Overview

The Interfaces category regroups attributes related to the TCP/IP configuration of devices.

It always contains at least one subcategory.

When a device manages other IP addresses in addition to the host addresses, their attributes are shown in separate interface subcategories, which correspond to the respective ports, for example, Port1_Interface. Typically, enabling the routing capability of a port (Interface attribute) creates such a subcategory.

Embedded Interface Subcategory

The subcategory is present for devices that manage at least one IP address. It contains the attributes of the host IP addresses. A device can manage more than one host IP address.

NOTE: When the interface of the device is located on a communication card, the name of the interface is Ethernet Interface.

Each interface subcategory features one or more of the following attributes.

Attribute

Description

Ethernet Protocol

Indicates the communication protocol that is used by the interface.

Possible values:

  • Modbus TCP

  • EtherNet/IP

For devices that support it, you can select either value.

Associated Physical Ports

Lists the ports of the device to which the interface settings (such as Ethernet protocol, IP address, logical network) apply.

NOTE: CPU represents the processor of the device itself.

MAC Address

Lets you enter the identification number of the physical device.

The value is used as identifier for DHCP clients that are identified by their MAC address.

Format: MM-MM-MM-SS-SS-SS where MM (vendor identification) and SS (device-specific identification) are hexadecimal numbers.

Scanning Device Outside Logical Network

The attribute is available only for BMENOC03•1.4 modules.

When the check box is selected (true), the information message related to analysis rule ID 3008 is not displayed.

NOTE: Selecting this check box clears the Automatic Device(s) subnet update check box in the IP address configuration tab of the module in the control project and vice versa.

Attributes of IP Addresses

IP addresses can be configured manually or automatically by assigning the device to a logical network or by using the LOGICAL NETWORK VIEW .

Each interface subcategory features one or more of the following attributes.

Attribute

Description

IP Address

IP address of the device.

MainIP

MainIP is an IP address that is available for:

  • The CPU module. It is used for services other than the RIO scanner.

  • Certain communication modules.

NOTE: For the second BMECRA31310 module in each drop of a redundant PAC, MainIP is read-only and set to the value of MainIP of the first CRA module +1.

IPA

IPA is used by the RIO scanner.

NOTE: For BMENUA0100 modules, IPA contains the IP address of the backplane port. It is automatically configured with an IP address that belongs to the same logical network as MainIP of the CPU module.

MainIP+1

Available only for interfaces in local rack B of a redundant PAC.

The attribute is read-only and calculated automatically based on the value of MainIP .

IPB

Available only for interfaces in local rack B of a redundant PAC.

Used by the RIO scanner.

NOTE: For BMENUA0100 modules, IPB is the IPv4 address of the backplane port.

IPv4 Control Port Sections

The IPv4 A and IPv4 B sections and their attributes are available for BMENUA0100 modules and apply to the control port.

The IPv4 B section pertains to the module in local rack B of a redundant PAC. Its attributes are automatically configured based on the values of attributes in the IPv4 A section and vice versa.

Attribute

Description

Enabled

When the check box is selected (true, default value) enables IPv4 communication for the control port and shows the other attributes of the section.

IPv4 A

IPv4 address of the module.

By default, an IP address is configured that belongs to a new logical network that is created.

IPv4 Mode

Identifies the source of the IPv4 address.

Possible values:

  • Default: Disables the Logical Network section and IPv4 A , which shows as 0.0.0.0 (default setting).

    The module is automatically configured with IPv4 address 10.10.MAC5.MAC6 where:

    • MAC5 is the fifth byte of the MAC address of the module.

    • MAC6 is the sixth byte of the MAC address of the module.

  • Static : Enables the Logical Network section, which lets you configure a static IP address.

IPv6 Control Port Sections

The IPv6 A and IPv6 B sections and their attributes are available only for BMENUA0100 modules and apply to the control port.

The IPv6 B section pertains to the module in local rack B of a redundant PAC. Its attributes are automatically configured based on the values of attributes in the IPv6 A section and vice versa. Except for Gateway Address, which you can configure independently.

Attribute

Description

Enabled

Selecting the check box (true) enables IPv6 communication for the control port and shows the other attributes of the section.

IPv6 A

128-bit IPv6 IP address.

Format: 8 groups of 4 hexadecimal numbers separated by a colon.

NOTE:

IPv6 addresses are not shown in the LOGICAL NETWORK VIEW and Communication Mapping Views.

IPv6 Mode

Identifies the source of the IPv6 address.

Possible values:

  • Static: Enables the IPv6 address, Subnet Prefix A , and Gateway Address attributes, which let you configure a static IP address and network domain (default setting).

  • SLAAC: Disables and hides the IPv6 address and the Subnet Prefix A attribute. The IP address is provided by the DHCP server by using the SLAAC method.

Gateway Address

128-bit IPv6 IP address.

Format: 8 groups of 4 hexadecimal numbers separated by a colon.

NOTE:

IPv6 addresses are not shown in the LOGICAL NETWORK VIEW and Communication Mapping Views.

Subnet Prefix A

The number of bits of the user-configured IPv6 address that are used to define the subnet network.

Default: 64

Range: 0 to 128

Logical Network Section

For each IP address, the following attributes are available.

Attribute

Description

Logical Network

Logical network that the interface of the object belongs to.

You can assign an interface to an existing logical network or to a new one by using the list. This sets the IP address to the next available address on this logical network.

The list contains the following entries:

  • NOCONF: Not configured. Sets the IP address, Subnet Mask , and Gateway Address to 0.0.0.0. The interface of the object is not assigned to a logical network.

  • Existing logical networks: Assigns the interface to the logical network that you select.

  • New: Create a new logical network by entering its name and configuring its properties. The interface of the object is assigned to the newly created logical network.

NOTE:

  • For certain interfaces, the value is preconfigured or inherited from another device (for example, a module may have the same value as the CPU module of the same PAC) and may be read-only (for example, for CRA adapter modules).

  • For redundant PACs, changing the value for the interface of a module in one local rack changes it also for the counterpart module in the other rack.

Subnet Mask

The attribute is read-only and configured based on the configuration of the logical network that the interface of the object is assigned to (Logical Network attribute)

Gateway Address