ISPSoft User Manual

Chapter 16 Network Configuration and Data Exchange
• Device and network
A device is the most basic element in a network. It is a PLC, a module, or equipment defined by
users. A network is a collection of devices which are interconnected. Every network is assigned a
network number. There are RS-485 networks and Ethernet networks. Besides, a physical
interface that a device uses to connect to a network is a port of the device. If there are more than
two ports on a device, the device can connect to networks which are assigned different network
numbers. Please refer to section 16.2.2 for more information about the marking of a port in
NWCONFIG.
• PLC name
“AH-01”, “AH-02”, and “AH-03” in the figure above are PLC names. The PLC name of an AH500
series CPU module depends on the setting in HWCONFIG. Users can identify a device in a
network by means of the PLC name of the device. Please refer to section 3.3.2.1 for more
information. However, the PLC name of a device which is not an AH500 series CPU module is
like a comment on the device. It has little significance.
• Node and node number
A node is a basic unit which can operate independently in a network. ~ in the figure above
are nodes. consists of a CPU module and a network module. The network module can not
operate by itself, and therefore the CPU module and the network module are regarded as one
node.
Besides, AH500 series CPU modules can forward packets and perform routing. For example,
in the figure above can be monitored through . Before routing is performed, users have to
create paths along which data is sent, and assign node numbers to the nodes which forward the
data along the paths. Only AH500 series CPU modules can be assigned node numbers, and the
node number of a node in a network can not be the same as the node number of another node in
the network. After the paths created are downloaded to the PLCs which forward the data along
the paths, every PLC has its own routing table. The forwarding of the data is directed on the basis
of the routing tables produced.
• Station address
Users can identify a port in an RS-485 network by means of the station address of the port. The
station address of a port in a network can not be the same as the station address of another port
in the network. Besides, a port is assigned a station address. A port basically represents a station.
If a node has several ports, the ports connected to networks must be assigned station addresses.
• IP address and DHCP mode
A port in an Ethernet network is assigned an IP address. The IP address of a port in a network
can not be the same as the IP address of another port in the network, and an IP address can not
end with 0 or 255. If a node has several Ethernet ports, the Ethernet ports connected to an
Ethernet network must be assigned IP addresses.
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