+Net™ is the network extension of TrainController™. +Net™ enables one or more persons, to operate a model railroad layout with several computers, that are connected with each other by a network. +Net™ utilizes standard network technologies and protocols (TCP/IP), that are available on every modern personal computer running Windows.

+Net™ also provides a mode which allows testing of distributed functions by starting TrainController™ several times on the same computer without any physical network.

Unlike other network based solutions for model railroad computer control, that simply support sharing of the same digital system between different computers or focus on enabling a remote computer to access a remotely connected digital system, +Net™ focuses on sharing and on distribution of the high level model railroad control processes to different computers.

The architecture of +Net™ is peer-to-peer rather than client/server. That means, that control of the model railroad is shared between different computers with equal rights. In general there is no dedicated “server computer” nor a centralized interface to the model railroad.

Distributed Model Railroad Computer Control

The key features of +Net™ are listed below:
Even though +Net™ offer so many possibilities for operation of a model railroad layout with multiple computers you will find, that setup of +Net™ in the software is amazingly simple. Learn more about +Net™ by reading its manual. Download +Net™ from here and try it free of charge.

Configuration Examples

In general and in the most recommended case, the computers are connected to the layout through one or more digital systems and by a separate computer interface for each computer as shown in the following image:


The control of this layout shall be distributed to two computers. The main line (green area), will be operated by the first computer (called “Green” here). The branch line (blue area) will be operated by the second computer (called “Blue” here). It is certainly not necessary to use two computers to control such small layout. For demonstration purposes, however, such small layout is well suited.

In the above image the digital system is shared between different computers by utilizing the possibility, to connect several computers directly to the same digital system through the Digital System Bus.
In an extended configuration it is also possible, to connect “local” digital systems to one computer, that are not visible to the other computers in the network. It is for example possible to connect a second digital system to computer “Green”, that is responsible for turnout control or feedback monitoring on the main line. This is shown in the image below:


In the above image the local digital system is only operated by computer “Green”. The digital system is not visible to computer “Blue”.

The above examples show configurations with only two computers. With +Net™ it is possible, however, to create a network with as many computers as desired.

Establishing a Virtual Digital System Bus with +Net/D™

Users of digital systems without such digital system bus can share their digital system between different computers, too, by installing +Net/D™, which is an extended variant of +Net ™. The recommended and optimal way to share the same digital system between different computers, however, is utilizing the digital system bus by connecting the computers directly to the digital system through an appropriate interface. In cases where this is not possible (for example because the digital system does not allow to connect several computers directly), it is possible to use +Net/D™. +Net/D™ is an extended variant of +Net™. It provides all features of +Net™. Additionally  +Net/D™ contains a virtual, software based Digital System Bus, to which additional computers can be connected in order to share the same digital system.

This is shown in the image below: