Professional Certificate in Industrial Data Communications

Program Overview

This professional development course equips engineers and technicians with the knowledge and skills to identify, prevent, and troubleshoot industrial data communications problems. It covers a wide range of topics, including data communications basics, serial communications, protocols, networking, fieldbuses, Modbus, wireless communications, OPC, and network security. To obtain a certificate of completion, students must achieve a 65% attendance rate, a 60% mark in assignments, and a 100% mark in quizzes.

Program Outline

Outline:

This professional development course is designed for engineers and technicians who need to understand how to identify, prevent, and troubleshoot industrial data communications problems. The course is composed of 12 modules, covering how to fix over sixty of the most common problems that occur in industrial communications systems.

Module 1: Data Communications Basics

Overview of industrial data communications Basic data communications principles Error detection Dealing with noise

Module 2: Serial Communications

RS-232 overview RS-232 troubleshooting RS-485 overview RS-485 troubleshooting

Module 3: Introduction to Protocols

Protocol concepts Bi-Sync HDLC File transfer protocols

Module 4: Networking Basics and System Components

OSI model Topologies Medium access control Repeaters, hubs, bridges, switches, routers

Module 5: Industrial Ethernet

CSMA/CD (half-duplex) Ethernet Fast Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet Industrial Ethernet components and Techniques

Module 6: TCP/IP Internet Layer Protocols

The TCP/IP protocol suite IP addressing techniques and routing concepts IPv4/IPv6 ICMP ARP

Module 7: TCP/IP Host-to-Host and Application Layer Protocols

Host-to-Host layer protocols: TCP and UDP FTP, DHCP, HTTP, and other application-layer protocols PING, ARP, TRACERT, and other TCP/IP utilities

Module 8: Fieldbuses

Fieldbus concepts HART DeviceNet ProfiBus Foundation Fieldbus

Module 9: Modbus

The Modbus messaging protocol Modbus Serial RTU Modbus Serial ASCII Modbus TCP/IP

Module 10: Wireless Communications and Networking

Microwave basics Antennas Wireless networking components 11 WLANs

Module 11: OPC

OPC concept Overview of OPC specifications DCOM OPC DA3.0 data access Tunneling

Module 12: Network Security

Access control Authentication and encryption Firewalls VPNs WLAN vulnerabilities and solutions

Assessment:

To obtain a certificate of completion for EIT’s Professional Certificate of Competency, students must achieve a 65% attendance rate at the live, online fortnightly webinars. Detailed summaries
otes can be submitted in lieu of attendance. In addition, students must obtain a mark of 60% in the set assignments which could take the form of written assignments and practical assignments. Students must also obtain a mark of 100% in quizzes. If a student does not achieve the required score, they will be given an opportunity to resubmit the assignment to obtain the required score.