many factories and large buildings, use a variety of devices to control the stability of power transmission. However, the traditional solution for power substation automation in factories can be costly and requires much manpower. The following problems are often encountered:

A chemical factory in Shanghai is using MOXA's UC-7420 embedded computers as part of a project that aims to improve management efficiency and reduce the costs associated with automating the factory's power substation. UC-7420 embedded computers are used in Power Substation 3 (see the figure) as the communication controller responsible for collecting data from different devices. The UC-7420 performs several tasks, including protocol conversion and front-end data processing, and then sends the data back to the servers at the control center using the Modbus TCP protocol. The processed data can be integrated seamlessly with the back-end GE iFix SCADA software and displayed in graphics form.

Using UC-7420 embedded computers for power substation automation provides the following benefits:

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Introduction
The Spanish city of Seville, which is widely recognized as a warm, lively town, is also notorious for its extreme traffic. The city traces its roots back to Roman times, and evidence of its rich history is apparent in its centuries-old architecture. As Spain's fourth largest city, Seville's traffic problems are made worse by the labyrinth of narrow, winding streets that were not designed to handle vehicular traffic. Travel guides advise against driving in Seville due to the terrible traffic conditions, and recommend instead that visitors walk to their destinations.

Seville sought assistance from a major European engineering company that specializes in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to upgrade their traffic control system. What the city needed was a system that allows centralized management of traffic lights spread out over the metropolitan regions of the city. In addition, they wanted the system to incorporate traffic surveillance from major intersections, and allow on-site voice communication. Since it was necessary to transmit data over large areas of the city, the engineers needed to identify networking products that could communicate with multiple points over long distances.

System Description
The Seville traffic control system was set up to transmit video, voice, and data over ONE network. Because of the high bandwidth required, the engineers decided to install a gigabit fiber optic network that uses specialized Ethernet switches. The system's backbone relies on Moxa's EDS-726 switches, which are arranged in 8 nodes spread out over the metropolitan regions with a fiber-optic Gigabit Turbo Ring. Fiber-optic communication was the best choice due to the long distance and high bandwidth requirements, and the Turbo Ring topology provides media redundancy and network recovery in less than 300 ms. With native gigabit network operation, built-in fiber ports, and Turbo Ring support, the EDS-726 provides a strong network backbone that easily handles all video, audio, and traffic data streams.

In total, 11 nodes radiate from the backbone network to the regions that require traffic control and monitoring. Each node uses an EDS-726 to connect IP cameras, traffic controllers, and IP phones to the backbone network. The EDS-726's flexible modular and expandable design allows each node to handle a custom arrangement of IP cameras for video surveillance, and IP phones for voice communication. Standard IP-based devices are connected directly to Ethernet ports on the EDS-726, and IMC-21 converters with fiber lines are used to increase transmission distances, achieve faster transmission speeds, and increase flexibility in the placement of devices. Advanced VLAN and QoS support helps minimize network congestion, and easy remote management over the network helps reduces maintenance costs.

The serial-based signal controllers that used for on-site traffic control are connected to a main traffic controller in the traffic control center using pairs of 1-port NPort 5110 serial device servers, eliminating the need to invest in new traffic equipment. By using the NPort 5110's pair connection mode, the engineers in the control center can easily monitor the status of each traffic light, and update the control programs as traffic conditions change. The new traffic management system gives the city of Seville a centralized control room that monitors and controls traffic lights all over the metropolitan area. Live video surveillance and remote traffic lights management allows instant response to real-time traffic conditions, and the IP phones provide an additional, low-cost communication tool.

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The Ministry of Information Industry Order # 39 of the People's Republic of China, issued on February 28, 2006, is called the law of "Administration on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products." The China government enacted this law to protect Chinese consumers and the environment by requiring manufacturers of "Electronic Information Products" to first declare, and then control, the use of hazardous substances. Electronic Information Products are subject to the self declaration and marking requirements of the China "RoHS" law that takes effect March 1, 2007.

