Network management of fieldbus systems with limited devices: a case study for EIB and Palm OS

A closer look at modern network management reveals, that this is mostly done either with specialized, proprietary solutions or based on the Internet protocol SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). Basically, SNMP defines the relationship between managed devices and management applications, a protocol, and how information has to be structured. Compared to other approaches, its main advantages concern the simple structure, low memory footprint and resource consumption making it easy to develop and to deploy. Especially, the limited hardware requirements help to create a network management tool, even for small devices like PDAs. Since even for cheap devices of the well-established automation area (e.g. home networks, industrial fieldbus systems) proxy solutions enable SNMP management, we present a PDA application capable of monitoring and controlling automation networks. As an example for the automation system, we chose a home and building network, called EIB. Nevertheless, the approach presented here is universal and also extends to conventional factory automation systems. After a short introduction into the underlying technologies (i.e., SNMP and EIB), the article sketches the software architecture of the systems involved: an SNMP agent for the EIB system and an SNMP manager application for the Palm OS.