Overview

After you have added a device to your system project, you can configure its attributes to meet your specific requirements by using various tabs and windows of the Topology Manager.

When multiple devices are selected, you can view and/or configure attributes that they have in common.

NOTE: When one or more users work on the same system project simultaneously (for example, on the controller configuration, network layout, or device properties), locking mechanisms may restrict certain concurrent actions. In such case, dialog boxes and/or the ACTIVITIES tab of the notification pane provide details.

Configurable Attributes of Devices

The attributes that you can configure depend on the type of device. Typically, attributes encompass the name, hardware settings (for example, the number of ports, communication cards), services of ports, IP addresses, and logical networks. Other attributes may be available depending on the type of device or module.

The attributes of devices are documented in the topic describing the PROPERTIES pane.

IP addresses and DHCP settings are easily configured by using the LOGICAL NETWORK VIEW and DHCP VIEW respectively.

Refer also to the Control Expert Classic parameter correspondence table.

Configuring Properties of Redundant PACs

For redundant PACs, when you modify the properties of a module in one of the local racks, the modifications are repeated in the counterpart module of the other rack. The software may apply rules that are specific to the configuration of redundant PACs.

For example, if you disable the service port of the CPU module of rack M580_A_1, the service port of the CPU module of rack M580_B_1 is disabled as well.

Viewing and Configuring Attributes of Multiple Devices

When you select multiple devices, modules, and/or communications cards, the CONFIGURATION tab of the PROPERTIES pane shows the attributes that your selection has in common.

When you select devices or modules that are not of the same catalog reference, the Description tab of the PROPERTIES pane is hidden.

You can select multiple objects either in the SYSTEM PROJECT pane or a physical view but not a mix of both.

When multiple objects are selected, some attribute values may not be shown but you can modify configurable attributes.

Value of a displayed attribute

Value shown

Result after configuring the attribute

Same value for all the selected objects.

The actual value of the attribute.

The new value is applied to the selected objects.

Value is different for at least one selected object.

None.

The new value is applied to the selected objects. Existing values that were not shown are overwritten.

NOTE: When several objects are selected and they have an attribute in common, if the value of this attribute must remain unique for each object, the attribute becomes read-only. This is the case, for example, for the Name attribute of a device.