RSLinx - etsmtl.ca

1 RSLinx is a complete communication server providingplant floor device connectivity for a wide variety of Rockwell Software applications such as RSLogix 5, RSLogix 500, RSLogix 5000, RSView32, and RSSql. In addition,several open interfaces are provided for third-party HMI, data collection and analysis packages or custom clientapplication software. RSLinx is an OPC - compliant data server supporting the OPCData Access specifications. OPC is the standard for plantfloor communications between data servers and clientapplications. RSLinx provides an OPC custom interface forC/C++ clients and an OPC Automation interface for VB/VBAclients. RSLinx also supports multiple DDE formats(AdvanceDDE, XL_TBL, CF_TXT) for clients such as Microsoft Excel. RSLinx supports the integration of plant floor devices tosupply chain and business decision software applications usingproducts like RSSql.

2 RSLinx can support multiple softwareapplications simultaneously communicating to devices on manydifferent Anywhere to AnywhereYou can virtually communicate from anywhere to anywhereusing RSLinx . The product provides a user-friendly graphicalinterface for navigating through your network hierarchy. Thisincludes routing over the office Ethernet network through aControlLogix Gateway to get to your control networks anddevices on the plant floor. Select a device and right mouse clickto access a variety of integrated configuration and monitoringtools such as configuration for the 1756-DHRIO module, LadderViewer for PLC-5 , SLC, or MicroLogix family processors, or aData Monitor for viewing data out of any ControlLogix, PLC-5,SLC-5, or MicroLogix family controllers. A complete set ofcommunication drivers is provided for your networking needsfrom older legacy Allen-Bradley networks supported by remoterouting through 1785-KA, 1785-KA5, 5130-KA, and 5820-EI to thenewer more capable ControlLogix Gateways.

3 Communicationhardware such as PCMCIA, serial port, or PC-based networkcard is table below lists the supported device/networks: Ethernet to PLC-5 / SLC-5 / 5820-EI / 1756-ENB Ethernet/IP CIP Protocol 1784-KTX(D) / PKTX(D) / PCMK / KT / KT2 to DH+ 1784-KTX(D) / PKTX(D) / PCMK to DH-485 1784-KTCX to ControlNet 1784-PCC to ControlNet 1784-PCIC(S) to ControlNet 1784-PCD / PCIDS to DeviceNet (Windows NT ) RS-232 Serial (DF1) to 1770-KF2 / 1785-KE to DH+ RS-232 Serial (DF1) to 1770-KF3 / 1747-KE / 1747-PIC to DH-485 Technical DataRSLinx RS-232 Serial (DF1) to PLC-5, SLC-5, MicroLogix, PanelView RS-232 Serial (DF1) to 1770-KFC to ControlNet RS-232 Serial (DF1) to 1770-KFD to DeviceNet RS-232 Serial (DF1) to ControlLogix DF1 Polling Master (RS-232 serial) DF1 Slave (RS-232 Serial) SoftLogix 5 Controller SoftLogix 5800 Controller Remote Devices via RSLinx Gateway RSWho RSWho is the network browse interface providing a singlewindow to view all configured network drivers.

4 The multi-panewindow allows navigation through network hierarchy in the leftpane while displaying device icons along with their status inthe right pane. A device that appears with a red X through itindicates a communication status error, such as loss of powerto a device or disconnected communication cable. Select adevice, right-click, and a context-sensitive menu is displayed toperform such actions as Configure New DDE/OPC topic ordisplaying diagnostic information. This component has beenintegrated into many of the Rockwell Software products toprovide a consistent, easy to use, graphical interface for deviceselection. Data Table Monitor You can use RSLinx to view data values in a PLC-5, SLC-5,MicroLogix, CompactLogix, FlexLogix or ControlLogixprocessors. For a PLC-5 / SLC-5 / MicroLogix device, select adata table file to view from a list of available data table files inthe controller.

5 For a ControlLogix processor, view taginformation in a hierarchical list as the tags are defined in thetarget device. Multiple data monitor windows can be displayedat the same time providing an effective trouble-shooting Monitor functionality is only available with RSLinxProfessional and Gateway. 2 Ladder ViewerRSLinx includes an extremely valuable Ladder Viewer for PLC-5, SLC-5, or MicroLogix controller. Based on the RSLogix family of programming software, it allows viewing of the laddercode including symbols, address descriptions and rungcomments for an effective and complete diagnostic tool whenused on your HMI or data collection station on the productionfloor. To view a ladder program, simply right-click on aprocessor and select "View Ladder Code" from the contextmenu. The control program is uploaded from the device anddisplayed on the screen.

