Re: Dionex USB interface
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 7:37 am
dear all,
for your information, I have solved the connectivity problem by using an extra PC with usb-over-network server running, which is located close to the all my six Dionex systems, and they all are plugged into this server using normal USB hub.
The USB server is connected to the LAN, and a client software is installed on every computer with Chromeleon (which are all connected to the LAN as well). It does require some extra actions to initiate the connection between the LC and its computer, but it works smoothly.
The only point is that each Dionex LC is comprised of 3 USB devices (pump, autosampler, column compartment), therefore I had to buy the software license for 20 USB devices, which is ca. 800 USD.
In my case all 6 Dionex systems are working together with Thermo TSQ Vantage mass spectrometers (mass specs are connected using Ethernet, by the way..). The fact that connection speed of USB 2.0 is faster than even 100Mbit Ethernet, does not really matter in this case because each LC has not so much data to transfer - only acquisition method details and synchronization signals.
It is true that the LAN can create many more issues, just because this is the interface you have to configure properly, and the user should be able (be competent enough) to do that. But if you really understand how to setup your system properly, this will work as smoothly as USB. I believe that I can rely on Ethernet which is de facto standard in creating the infrastructure for connection of a variety of devices e.g. computers and such critical systems as video surveillance / access control systems, etc.
In my case, when I have six LC-MSMS systems, the remote desktop connection would be of limited usability (single terminal to control everything to be shared by several operators), or I had to have the other 6 computers in addition to the six PCs I already have. Unfortunately Thermo does not ship an extra PC with their Dionex-equipped mass spectrometers, and I also do not want to buy it.
My instruments are within 5m distance from their computers but they are separated by a wall with windows. I can see the instruments but I cannot reach them directly. It means that I cannot put the cables straight through. The cables should go up to the ceilings, then go over the ceilings, and then go down to the instruments. This is definitely more than 5 meters. I am confident that it would be great if Dionex at least could offer Ethernet option with their instruments... because 10% of users would find this helpful.
thanks for your input,
Tim
for your information, I have solved the connectivity problem by using an extra PC with usb-over-network server running, which is located close to the all my six Dionex systems, and they all are plugged into this server using normal USB hub.
The USB server is connected to the LAN, and a client software is installed on every computer with Chromeleon (which are all connected to the LAN as well). It does require some extra actions to initiate the connection between the LC and its computer, but it works smoothly.
The only point is that each Dionex LC is comprised of 3 USB devices (pump, autosampler, column compartment), therefore I had to buy the software license for 20 USB devices, which is ca. 800 USD.
In my case all 6 Dionex systems are working together with Thermo TSQ Vantage mass spectrometers (mass specs are connected using Ethernet, by the way..). The fact that connection speed of USB 2.0 is faster than even 100Mbit Ethernet, does not really matter in this case because each LC has not so much data to transfer - only acquisition method details and synchronization signals.
It is true that the LAN can create many more issues, just because this is the interface you have to configure properly, and the user should be able (be competent enough) to do that. But if you really understand how to setup your system properly, this will work as smoothly as USB. I believe that I can rely on Ethernet which is de facto standard in creating the infrastructure for connection of a variety of devices e.g. computers and such critical systems as video surveillance / access control systems, etc.
In my case, when I have six LC-MSMS systems, the remote desktop connection would be of limited usability (single terminal to control everything to be shared by several operators), or I had to have the other 6 computers in addition to the six PCs I already have. Unfortunately Thermo does not ship an extra PC with their Dionex-equipped mass spectrometers, and I also do not want to buy it.
My instruments are within 5m distance from their computers but they are separated by a wall with windows. I can see the instruments but I cannot reach them directly. It means that I cannot put the cables straight through. The cables should go up to the ceilings, then go over the ceilings, and then go down to the instruments. This is definitely more than 5 meters. I am confident that it would be great if Dionex at least could offer Ethernet option with their instruments... because 10% of users would find this helpful.
thanks for your input,
Tim