Instruction Manual

i.LON 100 Internet Server Programmer’s Reference 1-1
1 Introduction to the i.LON 100 SOAP/XML Interface
The i.LON 100 contains a powerful microprocessor with a real-time, multi-tasking operating
system that manages its various applications. These applications include alarming,
scheduling, data logging and network variable type translation. Generally, you will configure
these applications using the i.LON 100 Configuration Software, as described in the i.LON
100 Internet ServerUser’s Guide. The i.LON 100 Internet Server User’s Guide provides
instructions to follow when configuring the i.LON 100 Configuration Software, as well as
general information on the diffferent i.LON 100 applications, and guidelines to follow when
using these applications.
You can also use the SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) / XML (Extensible Markup
Language) interface provided with the i.LON 100 to configure and use these applications.
XML is a universal format used to deliver data through structured documents over the Web.
It allows developers to store data for any application in a standard, consistent way. SOAP is
an interface that provides a mechanism for different applications and devices to
communicate with each other over the Internet, regardless of platform, by sending SOAP
messages to each other. SOAP relies on XML to define the format and contents of its
messages.
The configuration of each i.LON 100 application is stored in an XML file. The i.LON 100
reads these files during its boot process, and sets the operating parameters of each
application based on the configuration data contained in the XML file for that application.
The i.LON 100 includes a set of SOAP functions that you can use to create and manage the
configuration of each application. Each time you invoke any of these functions, a SOAP
message is sent to the i.LON 100. The content of the SOAP message is based on the input
you supply to the function. The i.LON 100 reads the contents of the message, writes the
contents of the message to the applicable XML file, and adjusts the operating parameters of
its applications accordingly. All of this occurs while the i.LON 100 is operating.
It is important to note that the XML files described in this document store the configurations
of the i.LON 100 applications. They do not store the data generated by these applications.
The data generated by the i.LON 100 applications is stored in the flash memory of the i.LON
100.
However, this does not mean that application configuration is the only task you can perform
with the i.LON 100 SOAP/XML interface. The SOAP/XML interface also includes functions
you can use to access, read and analyze the data generated by the i.LON 100 applications.
And so you can use the SOAP/XML interface not only to configure the various applications of
the i.LON 100, but to monitor them as well.
1.1 About This Document
This document describes the XML files that store the configurations of the various i.LON 100
applications, and the SOAP functions you can use with each application. The SOAP
interface provided with the i.LON 100 conforms to the SOAP 1.1 proposed Technical
Recommendation:
http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/NOTE-SOAP-20000508
This document also describes how to configure the i.LON 100 applications by manually
creating and modifying the XML configuration files. Once you have created the XML files,
you can download them to the i.LON 100 via FTP. The i.LON 100 will read the downloaded
files and adjust its operating parameters accordingly the next time it is rebooted.