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Abstract
FDI (Field Device Integration) is a new device integration technology for process automation
designed to integrate field devices into automation networks with the help of standardized,vendor-independent tools and procedures. This article covers the core of FDI technology andhow it simplifies system and device installation, configuration, operations, and maintenanceto avoid tedious integration effort — therefore saving time and money.

EOVID

FDI – Evolution in Device Integration
FDI is a complete solution that recognizes the key end user requirements in the process automation industry. FDIcombines the benefits of EDDL (Electronic Device Description Language) and FDT (Field Device Technology) in asingle scalable solution, which can work with both simple and complex devices. FDI presents real-time data in aconsistent and uniform format that allows the plant personnel to operate in an efficient and effective manner. FDI
technology has been developed and supported by the leading technology-standards foundations and suppliers in theprocess
One core objective of FDI is to dramatically simplify software installation, configuration, maintenance andmanagement of field devices and host systems. FDI standardizes the packaging and distribution of software andtools. The host needs only one FDI Device Package per device type per protocol to successfully integrate each device.

FDI Package: ONE Device – ONE Package – ALL Tools
ONE Device – ONE Package
A physical device is virtualized in software as an FDI Device Package. An FDI Device Package is a single file (*.fdix)
which contains all the device information including device definitions, user interface plug-ins, certificates, device
manuals and other components that are essential for managing the field device in the plant.
An existing EDD file for a particular device can be used by developers to create the FDI Device Package for thatdevice. In order to support sophisticated devices, a UIP (User Interface Plug-in) software component, with its rich
Graphical User Interface, can be added to provide superior user experience. Attachments are comprised of device
registration

The Value of FDI: ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools

1ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools
FDI Device Package Contents

DDUID

000100100011
000100100011
000100100111

000100100011
000100100011
000100100111

LOGICLOGIC
000100100011
000100100011
000100100111

User Interface Plug-In (UIP)

Programmed User Interface with richgraphical capability for complex
device functionality.
Attachments

Electronic Device Description (EDD)EDD

EDD contains Device Definition,
User Interface and Business
Logic.

000100100011
000100100011
000100100111

FDI Package

UIP

ATTACHMENTS

Registration Certificates,
User Manuals, Device images,
Product documentation,
protocol-specific files, such as GSD
or CFF etc.

FDI Device Packages undergo a series of rigorous compliance tests by FieldComm Group to asssure
adherence to FDI Specifications and therefore providing the quality assurance to the end users.

ALL Tools
FDI Hosts support legacy EDD files

FDT Hosts support FDI Packages

For the device manufacturer who has invested in EDDL
technology, their products can still be used in the FDI
enabled host system as FDI provides backward
compatibility with legacy EDDs.

FDI Device Packages will continue to work in the FDT
Hosts using FDI-DTM technology. Thus, making it asingle device integration technology that supports
all tools.

UI Engine

OPC UA Services

DTM UIUI Engine

Information Model (M)InstanceTypes

DTM Business Logic
Catalog

EDD Engine

OPC UA Services
Communication Server

Communication DTMs

The Value of FDI: ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools

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ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools
FDI adoption can evolve with your device
The beauty of FDI is that its adoption can be an evolutionary
and incremental step for the device manufacturer as it
protects the investment made in the current technologies
like EDDL and FDT. For the device manufacturers who haveinvested in EDDL technology, legacy EDDs can still be usedin the FDI enabled host system. Investment made in DTM
can be protected by making it into a UIP in an FDI Package
for sophisticated devices.
In the figure shown, Level field device from Vendor X(Revision 1.0) has HART EDD (0101.fm8) which can work
directly with the FDI Host.
Once a later version (Revision 2.0) of this device is made tosupport sophisticated functionality like Echo Curve or NE107
diagnostic capability, then it can be migrated to FDI, wherethe end user can experience the rich GUI for Echo Curve anddiagnostic functionality UIPs provide. This allows theflexibility to adopt FDI technology at the device
manufacturers’ convenience.

End User Beneﬁts
Device replacement made easy
A survey conducted by Control Magazine shows that 46% of “challenges in device integration” arise from “dealingwith device drivers and revisions”. This is mainly because when the device is replaced with its higher version, most of
the legacy hosts will look for the exact device revision in the DD file and this makes the previous version of the DD filecompletely unusable for the new version of the same device.
With FDI, most of the FDI Hosts support the automatic FDI Package selection, which simplifies the device replacement
process by the FDI Host logically loading the best-suited FDI Device Package for the device.

The Value of FDI: ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools

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ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools
For example: Vendor X Device Revision 1.0 has the FDI Device Package V1.0 loaded in the FDI Host as shown below.

