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 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 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 country’s 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 2 48 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.