GE GFK-1541B manual Capabilities of the Ethernet Interface

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Capabilities of the Ethernet Interface

The Ethernet Interface brings to your PLC a great deal of capability. It will allow you to:

ƒBecome operational quickly. The Ethernet Interface is made operational with very little effort. You need only install the Interface in the PLC rack or baseplate and use the PLC programming software to store basic configuration information to the module to make the basic SRTP server capability functional. SRTP Client capability, the capability to initiate communications, can be added using the COMMREQ function in the ladder program. For Series 90-30 Ethernet Interface IC693CMM321-FH and later, basic Modbus/TCP server capability is available as soon you supply basic configuration information to the module, and you can use COMMREQs to initiate Modbus/TCP communications.

ƒDirectly attach your PLC to an Ethernet network. The Ethernet Interface allows you to directly attach the Series 90 PLC to an Ethernet LAN via the built-in network ports or via a user- supplied transceiver and AUI or AAUI cable, and to communicate with host computers and other Series 90 PLCs on the local network.

ƒEthernet Global Data. (Series 90-30 CPU364 and CPU374 and Series 90-70 Ethernet Interface (Type 2) only.) When used with the latest Series 90 CPUs, the Ethernet Interface provides highly efficient periodic data transfer between PLCs using Ethernet Global Data exchanges.

ƒTransfer data between PLCs. The Ethernet Interface provides client capability, the capability to initiate communications to other Series 90 Ethernet Interfaces, using COMMREQ functions in the ladder program.

ƒAccess data using a Host computer. Computer applications which use the SRTP protocol can access data within the Series 90 PLC through the server capability of the Ethernet Interface. .

ƒCommunicate simultaneously to multiple devices. The multiplexing capabilities of the Ethernet Interface, along with Ethernet network’s high capacity, allow the PLC to communicate with several other devices at the same time.

ƒMaintain compatibility with other GE Fanuc devices and devices from other vendors. The Series 90-30 Ethernet Interface, Series 90-30 CPU364 Embedded Ethernet Interface, Series 90-30 CPU374 Embedded Ethernet Interface, and Series 90-70 Ethernet Interface (Type 2) are compatible with each other. They are also compatible with GE Fanuc programming packages supporting TCP/IP Ethernet communications.

ƒDiagnose and maintain your system, using diagnostic and station management tools. You can find problems before they become serious. In the event that communications software upgrades are needed, you can use a built-in serial port to download the software to the Ethernet Interface.

ƒIndirectly attach to other Local Area Networks and/or wide area networks via third party IP routers. When configured to use an IP gateway (router), the Ethernet Interface can communicate with remote PLCs and other nodes reachable through the router.

ƒCommunicate with remote computers via Serial Line Protocol (SLIP) using modems and/or serial lines. Using third party SLIP software, a remote host computer can be attached to a TCP/IP network.

ƒCommunicate with other Series 90 PLCs using symbolic names as well as IP addresses.

COMMREQs can be programmed to communicate with PLCs using IP addresses or Network Address names (Series 90-30 Ethernet Interface, Series 90-30 CPU364 Embedded Ethernet Interface, and Series 90-70 Ethernet Interface (Type 2)).

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GFK-1541B Chapter 1 Introduction 1-3