Ok I got RSLINX...now what

[Rmedrano 0]

Ok, Ive got a copy of RSLINX OEM. Got it installed and running on the PC thats inbetween the two Machines out on the shop floor. I believe that each machine has an SLC 5/05 in it. From reading the help files I take it that one needs to set up a driver to communicate with the PLC's The PLC's are hooked up via ethernet, and my IT guys gave me the addresses for each PLC and the local PC. 10.41.98.2 PLC 1 10.41.98.4 PLC 2 10.41.98.6 PC I didnt see SLC 5/05 listed as an option in the driver selection drop down box, but there are two of them that mention ethernet. One is Ethernet the other is Ethernet/IP If i choose one i dont get any connections. If i choose the other and type in the IP's of the PLC's that Im trying to connect to after browsing for a while RSLINX says it finds the nodes, but theres is a big yellow question mark, and then it puts a red X through them and says not recognized. Is there something im missing? or something im not doing correctly? If the PLC's were not connected at all it shouldnt find anything at all correct? Ive seen some other engineers and electricians connect to the PLC's via ethernet before when these machines were brought in... so I know its possible to connect.. just not sure what im doing or not doing that its not letting me get in there.

[Guest jimmy]

trty pinging the IP addresses: Go to start > run > type: Command at dos prompt type ping xx.xxx.xx (IP adresses) This wil at least let you know if your cables are good and your iP addresses were entered properly. If not re chaeck your IP addresses again ...and check your cables! Are you plugged into a Hub or Swicth?

[Rmedrano 0]

Its plugged into a hub.. Ill have to check on being able to get to a dos prompt... as a Shop Floor Computer doesnt have that ability.. have to have one of our IT guys look at it. One thing that an engineer just mentions to me as I was typing my above response is that I need to be careful when going online with the PLC. I guess when they did it with RSLogix that the Robots on the machine lost track of where they were when the Computer linked with the PLC and almost crashed them. Scary LOL Nothing like crashing multi million dollar machinery : ) <>

[Rmedrano 0]

Ok, I can see the PLC's now. I know i need to configure Topics. Do i need to know exactly what the data locations are in the PLC, or will it allow me to view all the data coming off the PLC and let me just pick and choose?

[Beryl 0]

You can do a data monitoring within Linx. Just right click on the PLC of interest and click on data monitoring. You will be able to see all the data in the PLC. Good Luck!

[Rmedrano 0]

The data monitoring button is greyed out when I try to click on it. I take it that its only a feature in RSLinx Professional. I have the OEM version. I guess my question is I dont really get how to configure the OPC topic to point to the data that I want. Once I have the address of the data in the PLC, how do I set up Linx so that my OPC client can see the data? I dont see anywhere to put in the information, and the Help files in RSLinx are very very vague.

[Beryl 0]

The topic only points you to the PLC. The "viewing" software will use that topic and then the address(es) you want to see. Try the copy to clipboard feature. I don't have the OEM verson of Linx and haven't ever used it but look under the "Edit" menu item. Copy the link into Excell and the data from the PLC should be moved into the cell. Beryl Edited 15 Jun 2004 by Beryl

[Sergei Troizky 26]

Rmedrano, so what did you do in order to see the PLC on the Ethernet? I have the similar problem.

[Rmedrano 0]

Well, If all is configured correctly hardware wise.. you should be able to see all connected PLC's in RSWho.. I could not see them originally because the HUB that everything was running to was locked up. Once I reset it I could see all the PLC's I was confused at first and thought that I had to drill down to the locations of the data in RSLinx. That is all done in the client software. Create and name your topic in RSLinx then in your client you need to use its Viewer to look at that Topic and then drill down to the data you wish to use. At least thats how it is working here. What I found out the hard way is that My Client required an OPC server that is OPC 1.0 DA compliant. Linx is 2.0A so my client was not working correctly, i could see the topics and data locations in the topic, but the client could not get and actual data from the Server or PLC, I ended up having to have some custom software developed by the people who make my client. Basically a software wedge that sits between the server and my client. They are coming into the plant today to test it out. Edited 28 Sep 2004 by Rmedrano