Overview

An EtherNet/IP connection provides a communication link between 2 or more devices. Properties for a single connection can be configured in the DTMs for the connected devices.

The following example presents settings for a connection between the CPU’s DIO scanner service and a remote STB NIC 2212 network interface module. Configuration edits are made to the DTMs for each device.

When making DTM edits, disconnect the selected DTM from the actual module or device.

Accessing the Connection Information

View the connection information tabs:

Step

Action

1

In Control Expert, double-click the DTM for the CPU’s DIO scanner service to access the configuration.

2

In the navigation tree, expand the Device List to see the associated local slave instances.

3

Expand (+) the device that corresponds to the STB NIC 2212 module.

4

Select Read Input/ Write Output Data to see the Connection Settings and Connection Information tabs.

Connection Settings

Control Expert automatically creates a connection between a communication module and remote device when the remote device is added to the Control Expert project. Thereafter, many edits to the connection can be made in the DTM for the remote device. However, some of the connection parameters can also be configured in the DTM for the communication module, as demonstrated below.

Edit these parameters on the Connection Settings tab. Use settings that are appropriate to your application:

Parameter

Description

Connection Bit

The (read-only) offset for both the health bit and the control bit for this connection. Offset values are auto-generated by the Control Expert DTM.

Request Packet Interval (RPI)

The refresh period for this connection , from 2 to 65535 ms. Default = 12 ms. Type 30 ms.

NOTE: This parameter can be set in the DTM for the communication module or the remote device.

Time-out Multiplier

This setting, multiplied against the RPI, produces a value that triggers an inactivity timeout. Setting selections include: x4, x8, x16, x32, x64, x128, x256 and x512.

For this example, accept the default (x4).

Input Fallback Mode

This parameter describes the behavior of inputs in the application in the event communication is lost. Select Set to Zero.

Click OK to save your settings.

NOTE: The connection information page is read-only when the DTM is selected. This information needs to be set in the DTM for the remote device.

Configuring Connection Settings in the Remote Device DTM

Connections between the CPU’s DIO scanner service and a remote device can be created and edited in the DTM for the remote device.

In this example, the following configuration edits are made to the connection that Control Expert automatically created when the remote device was added to the project. Use settings that are appropriate for your actual application:

Step

Action

1

Open the DTM for the remote device by selecting it in the Device Editor .

2

Open the Device Editor:

  • Use the main menu (Edit > Open) ... or ...

  • Right-click and scroll to Open .

3

In the navigation pane (on the left side of the Device Editor ), confirm that the remote device connection is of the type Read Input / Write Output Data . To view the connection type, select the STB NIC 2212 module in the left pane of the Device Editor. If the connection type is not of the type Read Input / Write Output Data, delete the existing connection and add a new one, as follows:

  1. With the connection selected in the left pane, click the Remove Connection button.

    Result:The existing connection is removed.

  2. Click the Add Connection button.

    Result:The Select the connection to add dialog opens.

  3. Use the scroll buttons on the drop down list to display and select the Read Input / Write Output Data connection type.

  4. Click OK to close the Select the connection to add dialog.

    Result:The new connection node appears.

  5. Click Apply to save the new connection, leaving the Device Editor open for additional edits.

General Tab

This is the General tab of the DTM for the STB NIC 2212:

Edit the settings in the General tab:

Parameter

Description

RPI

The refresh period for this connection. Accept the value of 30 ms. (This parameter can be set in the DTM for the communication module or the remote device.)

Input size

The number of bytes (0 ... 509) configured in the STB NIC 2212 module.

Input mode

Transmission type:

  • Multicast

  • Point to Point

For this example, accept the default (Multicast).

Input type

Ethernet packet type (fixed or variable length) to be transmitted. (Only Fixed length packets are supported.)

Input priority

The transmission priority value depends upon the device DTM. These are the available values:

  • Low

  • High

  • Scheduled

For this example, accept the default selection (Scheduled).

NOTE: For remote modules that support more than one priority value, you can use this setting to specify the order in which the Ethernet communication module handles packets. For more information, refer to the topic describing QoS packet prioritization.

Input trigger

These are the available transmission trigger values:

  • Cyclic

  • Change of state or application

For input I/O data, select Cyclic .

Output size

The number of bytes configured in the STB NIC 2212 module in increments of 4 bytes (2 words).

Output mode

Accept the default ( Point to Point).

Output type

(Read-only). Only Fixed length packets are supported.

Output priority

Accept the default ( Scheduled).

Click Apply to save your settings and leave the window open.

Identity Check Tab

Configure the Identity Check page to set rules for comparing the identity of the network devices (as defined by their DTM or EDS files) against the identity of the actual network device.

This is the Identity Check tab:

Use the Check Identity parameter to set the rules that the CPU’s DIO scanner service uses to compare the configured versus the actual remote device:

  • Must match exactly : The DTM or EDS file exactly matches the remote device.

  • Disable: No checking occurs. The identity portion of the connection is filled with zero values (the default setting).

  • Must be compatible : If the remote device is not the same as defined by the DTM/EDS, it emulates the DTM/EDS definitions.

  • None: No checking occurs. The identity portion of the connection is omitted.

  • Custom: Enable the following parameter settings, to be set individually.

Edit the settings in the Identity Check tab:

Parameter

Description

Compatibility Mode

True : For each of the following selected tests, the DTM/EDS and remote device need only be compatible.

False : For each of the following selected tests, the DTM/EDS and remote device need to match exactly.

Compatibility Mode

Make a selection for each of these parameters:

  • Compatible: Include the parameter in the test.

  • Not checked: The parameter is not included in the test.

Minor Version

Major Version

Product Code

Product Type

Product Vendor

Click OK to save your settings and close the window.

The next step is to configure I/O settings.