Softing smartLink SW-HT HART multiplexer software

Softing Industrial has introduced smartLink SW-HT, HART multiplexer software for accessing configuration and diagnostic data via Emerson's AMS Device Manager or other HART IP-enabled plant asset management applications. Version 1.10 supports Allen-Bradley controllers and remote I/Os in addition to Schneider Electric M580 controllers and drop I/Os.

An increasing number of modern remote I/Os are using Ethernet as the connection to the controller. smartLink SW-HT addresses this trend by providing an Ethernet connection to tunnel the HART commands to the remote I/Os. smartLink SW-HT provides access from Emerson’s AMS Device Manager to HART field devices connected to Allen-Bradley or Schneider Electric M580 controller HART I/O modules or remote I/Os. An integrated HART IP server ensures transparent access to configuration and diagnostic data. Users save time and costs as they do not need additional HART multiplexer hardware. The software comes as a Docker container and is deployed with additional virtual machines, making it easy to use under Windows.

smartLink SW-HT scans all configured HART modules for the connected HART devices and maintains a live list of the devices. This eliminates the need to scan the entire AMS Device Manager device tree when a new HART device is added. The application converts the incoming HART IP commands into the Ethernet-based communication used by the Allen-Bradley and Schneider Electric HART modules. Optimised scheduling of the commands is performed to achieve the optimal communication performance.