Moxa develops wireless add-on module for MXview network management
For smart factories, network infrastructure specialist, Moxa, has introduced the MXview Wireless add-on module for its MXview industrial network management software. MXview streamlines network management by visualising networks and helping non-IT staff simplify operations and improve network uptime.
The software is used in power, intelligent transportation and manufacturing. As smart factories gain popularity and wi-fi applications increase, the MXview Wireless add-on module can be used in both static and dynamic wireless smart manufacturing applications.
Intelligent process control is a typical static wireless application where customers use wi-fi to establish the communication between the clients installed at production lines and the control centre. An unstable or dropped wireless connection affects production processes. It can be difficult to know the exact status of the wi-fi connection and to fix issues immediately when they occur. The MXview
Wireless add-on module simplifies network management by allowing users to get detailed device information and performance indicator charts for individual and client devices from a single control dashboard. In addition to allowing operators to see the factory’s network conditions, and making network management easier, they can also monitor connectivity patterns and customise alert settings for problem notifications. Engineers can then perform on-site troubleshooting quickly and efficiently.
In automated material handling (AMH) systems, the wi-fi connections must be able to dynamically adapt to the constantly moving vehicles. An unstable wireless signal could easily disrupt the operation of these systems. The MXview Wireless add-on features a dynamic topology view to let users see the status of wireless links and connection changes at a glance. Automated vehicles constantly roam around the facility, so users can overlay the network topology on top of a floor map of the facility to locate a vehicle by just checking the client’s wireless connection. This saves a great deal of time when trying to identify a malfunctioning client device. The roaming playback function lets users review a client’s history over the past 30 days to repeat an incident. Users can leverage this function to find and address the root cause more efficiently, instead of having to consolidate and examine individual device logs.
The module has been developed by Moxa for automated factories, smart logistics, and other intelligent applications.
Picture credit: istock_Alex LMX
