LonWorks Open Systems

1
The Truth Behind the Lies
2
Truth Behind the Lies about LonWorks

• The LonTalk protocol can only run on a Neuron
  Chip
• FALSE The LonTalk protocol can and has been
  ported to run on other Microprocessors including
  those from Intel, Motorola, Toshiba, and others
• The Neuron Chip is only available from Echelon
• FALSE Echelon does not manufacture Neuron
  Chips. Currently they are available from Cypress
  Semiconductor and Toshiba. Echelon purchases
  Neuron Chips just like any other OEM
• Echelon controls the LonTalk protocol
• FALSE The LonTalk protocol is under the control
  of ANSI as EIA-709.1. Anyone can purchase the
  protocol spec from ANSI and implement the
  protocol on any microprocessor of their choice.
• Echelon charges a royalty for every LonTalk
  device sold
• FALSE Echelon only administers the unique
  48-bit ID numbers in those devices requesting a
  unique ID and charges a very small administration
  fee for this service. Porting the protocol to any
  processor does not require obtaining a unique ID,
  hence no fee is necessary.

3
Truth Behind the Lies about LonWorks

• LNS is a closed network operating system
• FALSE LNS (LonWorks Network Services) an open
  network management and database structure
  developed by Echelon for the management and
  maintenance of LonWorks networks. Anyone can
  implement an LNS application or Plugin. LNS based
  applications and Plugins are available from
  dozens of sources in the open market. No one
  company has greater access into the LNS structure
  than any other company (including Echelon). The
  LNS network management database and network
  management structure is openly documented and
  accessible to anyone.
• XML/Web Services will replace the need for
  LonWorks as a device level control network
• FALSE XML runs on Ethernet The Ethernet
  protocol is not designed to provide the services,
  reliability, addressing, messaging types,
  security, or reliability required for control
  networks. There will be a need for a device level
  communication protocol for long into the
  foreseeable future.
• You must pay Echelon for every node installed on
  a LonWorks network
• FALSE Echelon develops network management tools
  as do several other companies. Echelon chose to
  provide a very low cost tool to the market and
  scale the cost based upon usage and, hence,
  making an extremely cost effective, scaleable
  tool set. However, other manufacturers have
  developed competitive tools and have their own
  pricing structures.

4
Truth Behind the Lies about LonWorks

• You can install an entire LonWorks control
  network without ever buying anything from Echelon
• True. Competitive products are available for all
  aspects of a LonWorks network.
• Bacnet has more installed devices than LonWorks
• FALSE LonWorks installed base is greater than
  40 Million devices. Bacnet has yet to reach
  500,000. See the Strata Resources white paper at
  www.strataresources.com for a comprehensive
  evaluation.
• The claims in the Frost and Sullivan are accurate
• FALSE The Frost and Sullivan report issued
  several years ago has been proven to be grossly
  inaccurate and misleading. The research was
  severely incomplete and apparently biased towards
  Bacnet. Three of the countrys largest OEMs of
  LonWorks products have come forward to dispute
  the Frost and Sullivan report in open letter to
  their chairman.
• The LonWorks installed base has exceeded 40
  Million devices
• TRUE And it continues to grow year after year.

5
Truth Behind the Lies about LonWorks

• You must use a gateway to connect more than 128
  LonWorks devices in a network
• FALSE LonWorks networks can contain up to
  32,768 devices on one domain with up to 248
  domains per system. Some manufacturers impose an
  artificial limit within their products to control
  and limit the size of the network and require
  additional hardware components to expand. Often
  this locks the system into a single source
  supplier for these gateways. This is often
  referred to as a tiered system.
• LonWorks is only applicable to small networks
• FALSE LonWorks networks can and have been
  scaled from 2 nodes to millions of nodes
  successfully with excellent speed and
  reliability.
• LonWorks is too slow to monitor more than a few
  hundred points
• FALSE With a good system architecture, a
  LonWorks network can monitor and control tens of
  thousands of points efficiently and reliably.