TOP Server V5AB Suite

Presenters: Kevin Rutherford – Application EngineerColin Winchester – VP Operations

Agenda

TOP Server V5 Overview AB Suite Overview Individual Drivers Detail Live Demonstration

Product overview Summary and Q&A

What is TOP Server?

TOP Server Gets You Connected!

http://www.toolboxopc.com/html/drivers_list.asp

New User Interface

Same Driver and Tag Configuration Some settings locations change New Administration Features – More Secure New Offline Editing ability Enhanced Project Management

What value does this add?

Supported:Vista/Win7, Server 2007/08 & 64-bit Event Log secure from clearing Edit Configuration files offline Improved Project Management Improved Terminal Service support Improved Remote Desktop Support Improved Configuration Security Users opening configuration logged Automatic Project backup License system separate from runtime Platform for future enhancements

TOP Server V5AB Suite

Suite of 5 driversAB DF1AB Ethernet AB Slave EthernetControlLogix EthernetAB Data Highway

Allen-Bradley Connectivity – Networks

Serial communications DF1 Protocol – half and full duplex Sometimes also called “DF1 Channel 0” Available on many PLC CPUs directly and also via KF3, KF2,

and KE interfaces Proprietary networks

DH+ (via KT, KTX, KTX, PKTX, PKTXD, PCMK or SST cards) DH-485 (via KTX, KTX, PKTX, PKTXD, or PCMK cards) ControlNet (via ControlLogix Gateway)

Ethernet Standard TCP/IP with AB proprietary protocol in Layer 7

(application layer) AB Ethernet protocol ControlLogix - EtherNet/IP (CIP over Ethernet)

TOP Server V5AB DF1

AB DF1RS-232 SerialFull-duplexHalf-duplexRadio ModemEthernet Encapsulation

TOP Server V5Channel Settings -AB DF1

TOP Server V5Device Settings -AB DF1

TOP Server V5Data Highway

AB Data HighwayPC Card RequiredDH+DH 485

TOP Server V5Data Highway

\Program Files\Software Toolbox\TOP Server 5\Drivers\Allen-Bradley DH+KSE_PCMK.infKSE_PKTX.infKSE_SST.inf

TOP Server V5AB Ethernet

AB Ethernet PLC 5

No 5/250 supportSLC 5/05

TOP Server V5AB Ethernet

TOP Server V5AB Slave Ethernet

AB Slave EthernetPLC-2 type unsolicitedPLC 5 & SLC 5/05

TOP Server V5Tag Creation

TOP Server V5ControlLogix Ethernet

ControlLogix EthernetControlLogix FamilyMicroLogix EthernetNET-ENI

MicroLogixSLC

ControlLogix Gateway

Three Different Protocol Modes:

Symbolic Mode The traditional protocol when Logix processors were first

introduced

Uses the full ASCII character name of an address

Used exclusively through Driver Version 4.6.0.xx

Physical Modes (Non-Blocking and Blocking) Upload sequence at beginning pre-maps addresses in the

controller using their physical address.

Slower startup, but much higher performance with larger address counts, as more data can be retrieved in a single request

Avoids Symbolic Address parsing and lookup for greater efficiency in communications.

ControlLogix EthernetProtocol Modes

ControlLogix Ethernet Configuration Optimizations

Maximizing Performance Use multiple channels on Ethernet Put high frequency writes on a separate

channel Use symbolic & physical modes on

ControlLogix where appropriate Separate channels for each protocol mode If > 1/3 of all tags in PLC requested, Physical

Blocking faster than non-blocking Using < 1/3 of items in a structure – Physical Non-

Blocking Using > 1/3 of items in a structure – Physical

Blocking Atomic tags – Physical Non-Blocking

Special Considerations for ControlLogix Addressing

PLC addressing is not traditional “N7:0” style – it’s in tags - also called “Native Tag Addressing” – which are useful for PLC programming and save time there, but . . .

Traditional “blocking” of data in the PLC has little value

PLC communications protocol requires driver to put actual tagnames into packet

Packet request size limited to about 500 bytes

PLC “local program” tags add additional overhead to the request packet

Since each timer, counter, PID loop, Alarm Block is a structure with numerous sub-elements, and you can nest structures inside of structures and define your own structures, the potential for explosion to thousands of tags is high

AB ControlLogixAddressing

Two Import Options:

Import from the Controller

Pros: Fast / All tags including I/O imported

Cons: Controller access required / Descriptions are not imported

Import from L5K / L5X File

Pros: No Controller Access Necessary / Descriptions imported

Cons: Slow / No I/O Tags imported

Importing Ensures Proper Tag Syntax

ControlLogix Ethernet Tag Import

Special Considerations for ControlLogix needed to ensure best performance with the new paradigm in programming and communications:

Arrays are highly efficient means of moving large blocks of data and circumventing request packet limits

Keep PLC tag names short

Use global tags wherever possible

If you don’t need it, don’t read it!

Be particularly careful to group your tags by required scan rate – don’t read it faster than you need it “just because its Ethernet” or “faster is better”!

Be careful of large numbers of Programs in a Logix project. Increased overhead on the processor can result in no time left for actual communications!

For Continuous Tasks, Communications Timeslice % >= 20%

ControlLogix Connectivity – More Ways to Optimize

TOP Server V5ControlLogix Gateway

ControlLogix GatewayDH+ControlNetEthernetNot Remote I/O

TOP Server V5ControlLogix Gateway

Routing PathIP AddressPort to Backplane = 1Slot of Comm. ModuleAdditional “Hops”

Example: PLC-5 on DH+Data Highway Module in Slot 1 of LogixModule Port B on DH+ Network of PLC-5PLC-5 is Node 9 on the DH+ Network

IP Address,1,1.B.9Note: Node 9 is in Decimal (RSLogix Nodes are in Octal)

Live Demo

ControlLogix Ethernet Settings

TOP ServerSystem Tags Overview

Informational and Functional Tags Accessible from the Client Allow Runtime Changes to Many Channel and Device Parameters

Network Adapter Device ID Device Enable/Disable

Provide flexibility and ease of controlling communications parameters from the Client

Client Scripting functionality can also make use of access to System Tags.

Channel Diagnostics / Event Log

Channel Diagnostics Capture all Send / Receive Data for a Channel Useful for Troubleshooting Problems in Comms.

Event Log Displays meaningful errors Reference Driver Help File for Possible Causes

Tips & Tricks

Lots of free help at http://www.toolboxopc.com/html/support.asp Quick Start Guide Training Videos Papers and Utilities – Trouble Shooting Guide

More information on the Product Details tab http://www.toolboxopc.com/html/product_details.html

Contact Software Toolbox support@softwaretoolbox.com while you are in the planning stage, so we can help

What Tools are Needed?

TOP Server Standard Drivers US$795 License for a single computer No limits on # of devices you can connect to Annual support and free upgrades – US$155

TOP Server Premium Drivers and Plug-ins See www.toolboxopc.com for pricing

New Industry Packs http://www.toolboxopc.com/html/industries.html

Contact Information & Other Learning Opportunities

Questions later? 888-665-3678 or 704-849-2773

support@softwaretoolbox.com www.toolboxopc.com www.softwaretoolbox.com

Other learning opportunities Visit www.softwaretoolbox.com/webinars