Communication with Modicon 984 using Modsoft

[Jeremiah 0]

Hello everyone, I just started a new job and part of my first responsibilites are to upload the existing logic off of 2 seperate Modicon 984 systems. I have never dealt with this old of hardware/software before. They have Modsoft installed on a laptop running windows xp but nobodys tried to hook up. If anyone could give me some advice or instructions on the easiest and most cost effective way of doing so would be greatly appreciated. Is Modsoft the way to go? Will it work with xp? Cables needed? Thanks for your time. Jeremiah Sells

[Crossbow 295]

Modsoft is not supposed to work under XP, but I have heard people have made it work. Basic null modem cable should get you online.

[Jeremiah 0]

What operating system does run best in? Would I be better off purchasing an old lap top on ebay and loading modsoft on it? Thanks for your help. Jeremiah Sells

[Crossbow 295]

I used to keep a really old one (like a 386) that we used with DOS or Windows 98. Those worked OK for MODSOFT.

[BootstrapJRO 0]

I am using Modsoft with my XP Laptop communicating to the Quantum via either Ethernet or Modbus Plus because the serial port will not work under XP running a DOS application. Using Modbus Plus the 416NHM21234 PCMCIA card is used and because I only have one slot I use a card extender from Twin Industries P/N 3300-EXTM. If you use the following info it will assist you with the setup of your XP machine ****************************************** Modsoft TCP/IP Setup for Windows XP Created By: Robert Gray on 02/11/2004 at 01:38 PM Category: TCP/IP, Windows XP, Modbus Ethernet\Modsoft (Embedded image moved to file: pic06773.jpg) Windows NT 4.0 Installation This installation assumes that WindowsNT is installed on the c:\winnt directory and that Modsoft 2.51 is installed in the c:\modsoft directory. If this is not the case, you will need to alter the drive letter and path names to match your installation. Edit the VSLDOS.INI file Using the text editor of your choice, open the file named "c:\modsoft\vsl\vsldos.ini" On line 9, edit the transport= line to read transport=winsock On line 196, edit the netmodule= line to read netmodule=JSBWNTWS (NOTE: the JSPWNTWS does have to be in upper case) Save c:\modsoft\vsl\vsldos.ini Set the VSL environment variable Click on Start -> Settings -> Control Panel In Control Panel, click on the System icon then on the Advanced tab Click on the Environment tab Click on the last line of the User Varibles In the Variable: box enter VSL In the Value: box enter c:\modsoft\vsl Click on the Set button and then on the OK button Close the Control Panel window Edit the HOSTS file Using the text editor of your choice, open the file named "c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts". Note that the hosts file does not have a file extension. If the hosts file does not exist, copy c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.sam to hosts and then open hosts If a line with your IP address does not already exist in hosts, add one that reads: XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX YYYYYYY localhost where XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX is your IP address and YYYYYY is your IP alias. If there is alread a line with your IP address in it, edit it to appear as above. For example: 192.168.138.99 Fred localhost Save hosts Edit AUTOEXEC.NT If you do not already have a shortcut to Modsoft.exe on your desktop, you will need to make one Right-clink on the Modsoft shortcut Click on "Properties" In the "Shortcut to MODSOFT Properties" dialog box, click on the "Program" tab Click on the "Windows NT" button Look at the "Autoexec Filename" (NOTE: If the Autoexec.Filename contains an evironment variable such as %SystemRoot%, you will have to translate that to a regular path name such as "c:\winnt\system32". You can do that by either opening a DOS prompt and typing SET, or by going Using the text editor of your choice, open that autoexec.nt file Add the following lines: c: cd \modsoft\vsl jsbdosws.exe Save autoexec.nt file The installation is complete. Reboot the computer.