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What
is the EtherTRAK I/O Concentrator and Ethernet I/O Expander?
The EtherTRAK
I/O Concentrator (ET-GT-ST-2) and the EtherTRAK
Ethernet I/O Expander (ET-GT-ST-1) are basically the same unit.
The only difference is that the concentrator is a newer model and
has an additional serial port (RS485). Both units have a RS232 port,
an Ethernet port, and the same functionality. The RS485 port of the
concentrator gives it more flexibility and convenience. These units
are typically used to poll or concentrate I/O from SixTRAK
Local I/O modules, RemoteTRAK
RS485 I/O modules, EtherTRAK
Ethernet I/O modules, or third part Modbus. The I/O is stored
in local registers that can be accessed from a master PC or other
device over Ethernet or any of the communication ports.
How
are these units related to the legacy SixTRAK I/O Gateway?
These units have
all the features of SIXNET's legacy non-programmable SixTRAK
I/O Gateways (ST-GT-###-02N). Plus, they come in a much smaller
package and are less expensive. Also, unlike the legacy SixTRAK I/O
Gateways, they can initiate (as a master) peer-to-peer I/O moves with
EtherTRAK Ethernet I/O,
RemoteTRAK RS485 I/O,
other SIXNET controllers
and RTUs, or third-party
Modbus devices. Use the ET-GT-ST-1
or ET-GT-ST-2 instead
of the SixTRAK I/O Gateways for all new applications.
Are
these units IEC 61131 or LINUX programmable?
No programming
is required or available for these units. All their functionality,
such as peer-to-peer communications and I/O polling, can be easily
configured with the SIXNET
I/O Tool Kit software. If you need application specific programming
then please check out the SixTRAK
I/O Controller, SixTRAK
IPm Open Controller, or VersaTRAK
IPm RTU.
Yes. You cannot
communicate directly to SIXTRAK
I/O modules. They can only connect to an EtherTRAK
I/O Concentrator, EtherTRAK
I/O Expander, SIXNET
controller, or SIXNET
RTU. If you want to interface to I/O modules directly then you
can use either the EtherTRAK
Ethernet I/O modules or RemoteTRAK
RS485 I/O modules.
The serial ports
can be configured for Modbus RTU, Modbus ASCII, or SIXNET protocol,
in master or slave mode. The Ethernet port auto-detects either Modbus/TCP
(per Modicon's specifications
from www.modicon.com) or SIXNET protocol. Also, the Ethernet
port supports Modbus (slave) over UDP which is faster than
TCP but has less error checking. In addition, it supports the SIXNET
protocol over either TCP or UDP.
Most likely because
there are several methods for interfacing to SIXNET stations. The
first is with the SIXNET IOmap interface which comes as an option
for the SIXNET I/O Tool
Kit software. This shared database supports OPC, DDE, and direct
DLL calls. SIXNET also offers a Modbus OPC Server that talks Modbus/TCP
and provides access via OPC or DDE. A third method is to use the Modbus/OPC
driver that comes with most HMI/SCADA software.
Yes. Each port
can be individually configured for a different protocol and mode (master
or slave).
Sure. The best
way is to use an operator interface that can act as a Modbus master.
These displays are widely available and inexpensive. Also, no programming
is required in the SIXNET unit because these displays are configurable
on their own. We have tested the TCP, Exor, CTC, and other brands
of displays. Refer to our Technical
Notes for details.
Sure. Just install
TCP/IP (if you’re not using it already), set your IP addresses,
and your all set to talk to your SIXTRAK stations. Most Ethernet networks
can run multiple protocols (i.e. NetBEUI, IPX/SPX, TCP/IP, etc.) all
at the same time.
Yes. If your SIXTRAK
station is connected to a network with Internet access, then you can
access it from any where in the world just by specifying it’s
IP address.
Absolutely. Communications
over radio or telephone modems is a snap for these SIXNET units. For
radio modems, both the dumb (requires gateway to control transmitter
keying) and intelligent (automatic transmitter keying) variety are
supported. These units also support leased-lined, short-haul, or any
modem that can be interfaced via a serial port. Refer to our Technical
Notes for details.
Easily. No programming
is required to perform peer-to-peer I/O moves between SIXNET
controllers or RTUs,
SIXNET I/O modules, or
third party Modbus devices. Just use the SIXNET
I/O Tool Kit software to configure your peer-to-peer I/O transfers.
