Introduction

Schneider Electric offers two Ethernet communication modules with an embedded OPC UA server for communication with OPC UA clients, including SCADA:

  • BMENUA0100 module for standard environments.

  • BMENUA0100H module for harsh environments.

The module can be installed only in an Ethernet slot, on a main, local Ethernet rack. Refer to the topic Supported BMENUA0100 Module Configurations for a description of supported module placements, including the maximum number of BMENUA0100 modules that can be placed into a rack.

Physical Description

This figure shows the external features of the BMENUA0100 module:

1 LED array

2 Control port with Ethernet link and activity LEDs

3 Ethernet backplane port

4 X Bus backplane port

5 Cybersecurity operating mode rotary selector switch

Refer to the topic LED Diagnostics for information on reading module LEDs.

If the Ethernet control port is not enabled, use the stopper that ships with each module to help prevent debris from entering the control port:

External Ports

The BMENUA0100 module includes the following external ports:

Port

Description

Control port

The control port is the single port located on the front of the BMENUA0100 module. Its features include:

  • When the control port is enabled, it is the exclusive interface for OPC UA communications, except when IPv6 is configured.

    • When IPv6 is configured, both the backplane port and the control port can be used for OPC UA communications.

    • When IPv6 is not configured, you can also connect OPC UA clients located on the backplane network via the BMENUA0100 control port if a route has been defined/declared on the computer that hosts the OPC UA client.

  • Operating speed up to 1 Gb/s. When operating at the speed of:

    • 1 Gb/s, use only CAT6 copper shielded twisted four-pair cables.

    • 10/100 Mb/s, use CAT5e or CAT6 copper shielded twisted four-pair cables.

  • Dual IP stack that supports both IPv4 (32 bit) and IPv6 (128 bit) IP addressing:

    • Both IPv4 and IPv6 are configured for the module.

    • IPv6 configuration can be static or dynamic (via SLAAC).

    • IPv4 default setting is auto-assigned based on the module MAC address, if an IP address is not configured.

  • Secure access to the OPC UA server via both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols.

  • HTTPS secure protocol (over IPv4) for firmware upgrade and cybersecurity configuration.

  • NTPv4 secure protocol support.

  • IPsec-provided security for non-secure services, including SNMPv1, Modbus TCP, and Syslog.

Ethernet backplane port

The BMENUA0100 Ethernet backplane port supports the IPv4 (32 bit) protocol. When the control port is disabled, the backplane port can support OPC UA communications. the backplane port includes the following features:

  • Operating speed up to 100 Mb/s.

  • Modbus TCP IPv4 Ethernet connectivity to the CPU:

    • The Ethernet backplane port is the exclusive port for Modbus diagnostics.

  • Exclusive port for non-cybersecurity configuration (IP, NTPv4, SNMPv1), by:

    • Control Expert v14.1 and later

    • FDR/DHCP server

  • If the control port is disabled, the Ethernet backplane port provides secure access to the OPC UA server via the IPv4 protocol, and supports the following services:

X Bus backplane port

The BMENUA0100 module uses X Bus backplane communication to:

  • Receive 24 Vdc power.

  • Discover the rack and slot address of the BMENUA0100 module.

NOTE: No other communication is performed via the X Bus backplane port of the BMENUA0100 module.

Rotary Switch

A three-position rotary switch is located on the back of the module. Use only the small, plastic screwdriver that ships with the module to change the switch position and configure a cybersecurity operating mode for the module.

The positions on the rotary switch are:

The settings are:

  • Secured mode

  • Standard mode

  • Security Reset

NOTE:

  • The rotary switch is not accessible when the module is placed on the rack.

  • In a Hot Standby system, verify that the BMENUA0100 module rotary switch positions – in both the primary and the standby local main racks – are the same. The system does not automatically perform this check for you.

Refer to the description of cybersecurity operating modes for information on each rotary switch position setting.