GE GFK-1004B user manual Station Manager in Utility Programs, Soft Switch Entry Utility

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Station Manager in Utility Programs

The Ethernet Interface has two utility functions provided as a part of the PROM-based software. These utilities allow selected station management functions to be performed, even when no operating software is loaded. This allows the Ethernet Interface hard- ware and the network to be verified without requiring that any software be loaded into the Ethernet Interface.

Soft Switch Entry Utility

The Ethernet Interface stores its Soft Switch data in an EEPROM. If Soft Switches have not been configured through Logicmaster 90-70 and the values in the EEPROM are in- valid, the Soft Switch Entry utility is entered. Also, when certain other faults are de- tected, control will revert to the Soft Switch Entry utility.

Caution

The Soft Switch parameters are critical to proper startup of the Ethernet Interface. Improper settings of Soft Switch values can prevent the station from functioning with the PLC, from being loaded, or from being accessible to other stations on the network.

The Soft Switch Entry utility is entered if the data in the Soft Switches are determined to be invalid on power-up or restart of the Ethernet Interface, or if certain other faults occur.

The Soft Switch Entry utility runs a subset of the Station Manager commands. It pro- vides a unique prompt, an asterisk (ª*º). The Station Manager commands shown in the following table can be used while in the Soft Switch Entry utility. Some of the com- mands have restrictions due to the limited services available in this utility.

All commands in the Soft Switch Entry utility are accessible at the initial security level. It is not necessary to login to use the Modify commands while in the Soft Switch Entry util- ity.

A typical initialization message from the Soft Switch Entry utility is shown below:

IC697 PLC Factory LAN Interface

Copyright (c) 1990-1995. All rights reserved.

PROM Version 2.00 (xxAx) Ethernet

MAC address = <<08001901001f>> MAC default = <<08001901001f>>

EM7A2

<<< Soft Switch Entry Utility >>>

Soft Switch Values Not Defined

*

Just before the ª*º prompt is printed, the reason for entry into the Soft Switch Entry util- ity is printed. Some examples of entry reasons are: soft switch values not defined,

GFK-1004B Chapter 5 The Station Manager 5-11