Woodward SST-DN3 PCI DeviceNet Interface Cards

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

Woodward SST-DN3 Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The Woodward SST-DN3 series — developed under the SST (Spectrum System Technology) product line, now part of Woodward — represents a class of PCI-bus DeviceNet master/slave interface cards engineered for deterministic industrial network communication. These cards are deployed across heavy-process industries including petrochemical refineries, nuclear auxiliary systems, offshore platforms, and continuous-process chemical plants where DeviceNet (IEC 62026-3 / EN 50325-2) remains the backbone fieldbus for distributed I/O, motor control centers, and safety-rated sensor networks.

The SST-DN3 family provides PC-based control systems with direct DeviceNet master or slave access via standard PCI slots, enabling SCADA workstations, DCS historian nodes, and HMI engineering stations to participate natively on DeviceNet segments without external gateways. Installed base across legacy DCS architectures — including Honeywell TDC 3000, Foxboro I/A Series, and Emerson DeltaV hybrid configurations — ensures continued demand for these cards well beyond their original production lifecycle.

The Evolution of SST-DN3 Architecture

The SST-DN3 architecture originated in the mid-1990s as industrial PC platforms began replacing proprietary VME and ISA-bus controllers. The first-generation SST-DN3 cards used ISA-bus interfaces and onboard Motorola 68000-series co-processors to offload DeviceNet protocol stack execution from the host CPU — a critical design decision for real-time scan cycle integrity on 500 kbps networks.

The transition to PCI bus (SST-DN3-PCI series) in the late 1990s and early 2000s delivered 32-bit bus mastering DMA, reducing host CPU overhead to near zero during polled I/O cycles. The SST-DN3-PCI-2 specifically introduced dual-port onboard SRAM for simultaneous master and slave operation on a single card — a capability required in gateway and bridge topologies where the host PC must simultaneously manage upstream Ethernet/IP and downstream DeviceNet segments.

With the PCI Express transition in the 2010s, SST introduced the SST-DN3-PCIe series as the direct architectural successor. However, the PCI form factor remains in active service across legacy industrial PCs (IPC) with PCI slots that cannot be cost-effectively replaced, making the SST-DN3-PCI-2 and its siblings critical long-term maintenance items. Windows 10/11 driver support for the SST-DN3-PCI series was maintained through Woodward's driver package v4.x, though new deployments are directed toward PCIe variants.

SST-DN3 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent the verified SST-DN3 product family, classified by interface type and operational role:

PCI Bus — DeviceNet Interface Cards

• SST-DN3-PCI-2: Dual-channel DeviceNet PCI master/slave card, 32-bit bus master DMA, 500/250/125 kbps
• SST-DN3-PCI: Single-channel DeviceNet PCI master card, onboard co-processor, Windows/Linux driver support
• SST-DN3-PCI-2-DNP: Dual-channel PCI card with extended DNP3 protocol stack for SCADA integration
• SST-DN3-PCI-2-SLC: PCI DeviceNet card with SLC 500 emulation layer for Allen-Bradley legacy migration

ISA Bus — Legacy DeviceNet Interface Cards

• SST-DN3-ISA: Single-channel DeviceNet ISA master card, 16-bit, onboard 68000 co-processor
• SST-DN3-ISA-2: Dual-channel ISA DeviceNet card, simultaneous master/slave, legacy IPC compatible

PCI Express — Next-Generation DeviceNet Interface

• SST-DN3-PCIe: Single-channel DeviceNet PCIe x1 master card, direct architectural successor to SST-DN3-PCI
• SST-DN3-PCIe-2: Dual-channel DeviceNet PCIe x1 card, replaces SST-DN3-PCI-2 in new deployments
• SST-DN3-PCIe-2-DNP: Dual-channel PCIe card with DNP3 stack, SCADA/EMS integration

USB — DeviceNet Interface Adapters

• SST-DN3-USB: Single-channel DeviceNet USB 2.0 master adapter, portable commissioning and diagnostics
• SST-DN3-USB-2: Dual-channel DeviceNet USB adapter, simultaneous network monitoring and control

Ethernet — DeviceNet Gateway Modules

• SST-DN3-ETH: DeviceNet to Ethernet/IP gateway, 1-channel DN master, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port
• SST-DN3-ETH-2: Dual DeviceNet channel Ethernet/IP gateway, DLR ring topology support

Compact / Embedded Form Factors

• SST-DN3-104: PC/104 form factor DeviceNet master card, embedded IPC and panel PC applications
• SST-DN3-104-2: Dual-channel PC/104 DeviceNet card, rugged embedded deployments, -40°C to +85°C
• SST-DN3-CPCI: CompactPCI DeviceNet master card, 3U/6U rack-mount industrial PC platforms

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete SST-DN3 Parts

The SST-DN3-PCI and SST-DN3-ISA sub-families have reached end-of-production status. Woodward/SST no longer manufactures replacement units, and authorized distributor stock has been exhausted in most regions. For plant operators running legacy DCS or SCADA systems with embedded PCI-slot IPCs, replacement sourcing requires access to certified aftermarket inventory.

DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory program for obsolete SST-DN3 series cards, including the SST-DN3-PCI-2, SST-DN3-ISA, and SST-DN3-ISA-2. All units are sourced from decommissioned plant equipment, tested against original factory specifications, and supplied with full traceability documentation. DriveKNMS provides lifecycle extension support including driver compatibility verification for Windows 7/10 environments, firmware version matching for existing network configurations, and cross-reference to PCIe successor models where slot migration is feasible.

For facilities under long-term service agreements (LTSA) or operating under nuclear QA programs (10 CFR 50 Appendix B), DriveKNMS can provide material certifications and test records on request.

Quality Control for the SST-DN3 Range

SST-DN3 PCI cards incorporate multi-layer PCBs with onboard co-processors, dual-port SRAM arrays, and DeviceNet physical layer transceivers (Philips/NXP PCA82C251 or equivalent). Quality verification for these cards requires protocol-level testing beyond standard power-on diagnostics.

DriveKNMS applies the following test protocol to all SST-DN3 units prior to shipment:

• Bus Master DMA Verification: Card installed in test IPC; DMA transfer integrity confirmed across 32-bit PCI bus at full 133 MB/s bandwidth
• DeviceNet Physical Layer Test: CAN transceiver output verified at 500/250/125 kbps; differential signal amplitude and common-mode rejection measured per ISO 11898
• Master Scan Cycle Test: Card configured as DeviceNet master; polled I/O scan cycle executed against 16-node test network; scan time jitter measured <1 ms
• Slave Mode Test: Card configured as DeviceNet slave; explicit messaging and polled I/O response verified from external master scanner
• Driver Stack Validation: SST API driver loaded on Windows 10 test environment; all SDK function calls executed without error; network object model verified
• Thermal Soak: 4-hour burn-in at 55°C ambient; all parameters re-verified post-soak
• ESD and Isolation Check: Backplane connector pins verified for isolation resistance >100 MΩ to chassis ground