6 If the matching offline program fileexists on the PC, then all associated comments and symbolsare also displayed. The Ladder Viewer has the capability toselect different program files to view. Use this capability inconjunction with the ability to display multiple viewing windowsfor effective trouble-shooting. Ladder Viewer functionality isonly available with RSLinx Professional and Gateway. Remote Gateway Connectivity RSLinx Gateway extends communications throughout theenterprise. RSLinx clients such as RSLogix 5/500/5000 canconnect over Ethernet through an RSLinx Gateway andseamlessly go online to a PLC-5, SLC-5, MicroLogix, orControlLogix processor residing on a control networkaccessible by the gateway machine. Another key usage ofRSLinx Gateway is to optimize communications betweenmultiple OPC clients and plant floor devices. The benefit ofusing RSLinx Gateway is that overlapping data requests frommultiple clients are consolidated into one request to thecontroller thus reducing the overall network traffic and burdenon the target controller.

7 From a cost perspective, you no longerneed a copy of RSLinx running on each client Interfaces RSLinx provides connectivity for client applications using OPCor DDE. OPC is the preferredinterface for data acquisitionapplications because it is thestandard for factorycommunications. OLE for Process Control (OPC) OPC is based on Microsoft s OLEtechnology and is defined and managed by the OPCF oundation, a coalition of industrial/manufacturing companiesof which Rockwell Software is a prominent member. Thecharter of this group is to provide an industry-standardexchange mechanism optimized for performance. RSLinx is anOPC Data Access compliant server providing an OPCcustom interface for C/C++ client applications and an OPCA utomation interface for VB/VBA client applications. The added benefit provided from RSLinx is its ability to provideseveral DDE formats in addition to OPC and its DDE/OPCdiagnostic information.

8 RSLinx also supports multiple DDE formats (AdvanceDDE,XL_Table, CF_Text) for client connectivity. These interfaces are3provided mainly for applications developed prior to theincorporation of OPC in RSLinx and are still the primarymechanism for creating DDE Hot Links in Collection Modes In RSLinx , you create a DDE/OPC Topic as a named alias to atargeted device. This alias name is used when requesting datain a client application through the OPC or DDE interfaces. Eachtopic has parameters to specify poll rate, communicationtimeout, and the data collection mode (Polled or Unsolicited). Inpolled mode, RSLinx does all of the work, so it is easy to makechanges and control the communications. Polled mode doeshowever, add to the CPU usage on the PC since RSLinx isconstantly polling and increases the communication trafficvolume compared to unsolicited mode.

9 In Unsolicited mode, data is sent to RSLinx by a messageinstruction in the processor. RSLinx waits for a packet from theprocessor instead of polling. The advantage of this mode is thatcommunication traffic is typically reduced due to the controllerdetermining how often to send the data. Unsolicited mode is agood method of transferring large amounts of data thatchanges infrequently like when a product or batch completesand the record data needs to be transferred to the client. Thedisadvantage is that unsolicited mode requires ladderprogramming to gather and send the Applications through SDK (SoftwareDevelopment Kit) RSLinx SDK is the Software Development Kit used forcreating custom applications utilizing the open interfaces builtinto RSLinx . It contains development files, sample programs,online documentation, and a copy of RSLinx OEM; everythingneeded to create custom applications to communicate withdevices connected to RSLinx .

10 RSLinx provides a migrationpatch forward for existing INTERCHANGE most cases, an INTERCHANGE softwareapplication can be ported to RSLinx directly with minimalchanges. Operational ToolsRSLinx includes a Backup/Restore utility accessible from theStart menu. This tool saves configured drivers, topics, andconfiguration settings. This allows you to restore yourapplication in case of a hardware failure or even deploy theconfiguration to another EDS Hardware Installation tool is provided for registering anew Electronic Data Sheet (EDS). Electronic Data Sheets areused by RSLinx to determine what to display in RSWho and toresolve device OPC Test Client is included with RSLinx for the purpose oftesting OPC communications. This simple tool allows you to testand validate OPC data communications through RSLinx as anHMI or data-based client would ToolsRSLinx includes a wealth of diagnostic information to assist youin analyzing your system.