In fact, the acronym "RoHS" is not part of the Chinese law; the acronym originates from a law of similar intent in the European Union 2002/95/EC directive, or EU RoHS directive. "RoHS" literally means "Restriction of Hazardous Substances." It restricts the use of Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+), Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and Polybrominated diphenyl Ethers (PBDE). Because the underlying intent of both laws is the same, and because the EU RoHS directives took effect first, it has become common to use "RoHS" as shorthand for these types of product environmental laws.

MOXA is taking the following steps to comply with the China RoHS law:

MOXA will use the following symbols on products and packaging materials to meet China RoHS marking rules.

MOXA's China RoHS Markings
Description	Object to be marked	RoHS Compliant	non-RoHS Compliant
Pollution control symbols on product body	Printed circuit boards, Product labels
Recycle symbols on packaging materials	Product packaging bags, product packaging boxes, shipping cartons
Hazardous substance (HS) self-declaration	User's manuals, User's notices	Not available	HS declaration table

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The Industrial Control and Automation Website (www.gongkong.com/en) from China has released its list of innovative industrial products for 2006. The list covers several industrial fields, including PLCs, DCSs, HMIs, PC-based systems, embedded systems, automation software, motion control, wireless communication, and network communication.

MOXA is proud that our ThinkCore IA241/IA240 Embedded Computers have been listed as an innovative product in the embedded systems field. According to the comments from the judges, "The IA241/IA240 are unique embedded computers with high quality and performance, but without fan, cabling, and mobile components. The IA241/240 are better than similar products in that they can transmit at more than 700 Kbps simultaneously over all 4 serial ports. In addition, the IA241/240 are guaranteed to work reliably in a wide operating temperature range of -40 to 75°C, and can work well under in harsh industrial environments."

Gongkong.com, which counts the Chinese Association of Automation as a council member, is considered to be the most authoritative online media in China for the industrial control and automation field. The listing of MOXA's IA241/IA240 as one of the best products in the embedded systems field proves that the quality and features of our products meet the high demands of customers in this market.

Click on the following link to view complete details (content in simplified Chinese). http://www.gongkong.com/news/2006jx/product.asp.

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The Industrial Ethernet Solution Forum held by MOXA on January 24, 2007, in Taipei, Taiwan, was a big success. At the forum, we presented our complete solutions for industrial Ethernet and announced the latest Moxa Turbo Ring technology, which guarantees a recovery time of under 20 ms. Attendees showed great interest in the new and improved Turbo Ring, and in how MOXA's industrial Ethernet solutions can be used for control and automation.

MOXA's new and improved Turbo Ring is now the fastest ring available. If any segment of the network is disconnected, the system will be back to normal in under 20 milliseconds, even at a full load of 250 Ethernet switches. In addition, the new Turbo Ring provides a choice of typologies. To reduce cabling and planning costs, choose from ring coupling, dual-homing, and dual-ring, with each type suitable for different industrial applications. All of MOXA's managed switches support the updated Turbo Ring to give customers more options for creating a reliable Ethernet network.

At this half-day show, MOXA introduced its newest industrial Ethernet switch and industrial video server products. MOXA provides a complete range (entry-level to advanced, unmanaged to managed) of rugged solutions for the industrial Ethernet infrastructure. In addition, MOXA provides a series of gigabit Ethernet switches, including the EDS-728/726, EDS-518A, and EDS-510A, which are ideal for building a redundant gigabit backbone. Another product featured at the seminar was the VPort 351, a new 1-channel, MPEG4/MJPEG, industrial-grade video encoder that provides video performance at full D1 (720 x 480) resolution @ 30 FPS. The VPort 351 can digitize any analog video source and distribute the images over an IP network, making any CCTV system into an industrial video networking system.

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Visit MOXA's Exhibit at ESC Silicon Valley 2007
Booth #643 - see our NEW! Wireless Embedded Solutions!
April 3rd to April 5th, 2007

Embedded Systems Conference - Silicon Valley
McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA
Conference: April 1st - 5th, 2007
Exhibition: April 3rd - 5th, 2007
www.embedded.com/esc/sv
Register in advance for a free exhibit hall pass

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