Quick Start

MPI / S7 Protocol communication with

Siemens S7-300 and S7-400 PLCs
Rev Date File Name
1.0 19/01/07 QuickStart_PFB MPI/S7 comm with Siemens S7-300 and S7-400 PLC

Description

Product concerned: All BradCommunications Products that allows a Profibus MPI

and/or a S7 Protocol communication with Siemens S7 PLC.
- The applicom PC Network Interface Card:
The applicom PCNIC solution is based on a co-processor / intelligent card that is able to embed and
execute the communication with PLCs for high performance.
The reference concerned: PN# APP-PS7-PCU; PN# APP-PFB-PCU; PN# APP-PFB-CPI
- The applicom Gateway:
The applicom Gateway solution is based on a stand-alone black box that embeds and executes the
communication with PLCs and allows to link the data to additional PLC over different
communication protocols.
The reference concerned: PN# APP-ESP-GTW
- The applicom PROFINET IO Proxy:
The applicom PROFINET IO Proxy solution is based on a stand alone black box that embeds and
executes the communication with PLCs and allows to link the data to a ProfiNet IO Controller.
The reference concerned: PN# APP-PNT-GTW-P
- The Direct-Link PC Network Interface:
The Direct-Link PCNI solution is based on a non-intelligent card that executes the communication
with PLCs for light application.
The reference concerned: PN# DRL-MPI-PCU, PN# DRL-MPI-USB, PN# DRL-PFB-USB.
Environment: Quickstart realized with :
- Windows XP SP2
Related documents:
- Product Help files, available on the CD from the documentation directory.
- Technical Notes are on the CD from the Technote directory
Restriction: None

Summary:
This Quickstart provides you the minimal step to start up a Profibus MPI and/or a S7 Protocol
communication with an S7-300 or S7-400 PLC.
This Communication Quickstart completes the Product Quickstart that explains how to install
and use the product you have. Please read first the Product Quickstart.

Note : According to the product (NIC, gateway, software driver) you use, the console
configuration software may differ on few topics, but communication configurations parameters
will be identical.
1 How configure S7 PLC in the applicom interface card

1.1 The Console description

To start the configuration Console click on the button in the applicom directory:

define
Channels Protocol parameters
available to Equipment list and
define the parameters
protocols used

Library of
equipments to add
in the active
configuration

Loggin area to see

warning and error
messages during Status
the configuration Board configured
Board status
Configuration status

1.2 Select and setup the communication interface

Specify the interface card:
- Right Click on Board configuration
- Select add board
- Select the card installed on the PC, click
OK.
Note : the list can be different depending on the
product you are using!

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 1.3 Configure the protocol

Configure the card channel properties, by a double click on Profibus, .., in the right side of
the Console. A new window appears, in which you can modify the Profibus parameters,
depending on your network (baud rate, timing parameters, ).

Baud Rate: Select the Profibus communication Baud Rate.

TS: Defines the Profibus unique address for the BradCommunication Board on the Profibus
Network. This address has to be different from any other device Profibus address present on
the network.
HSA: Defines the Highest active station address on the network. Set this value higher then
the highest Profibus address present on the network or set it the 126 (max).
Profile: This defines automatically the Profibus Timing profile that will be used to manage the
communication.
MPI : Use this Profile if your communication is only with MPI devices
DP : Use this Profile if your communication is only with DP devices
Universal: Use this Profile if you are planning various communications.

Note : All devices connected to the Profibus Fieldbus has to be set to the same
communication timings! For details about the timing value used by the Profile check the
parameters defined under the Advanced Configuration tab.

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 1.4 Add the equipments

Insert from the Equipment Library the device

type you want to communicate with.
Use the Drag & Drop method or the insert button

Different types of card should have different list of

equipments available:
- S7-MPI for communication over the S7
MPI programming port
- S7-300 and S7-400 for Profibus S7
communication with respective CPU type.

Configure now the equipment properties:

Topic Name: Equipment name that will be

used in the Data Servers (OPC / DDE)
to access to this PLC
Number: Equipment Number that will be
used in the DLL or in the various test and
diagnostic tools to identify this equipment.
Link Parameters: Selected, this checkbox
will link the different parameters to the
Equipment value (here the Profibus
address)
Station address: Equipment Address to
access to the remote equipment.
Local SAP: the used SAP (Service
Access Point) for the communication
between the card and the PLC.