Vendor X
Device Revision 1.0

FDI Device
Package V1.0
EDD

UIP

FDI HOSTATTACHMENTS

000100100011000100100011
000100100111

FDI Client

FDI Device Package V1.0

FDI ServerDevice
Revision 1.0* Device Revision 1.0 has FDI Package V1.0

When this device is replaced with Device Revision 2.0 but a newer version of FDI Package is not available, then FDI
Host will still use the existing FDI Device Package V1.0 for Device Revision 2.0 as shown below.

Vendor X
Device Revision 2.0

FDI Device
Package V1.0
EDD

UIP

FDI HOSTATTACHMENTS

000100100011
000100100011
000100100111

FDI Client

FDI Device Package V1.0

FDI ServerDevice
Revision 2.0* Device replaced with Device Revision 2.0 still FDI Host uses FDI Package V1.0 for Device Revision 2.0

Now, when the new FDI Device Package V2.0 is made available, FDI Host will use this version to work with Device
Revision 2.0.

Vendor X
Device Revision 2.0

FDI Device
Package V2.0
EDD

UIP

ATTACHMENTS

000100100011
000100100011
000100100111

FDI Device Package V2.0

DeviceRevision 2.0

FDI HOSTFDI Client

FDI Server* FDI Host uses Device Package V2.0 with Device Revision 2.0

The Value of FDI: ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools

4ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools
FDI Profile Package supports all device types and variants
FDI Profile Package is similar to an FDI Device Package, however, FDI Profile Package provides information for thefamily of device variants/types or communication profiles unlike FDI Device Package, which is specific to device type.

EDD

UIP

ATTACHMENTS

000100100011
000100100011
000100100111

FDI PROFILE PACKAGE

FDI Profile Packages only support standard functionalities as defined by the corresponding communication profile.
For HART communication profile, it is mandatory for all the HART field devices to support Universal Commands.
Hence, HART FDI Profile Package must contain all the information provided by the Universal Commands, whichallows it to communicate with any HART field device connected to the network.
During a device replacement procedure as described above, if both FDI Device Package Version 1.0 and 2.0 are notavailable in the FDI Server, then it loads the FDI Profile Package to support both Device Revision 1.0 and 2.0. If there
is a need to access device type specific functionality, beyond the common functionality like Universal Commands,
then a specific version of the FDI Device Package is required.

EDD

UIP

ATTACHMENTS

000100100011
000100100011
000100100111

FDI PROFILE PACKAGE

FDI HOSTFDI Client
FDI Server* If no FDI Device Package is available , FDI Server loads FDI Profile Package to support both Device Revision 1.0 and 2.0

FDI Profile Package can be created for any communication profile that provides the common functionality. For
instance, PROFIBUS FDI Profile Package would contain all the information provided by physical blocks of thePROFIBUS device.

System maintenance made easy
No system upgrade required for new Device Packages
One of the core requirements defined by NAMUR for FDI is “All device integration software downloads and installations
must be possible without rebooting the DCS. And there must be a uniform download and installation process for a givensystem”.
FDI technology is designed in such a way that FDI Device Packages are imported and not installed. Hence, it does notmanipulate the system registry files and avoids the necessity to reboot the DCS system. This simplifies host system
maintenance and allows for live rather than planned updates to system components.

The Value of FDI: ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools

5ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools
System upgrade does not affect the Device Package
With the fast-changing IT world, it often becomes necessary for the DCS system to be upgraded for security patches,
system support and other necessary maintenance. Once the system is upgraded, it is a challenging task to ensurethat device integration drivers continue to work properly as most of these depend on the underlying platform andsupported software. With FDI, system upgrades do not affect the FDI Device Packages, therefore, saving costs andeliminating risk for the end users.

No license keys
The core of the FDI Device Package is an EDD and no license keys are required for activation of the EDD - a key
requirement of NAMUR.

Conclusion
FDI technology makes hassle-free device integration a reality by wrapping all the functionalities necessary for eithera simple device like a temperature transmitter, or a complex device like a valve positioner, to integrate into all types
of automation host systems. FDI technology provides the simplicity and robustness of EDDL technology as well as
flexibility and rich Graphical User Interface capability of FDT/DTM technology. With this simplicity and flexibility, FDI
is the natural way forward for device integration in the process automation industry.

FieldComm Group9430 Research Blvd., Ste 1-120
Austin, TX 78759 USA
info@fieldcommgroup.org+1 512.792.2300
www.fieldcommgroup.org© 2018 FieldComm GroupThe Value of FDI: ONE Device - ONE Package - ALL Tools

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