This Quick connect will guide through the setup and loading of an IPm RTU controller
The Sixnet I/O toolkit is used to configure, load and maintain Sixnet IPMs and I/O modules. All initial configuration is completed within the I/O toolkit. Additional configuration can be done with the ISaGRAF Open workbench to load IEC 61131-3 code onto the IPm. The latest toolkit can be downloaded here.
There are two steps in configuring any I/O module:
This step can be completed without a connection to the IPM. This step will define the parameters for the device including I/O transfers, and Datalogging. For this example, a simple base configuration will be loaded. This guide will use a VT-IPM-1410 for configuration. While some options may vary between IPMs, the essential configuration steps will be the same.
Set up the station number, name and communication settings for the Modbus slave device by clicking on "Generic Stations" if you have more than one slave with fixed node number 1. See figure below:
This step will load the configuration created in step 1 onto the new module. There are two options for loading a configuration within the I/O tool kit; either via Ethernet or a serial connection. The first step in this process is to connect the E2 to the computer by one of the two connection options. To specify the connection method chosen, use the communication device selection menu by clicking Device --> Select.
When loading over an Ethernet connection, the I/O tool kit will need to be told to communicate to the IP address already configured on the IPm, rather than the IP address within the newly created configuration. This is true whenever changing the IP address on the IPm.
When loading over a serial connection, the I/O tool kit will need to be told which COM port on the computer to transmit
Choose the correct COM port that is connected to the IPm. Use the device manager to determine the correct COM port. Information about the device manager can be found here:
If you have any kind of communication with the device, you can switch on telnet by going into file operations menu -> etc -> general.config and changing telnet option to 1. This will allow you to have telnet enabled without actually pushing a new configuration.
The two connection methods within the Communications Device selection menu are used based on the complexity of the connection to the IPm.
Single Station
The default single station mode is used only when there is only one Sixnet device connected to the RS232 or Ethernet connection. This mode uses an “any station respond” message that doesn’t require knowledge of the station number. It is important that only one Sixnet station hears the messages when Single Station mode is used. Otherwise, the communication may be unsuccessful or the incorrect station may accept the messages.
Network/Passthru
Select Network / Passthru Mode when communicating over Ethernet and over party line media such as radio modems or RS485, to multiple SIXNET stations. Messages in this mode will include the specific station number. Although all of the stations will hear the messages, only the correct station will respond to them.
Also select Network / Passthru Mode when communicating through a master station that has slave stations connected to one of its other ports. For example, you can communicate via Ethernet to the master station, and have the master station pass the commands out one of its serial ports to a network of RS485 stations, or a radio modem link to other stations. (Note that the master station needs to be configured in a passthru mode for this to work.) In this mode, messages not applicable to the master station are routed through the passthru port to the slave stations. The sending and receiving station numbers are specified automatically within the messages. Only the correct station will respond to the request.
Note
For Data logging, You should select Single Gateway/RTU when communicating with a single SIXNET station through an Ethernet connection, regardless of the number of SIXNET stations on the Ethernet network. Since the datalog commands will be delivered only to the IP address you specify, the "any station respond" messages will only be heard by the desired station.
If you are unable to communicate to an IPM with a serial connection, it is likely the serial port is configured in a way that is incompatible with the computer connected to the IPM. Resetting the COM port will interrupt the IPM when it is booting up and reset the communication parameters to the default settings. To reset the COM port, navigate to Operations --> Advanced Operations --> Reset System Com Port. This will bring up a wizard that will step through the process of resetting the Com port.
Note: Resetting System COM port option is applicable only to the following serial ports-
Each IPm-based station has a Status LED. This LED indicates the health of the station during bootup and during normal operation. This LED may be observed in any of the following states:
IPm initialization period (approximately 20 seconds)
An IPm station takes approximately 20 seconds after power is applied to initialize itself for normal operation. Here is the typical pattern of the Status LED immediately during this period:
Note: If there is a good Ethernet connection to the IPm, the Ethernet LEDs will turn OFF briefly (1 or 2 seconds) after approximately 15 seconds. They will begin to provide normal Ethernet indications (10/100 selection and Ethernet activity) after the 20 second initialization period passes.
ON after initialization
This is the desired state. The IPm station is functioning properly.
OFF after initialization
This may be indicative of a hardware or software failure. Try cycling power to the station to force it to reinitialize.
Continuous Blinking (10 blinks/ second)
The station is in Boot Monitor (initialization) mode. Also, the I/O Tool Kit program sets the IPm station’s Status LED to this mode when performing some of the Advanced Operations, such as loading firmware.
It is the customer's responsibility to review the advice provided herein and its applicability to the system. Red Lion makes no representation about specific knowledge of the customer's system or the specific performance of the system. Red Lion is not responsible for any damage to equipment or connected systems. The use of this document is at your own risk. Red Lion standard product warranty applies.
If you have any questions or trouble contact Red Lion Technical Support by clicking here or calling 1-877-432-9908.
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