Rack Number / CPU Slot: Identifies the

position of the Siemens S7 CPU. These
parameters are set by default but can be
different in your Simatic Step7
configuration. Configure this according to
your Step7 project.
Link Type: Specifies the type of
connection that will be opened (Standard,
PG or OP). For more information about it
please refer to section 5 Communication
Troubleshooting / FAQ

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2 How configure S7 PLC Profibus interface

In the Step7 project, open the NetPro program:

Open the CPU Properties (for the MPI communication) or the CP Properties (for the S7
protocol communication) and click on the communication interface property button. Set the
Profibus address and the parameters of the connected network (timings, etc.).

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Download all modifications in the S7 PLC, clicking on the button; now the PLC is ready
to communicate.

Important note: for an S7 Protocol communication with the PLC prefer always the Universal
(DP/FMS) communication timing profil.
The default timing values of the Profibus channel for the applicom PCNIC are defined
according to the Universal (DP/FMS) profile.

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3 Check the communication with your equipments

Now the card and the PLC are ready to communicate together.
Initialize the communication solution with the following button in order to update the
configuration in your card.
Use the online action tool (on the lower left part of the console), in order to check if the
PLC(s) are seen on the network (in applicom solution use the explorer to start
MONPFB.EXE).
In case of communication problem:
- if this tool does not show you
some Profibus address of your
remote devices, that means that the
low level of the communication is not
running (wiring, end resistance,
Baudrate, communication timings).
- if this tool shows you the Profibus
address corresponding to your
remote devices, that means that the
issue is then located at a higher level,
certainly link to parameter from the
remote device configuration. (Rack,
Slot, Link Type )

You can also check the communication with configured equipments. For this use the
ReadWait communication test tool that you can start from the configuration console.
If the used Mode is
Most important parameters : Card, Channel and
Equipment
Type of the equipment.
descriptor then click
needed data (bit,
on it to enter the
Byte, Word,
syntax.
Double Word)
Once the syntax is
chosen, it will
2 mode types : appear above the
-Standard uses the button
data address
- Equipment descriptor Number of variables
uses the data syntax to read
(Please refer to the
Help file) Address of the
needed data in the
If all works fine, you PLC.
must see some return
data in this array. Click on Stop on
Also, when you active error and Polling
the read function, you buttons to read and
can see a return status capture a non-
about the exchange (0 deterministic return
= ok, other = not ok). status. (bus fault)
Click on read button
to read just one time and
get the return status.
(bus fault)
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4 Communication over Data Servers Ex with OPC client

You can also test the OPC Server communication over the OPC test Client provided as
additional test tool. Start it from the configuration console and the connection to the OPC
server is opened automatically. You just have to add in the group the items you want to test.

To add items to read on the MPI/S7 network you can reference to the following Siemens S7
syntax table:

Note: if any problem appears during the connection to the OPC server refers to the OPC
documentation and technotes.

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5 Communication Troubleshooting / FAQ

5.1 My communication status is different than 0

If the return status about the exchange is different than zero, it means that the
communication to the S7 PLC is not established. Here some common status:

Communication Time-out
means that the S7 PLC does not respond to the request we sent.
Can be related to a cable that is disconnected, or broken.
33 Can be a wrong Profibus address or a PLC that is not ready to run or badly
configured.
55
Please check your network wiring, connectors, Profibus address and
configuration of the remote PLC, configuration set in the communication
solution Test in direct connection over Ethernet Cross Cable
Use the Profibus monitor to verify the quality of the wiring (Chapter 3).
Refused connection

usually means a bad wire or a bad configuration of the remote stations, but also means
that the S7 CPU does not accept the S7 connection.

Can be a PLC CPU that is in STOP mode or OFF.

