Austin, Tex.—The Fieldbus Foundation (FF) released Dec. 14 an alpha version of its High-Speed Ethernet (HSE) Testing Kit (HTK). Alpha HTK tests HSE linking devices, which are critical components of the HSE architecture because they connect subsystems of FOUNDATION fieldbus' 31.25-kbps H1 devices to HSE's 100-Mbps backbone. Ethernet-based host systems can configure and monitor these linking device subsystems.

Alpha HTK is the latest release in FF's HSE development program. HSE final specifications were released in March 2000 after extensive testing at the foundation's Foxboro, Mass., and Austin facilities. An HSE field demonstration was also completed at Lee College (Baytown, Tex.) last year. David Glanzer, FF's director of technology development, says delivering alpha HTK represents significant progress in the HSE test and registration program. "With the on-schedule release of this test kit, we expect to begin registering HSE linking devices by early 2001," he says.

Rich Timoney, FF's president and ceo, adds, "This is another important step in meeting the market's demand for a cost-effective, high-speed, plant-wide backbone for process and discrete automation." For more information visit wwwfieldbus.org or www.controleng.com/freeinfo.