Configuration of the Controller Access Options
EcoStruxure Machine Expert Network Device Identification
The dialog allows you to select a device from a list of connected controllers.
The Network Device Identification service is used to automatically detect the connected controllers.
The Controller Assistant provides 2 different ways to access the Network Device Identification service:
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Click the tab of the dialog.
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In the tab, select the option and click the button.
The Network Device Identification function shows a list of controllers available in the network.
Select the connection mode.
Double-click a controller from the list or enter missing connection data if not listed. Then click to read/write an image to/from the given controller.
For PacDrive controllers (except for PacDrive M controllers), you might be prompted for secured access to the controller.
Network Device Identification function providing a list of controllers available in your network
Carefully manage the IP addresses because each device on the network requires a unique address. Having multiple devices with the same IP address can cause unintended operation of your network and associated equipment.
This also applies to the . Each device on the network requires a unique .
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Changing the Communication Settings Via Ethernet Using the Contextual Menu
To change the communication settings of a controller via the Ethernet connection, use the contextual menu. However, to this end the controller must already be visible in the network.
To change the communication settings of M258 and LMC058 controllers with specific firmware versions that do not support this feature, use the USB mass storage device.
To achieve this, right-click the entry of the controller in the list and execute the command from the contextual menu.
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.
To start the echo service, right-click the entry of the controller in the list and execute the command from the contextual menu.
Description of the Buttons in the Toolbar
The following buttons are available in the toolbar:
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Button |
Description |
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Click this button to cause the selected controller to indicate an optical signal: It flashes a control LED quickly. This can help you to identify the respective controller if many controllers are used. The function stops on a second click or automatically after about 30 seconds.
NOTE: The optical signal is issued only by controllers that support this function.
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Click this button to cause the selected controller to indicate an optical and an acoustical signal: It starts to beep and flashes a control LED quickly. This can help you to identify the respective controller if many controllers are used. The function stops on a second click or automatically after about 30 seconds.
NOTE: The optical and acoustical signals are issued only by controllers that support this function.
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Click this button to refresh the list of controllers. A request is sent to the controllers in the network. Any controller that responds to the request is listed with the present values. Pre-existing entries of controllers are updated with every new request. Controllers that are already in the list but that do not respond to a new request are not deleted. They are marked as inactive by a red cross being added to the controller icon. The button corresponds to the command that is provided in the contextual menu if you right-click a controller in the list. To refresh the information of a selected controller, the contextual menu provides the command . This command requests more detailed information from the selected controller.
NOTE: The command can also refresh the information of other controllers.
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Click this button to remove all controllers marked as inactive controllers simultaneously from the list. Controllers that do not respond to a network scan are marked as inactive in the list. This is indicated by a red cross being added to the controller icon.
NOTE: Because of network issues, a controller can be marked as inactive even if this is not the case.
The contextual menu that opens if you right-click a controller in the list provides 2 other commands for removing controllers:
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You can use to adjust the selection of controllers to your personal requirements. This can help you to keep track of many controllers in the network. A describes a collection of controllers that are recognized by a unique identifier. Click a favorite button (such as ) to select or deselect it. If you have not selected a favorite, all detected controllers are visible. You can also access via the contextual menu. It opens upon right-clicking a controller in the list. Move the cursor over a favorite button in the toolbar to view the associated controllers as a tooltip. |
List of Controllers
The list of controllers in the middle of the view of the device editor lists those controllers that have sent a response to the network scan. It provides information on each controller in several columns. You can adapt the columns displayed in the list of controllers according to your individual requirements.
To achieve this, right-click the header of a column to open the dialog box.
You can create your own layout of this table. Click , and enter a name for your layout. Shift columns from the list of to the list of and vice versa by clicking the horizontal arrow buttons. To change the order of the columns in the list, click the arrow up and arrow down buttons.
Managing Favorites
To manage favorites in the list of controllers, proceed as follows:
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Step |
Action |
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Select the controller in the list of controllers. |
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Right-click the controller and select one of the commands:
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