Please check that the CPU is started an in RUN mode, check the Slot and Rack
parameters. Check also the Profibus cable.
Can be related to a connection request when the CPU does not have anymore free
connections available. Each PLC is limited in the number of connection available.
Refer to the following table with some samples of connection limitations or contact
your PLC manufacturer.
70 If this is the first connection that is not accepted, change the link type in the PLC
properties windows from Standard to PG or OP or reduce the number of
connection used by additional equipment in communication with this PLC.
If you have selected more than one request simultaneously, it can be that your
PLC has not enough ressources to manage all configured connections. Reduce
this value to 1
Table with some exemples of connection limitations (for more information
contact Siemens with the CPU reference)

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To know the meaning of status not indicated above, refer to
the documentation of the Profibus protocol chapter
Functions return Status

5.2 Can my BradCommunication solution configure my S7 PLC ?

The Direct-Link PCNI PN# DRL-MPI-PCU and the applicom PCNIC PN# APP-PS7-PCU;
PN# APP-PFB-PCU; PN# APP-PFB-CPI does not provide any specific driver for the Simatic
Step 7 Software. So it is not possible configure the PLCs via these cards.

5.3 Can I communicate at the same time with other messagings?

Yes, the different BradCommunication solutions allows you to use simultaneously all
messagings. Depending on your configuration the solution will use the appropriate
messaging (based on the Profibus stack) to send request to the PLC.
The supported messagings are :
- MPI, on programming port
- S7 Protocol, on DP port
- Profibus DP, for remote Periperals
- FDL, for unsolicited sendings
- S5, for Siemens S5 PLCs
Note that this list change in respect to the used card. For the messaging supported by your
card, please refer to the help files.

5.4 Is it better to communicate over Profibus MPI or Profibus S7?

Both, Profibus MPI and Profibus S7 allows you to communicate directly with an S7-300 or
S7-400 CPU.
The Profibus MPI communication is performed over the CPU programming interface with a
communication speed of 187,5 kBaud by default. Only few CPU can change this speed for a
higher baurate.
The Profibus S7 communication is performed over the 2DP port or over any Profibus
interface of a Profibus coupler. Here the baudrate is not limited and the communication is
possible from 9,6 kBaud to 12 MBaud.
Be carefull on the Profibus S7 specific ports, additional communication like Profibus DP
communication, can also be performed at the same time. Having an additional S7
communication is possible but can add some delay in the DP data refresh cycle.

5.5 What is the difference between Profibus S7/MPI and Profibus DP?

The 2 main differences is in the data access :

- Profibus DP protocol is an Input / Output data exchange between one Master
and one slave. This communication is cyclic and very fast (ex: every 10 ms) but
very limited in the amount of Data (only 244 Bytes Input and 244 Bytes Output).

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 - Profibus S7/MPI is a communication made on request by a Profibus Master to
another Profibus Master. The communication is directly made with the S7 CPU,
accessing to the internal memory (ex: DBxDBWy or MWz). At each request
different memory address can be read allowing an exchange of very large
amount of data.

5.6 Do I need particular settings for the communication with particular

equipments (VIPA 315 SB, S7 318-2, S7 312) ?

Yes, there are some equipments that needs adjustments for a correct communication.

For the VIPA 315 SB, It is recommended to increase the TRDY and MiN_TSDR
parameters in the configuration console. As an example, at 187,5 Kbds, to
communicate with this device, the configuration should be :

Using the 1,5 Kbits/s, in communication with a Siemens S7 318- 2, it is

recommended to decrease the TSET parameter to 50 tbit.

With the MPI messaging, some of Siemens CPU S7 312 firmware version does
not allow the DRL solution to connect through. So, if you encounter any
communication trouble, you will have to change the way to communicate to. Use
the S7 messaging. Do not forget to change the connexion type from Standard to
PG or OP.

5.7 Where can I get further information about these topics ?

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More information about the Profibus communication in the help
file Profibus.pdf

More information about the Product general configuration in the
help file Implementation.pdf

More information about the setup of the BradCommunication

Product in the Quickstart

More information about the specific topics in relation with the
BradCommunication Products in various Technotes and
Quicknotes.
Available on the Product CD-Rom under the Technote Directory

5.8 Where can I get further Techsupport help ?

The first contact for Techsupport help is your local BradCommunication supplier !
If you bougth your communication solution directly by Woodhead, please refer to the
contact.pdf document in the list of help files in order to find the Woodhead office close to
your location.

Please ensure also that you have the following information readily available before calling for
Technical Support:
- Card type and serial number
- Computer's make, model and hardware configuration (other cards installed)
- Operating system type and version
- Details of the problem you are experiencing: firmware module type and version,
target network and circumstances that may have caused the problem

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