S7ETHMPI Communication Server

The Klinkmann Automation S7ETHMPI Communication Server is a Microsoft Windows application program that acts as a communication protocol Server and enables other Windows application programs to access the data from S7-300 and S7-400 controllers using the Ethernet Gateway (communication adapter-cable) for MPI, providing interface between 10/100 Mbps Ethernet and Siemens MPI bus. The connection is possible with a hub or switch or via a crossover cable directly with PC network card, the used protocol is standard TCP/IP.

Any Microsoft Windows program that is capable of acting as a DDE, FastDDE, SuiteLink or OPC Client may use the S7ETHMPI Server.

There are following S7ETHMPI Server versions available:

- S7ETHMPI DDE & Suite Link Server (32-bit), can be used on MS Windows NT, W2K, XP and 95 (98);
- S7ETHMPI OPC & DDE Server, can be used on MS Windows NT, W2K, XP and 95 (98).

Note!
The current version of S7ETHMPI Server supports only point-to-point connection, i.e. only one PLC can be accessed via one communication adapter-cable.

FEATURES

The OPC support for S7ETHMPI Server OPC & DDE version conforms to OPC Data Access Custom Interface Specification 2.04. The S7ETHMPI Server OPC & DDE version is tested for compliance and is compatible with OPC Foundation OPC Data Access Compliance Test Tool.

The S7ETHMPI Server DDE & Suite Link version (if running on MS Windows NT) supports the Wonderware Suite Link communication protocol.

Supports simultaneous interface to Siemens STEP 7 programming software.

The communication adapter-cable is configured via the Ethernet by using the configuration software running on a PC connected to the same Ethernet segment as the Ethernet Gateway. The configuration software is supplied together with communication adapter.

The S7ETHMPI Server supports item/point names that are consistent with the addressing and point naming used in Siemens S7 PLCs.

Minimizes system message traffic by dynamically calculating and optimizing poll lists for client-requested items/points.

Supports multiple topics for each PLC, allowing different data update rates.

Provides a communication status flag for each topic.

Supports standard DDE among multiple applications.

SPECIFICATIONS

Hardware: IBM or compatible 386/486/Pentium equipped with a minimum of 4 MB RAM (16 MB RAM for Windows NT). May require more memory to run other Windows programs simultaneously.

Software: Microsoft Windows 95 (98), Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, W2K and XP.

Computer Interface: Ethernet TCP/IP connection with a hub or switch or via a crossover cable directly with PC network card.

Maximum Connections: As many as necessary S7-300 and S7-400 controllers connected to Ethernet network can be accessed. Each controller needs own communication adapter-cable to be connected.

Devices Supported: Siemens Simatic S7-300 and S7-400 PLCs.

Accessible Data Types: The S7ETHMPI Server supports item/point names consistent with the system used for addressing of data areas in the Siemens S7 PLCs. The following data areas are supported:

Data Blocks

Flags

Inputs

Outputs

The wide range how to interpret the data is supported: bits, bytes, byte arrays (as strings), chars, char arrays (as strings), words, word arrays (as strings), integers (signed, BCD), integer arrays (as strings), double words (unsigned, BCD), double word arrays (as strings), double integers (signed, BCD), double integer arrays (as strings), reals, real arrays (as strings). The special additional items can be used e.g. to start/stop the PLC program etc.

ORDERING INFORMATION

Description / Order Number

S7ETHMPI DDE & Suite Link Server Manual & Disk Set / DR 470 10

S7ETHMPI OPC & DDE Server Manual & Disk Set / DR 470 11