Introduction

In Control Expert, click Tools > Ethernet Network Manager to visualize and verify a complex network configuration. The tool can:

  • provide a global view of your network

  • edit IP addresses and device identifiers for (e)X80 EIO adapter modules

Use either method to access the Ethernet Network Manager:

  • Select Tools > Ethernet Network Manager.

  • Select Ethernet Network Manager in the Project Browser .

NOTE: The Ethernet Network Manager tool is available on all M580 PACs. Only devices enabled in the address server (DHCP) are controlled.

Network Topology Configuration

The Ethernet Network Manager tool provides a snapshot of IP address settings for devices included in network topologies that are part of your application. If the tool detects an addressing error, it displays the detected error against a red background. If the tool detects an error, you can re-configure the affected setting in Control Expert.

Parameters in the Ethernet Network Manager :

Parameter

Description

Name

Ethernet communication device name

Type

The device type:

  • Scanner

  • Module

Subtype

The device sub-type:

  • RIO/DIO

  • CRA

Profiles

The kind of control network communications:

  • Remote (RIO)

  • Distributed (DIO)

Topo address

The topological address of the device, in the sequence: bus, drop, rack, slot.

DHCP Enable

Indicates if the device is a DHCP client and receives its IP address(es) from a DHCP server (yes/no).

IP Address

The IP address, or addresses, assigned to the device.

NOTE: Editable for scanned modules.

Subnet Mask

The subnet mask related to each assigned IP address.

Gateway Address

The IP address of the default gateway, to which messages for other networks are transmitted.

Identified By

For scanned devices, the type of network identifier - the device Name,

Identifier

The string used to identify a scanned device. The default value is the device Name.

NOTE: Editable for scanned modules.

SNMP

For scanning devices, the IP address of up to two SNMP network manager devices.

NTP State

The role or roles of the of the CPU’s NTP service:

NOTE: CPU firmware versions earlier than V4.01 use SNTP; CPU firmware V4.01 and later use NTPv4)

  • Disabled (SNTP and NTPv4): The service is not enabled in the CPU configuration.

  • Server (SNTP): The CPU is configured as an SNTP server.

  • Server only (NTPv4): The CPU is configured as an NTPv4 server, but not also as a client.

  • Client (SNTP): The CPU is configured as an SNTP client.

  • Client / Server (NTPv4): The CPU is configured as both an NTPv4 client and server.

NTP Configuration

Lists the IP addresses of the SNTP or NTPv4 servers that send updates to the NTP client resident in the device:

  • Primary and Secondary SNTP server configured IP addresses are displayed when the CPU is configured as Client or Server.

  • Up to 8 NTPv4 system peer IP Addresses can be displayed, with the Preferred server identified for NTPv4, when the CPU is configured as Client / Server.
NOTE:

  • The red cells indicate detected errors (defined by network management rules).

  • After editing a scanned module IP Address or Identifier setting, click the validate button to save your edits.

Verifying a Hot Standby Network

Follow these steps to use the Ethernet Network Manager tool while building your network in Control Expert:

Step

Action

1

In Control Expert, click Tools > Ethernet Network Manager.

A preliminary, read-only global view of your network displays.

2

Check for settings with a red background, indicating the tool has detected a configuration error.

3

Click OK to close the Network Inspector tool.

4

If the tool displayed a detected error:

  • in a scanning device, go to the specific device editor and change the IP configuration settings.

  • in a scanned device, you can edit the IP address and Identifier settings in the Ethernet Network Manager, or go to the specific device editor and change the IP configuration settings.

When you finish your edits, run the Ethernet Network Manager again.

5

Add distributed equipment and/or RIO modules to the EIO Bus .

NOTE: Only devices enabled in the address server (DHCP) are controlled.

6

Configure all scanners.

7

Repeat steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 until the Ethernet Network Manager no longer detects any errors.

Network Manager Services

The network manager starts automatically when you open the Network Inspector tool. The global network management system (GNMS) is responsible for global network consistency. The following checks are performed:

  • GNMS verifies that all IP addresses are unique for the modules in the application.

  • Each gateway that exists on your network is displayed in the network manager. By default, Control Expert notifies you if one of the gateways is missing an IP address. You can change this notification by clicking Tools > Project Settings > General > Management of build messages > Missing gateway IP @ generates. The options are a detected warning (default value) or nothing.

  • Only a single RSTP switch can be configured as a root for a given network.

  • The range of IP addresses is 1.0.0.0 … 126.255.255.255 or 128.0.0.0 … 223.255.255.255. Otherwise, an error is detected. Addresses 224.0.0.0 and up are multicast or experimental addresses. Addresses starting at 127 are loopback addresses. Addresses 169.254/16 are reserved for automatic private IP addressing (APIPA).

  • The tool verifies that the network address of the IP address is valid.

  • The tool verifies that the host address of the IP address is valid, including that broadcast IP addresses are blocked.

  • While an M580 CPU uses classless inter-domain routing (CIDR), some IP addresses are not allowed to maintain compatibility:

    • in a class A network, IP addresses that end in 255.255.255

    • in a class B network, IP addresses that end in 255.255

    • in a class C network, IP addresses that end in 255

  • The IP address is configured to access the gateway address. Therefore, the gateway address is within the subnetwork defined by the mask. The gateway is not accessible when it is not on the same subnetwork as the IP address.

Network Bandwidth Considerations

Control Expert alerts you when there are possible bandwidth considerations.

Ethernet RIO bandwidth:

  • Control Expert displays a detected error message in the log window if the RIO bandwidth (originator -> target) or (target->originator) is greater than 8%.

  • Control Expert displays a warning in the log window if the RIO bandwidth (originator -> target) or (target->originator) is greater than 6%.

Device network bandwidth (DIO and RIO combined):

  • Control Expert displays a detected error in the log window if total Modbus and EIP bandwidth (originator -> target) or (target->originator) is greater than 40%.

  • Control Expert displays a warning in the log window if total Modbus and EIP bandwidth (originator -> target) or (target->originator) is greater than 30%.