Communication Settings in Simple Mode

Overview

The Communication Settings tab in simple mode is displayed when the mode Simple mode has been selected for the parameter Communication page in the Tools > Options > Device editor dialog box. It provides a graphic view to configure the parameters for the communication between device and programming system.

The Communication Settings tab in simple mode contains an illustration of the programming device, the present gateway, and the target device with the connection status.

Select a gateway and a target device in the selection fields. The list entries you can select are determined by the Manage gateways and Manage favorite devices parameters.

You can enter the target device in different ways:

By the IP address, for example 192.168.101.109
By the device address, for example [056D]
By the device name, for example MyDevice

NOTE: To search for a device via the device name, unique device names are required within the network.

A status bullet at the right bottom of the gateway symbol indicates the communication status:

Color	Description
Red	Connection cannot be established.
Green	Connection is established.
Black	Connection state is not defined.

NOTE: Some communication protocols do not allow a periodic verification of the gateway. Thus, the status cannot be displayed.

Click the status bullet of the target device to start a network scan for the device. However, this is only possible if the gateway has not already started searching.

Description of the Elements

Elements of the Communication Settings tab in simple mode:

Element		Description
Scan network... button		Opens the Select Device dialog box that lists the configured gateways and their associated devices.
Gateway list		–
	Add new gateway...	Opens the Gateway dialog box for adding a new gateway.
	Manage gateways...	Opens the Manage gateways dialog box showing an overview of all gateways. In this dialog box, you can add or remove gateways. You can change the order of the gateway entries by using the buttons.
	Configure local gateway...	Opens the Gateway Configuration dialog box. It enables you to set up the block driver configuration for the local gateway.
Device list		–
	Add current device to favorites	Adds the defined device to the list of favorite devices.
	Manage favorite devices...	Opens a dialog box showing the list of favorite devices. In this dialog box, you can add or remove devices or change the order of the entries. The device at top of the list defines the default device.
	Rename active device...	Opens a dialog box for renaming the device.
	Wink active device	The connected controller flashes during login.
	Send echo service	EcoStruxure Machine Expert implements the echo service that is similar to the ping tool. In order to verify the quality of the network connection, EcoStruxure Machine Expert sends five echo data packets to the controller. The amount of user data that is consecutively added to these packets depends on the communication buffer size of the controller. A result message is displayed that indicates the average round-trip delay time and the amount of user data that has been echoed through the connection.
	Store communication settings in project	If this option is activated, EcoStruxure Machine Expert can automatically restore the communication settings, even if you are going to open the project on another computer. NOTE: If you use the project on another computer, you must reset the active path. If this option is not selected, the settings are stored in the local EcoStruxure Machine Expert options on your computer. In this case, you must reconfigure them if you are going to use the project on another computer. NOTE: If you use CODESYS SVN, make sure to deactivate this option for the device object not to be blocked.
	Confirmed online mode	If this option is activated, EcoStruxure Machine Expert prompts the user for confirmation each time one of the following online commands is to be executed: Force values, Write values, Multiple download, Release force list, Single cycle, Start, Stop.
	Filter network scans by target ID	If this option is activated, the list is reduced to those devices which have the same target ID as the device configured in the project.
	Encrypted Communication	If this option is activated, the communication to this controller is encrypted. A certificate is required to log in to the controller. If the certificate is not available, an error message is displayed requesting to display and install the certificate. This option is not available if the option Security level > Enforce encrypted communication is selected in the Security Screen editor.
	Change Communication Policy	Opens the Change Communication Policy dialog box for modifying the controller settings for the encryption of communication.
	Change Runtime Password Policy	Opens the Change Runtime Password Policy dialog box for modifying the controller settings regarding the password policy that is being used.

Change Communication Policy Dialog Box

If you select a new communication policy in the Change Communication Policy dialog box, the configuration on the controller is modified:

Element	Description
Communication
Current Policy	Displays the selected policy for the encryption of communication.
New Policy	Contains a list to select for the new policy for encryption: No encryption. The controller does not support encrypted communication. Optional encryption: The controller supports encrypted and unencrypted communication. Enforced encryption: The controller supports encrypted communication only.
Device User Management
Current Policy	Displays the selected policy for user management.
New Policy	Contains a list to select for the new policy for user management: Optional user management: The user management on the device is disabled or can be disabled manually. Enforced user management: The user management on the device is enabled and cannot be disabled manually.

Change Runtime Password Policy Dialog Box

If you select a new password policy in the Change Communication Policy dialog box, the configuration on the controller is modified:

Element		Description
Password policy is active		If this option is activated, a password policy is active for passwords of user accounts defined in the device user management.
Password settings area
	Minimum length	Defines the minimum length of the password. Default value: 8
	Number of unique characters	Defines the number of unique characters a password must contain. Default value: 4
	Requires lowercase letter	If this option is activated, the password must contain at least one lowercase letter.
	Requires uppercase letter	If this option is activated, the password must contain at least one uppercase letter.
	Requires digit	If this option is activated, the password must contain at least one digit character.
	Requires special letter	If this option is activated, the password must contain at least one special character (such as # or !).
	Must not contain username	If this option is activated, the password must not contain the username of the logged in user.
Login lock is active		If this option is activated, users are locked after several unsuccessful login attempts according to the parameters configured in the Login lock settings area.
Login lock settings area
	Scope	Select the type of users to be considered by the locking mechanism: ADMINS (default value) NONADMINS ALL
	Maximal Retries	Select the maximum number of unsuccessful login attempts before the user accounts gets locked for the time defined with Timeout [s]. Default value: 5
	Timeout [s]	Select the time (in seconds) the user account is locked after the maximum number of unsuccessful login attempts (defined with Maximal Retries) have been performed. Default value: 3600