The first step in Cloud Notify is setting up a data source. This is done by selecting a communication protocol and defining the variables. This article shows you how to do this for communication via Ethernet/IP.

• PLC setting
• Select a communication protocol
• Add variables (new, import)
• Test variables
• Manage variables (export, duplicate, remove)

PLC setting

Allen-Bradley devices
Every variable in an Allen-Bradley PLC has an "External access"-attribute which determines whether an external device, like the IXrouter, has access to that variable. The IXrouter will need access to the variables in the PLC.

• Set the "External access"-attribute of all relevant tags to "Read/write" or "Read only".

Select a communication protocol

You first have to select a communication protocol. This is the protocol that the IXrouter will use to communicate with the target (i.e. PLC).

• Go to [Devices] in the main menu, select the concerning device, open its [Services] tab, and press [Add service].

• Name the target(i.e. PLC1), enter the target's IP address, and press [Next].

• Select your service type: [Data source].

• Select the communication protocol "Ethernet/IP". The port number will automatically be filled based on the selected protocol (port 44818). Select your CPU type and enter a rack (default 1) and slot number (default 0) if required. Press [Add].

Add variables

Once you've added a Data Source and selected a communication protocol, you can start adding variables. This is done in the configurator tool, specifically designed to quickly add, duplicate, import, export, and remove variables.

• Go to [Devices] in the main menu, select the concerning device, open its [Services] tab, and edit the target's services.

• Select [Data source]and press [Open configurator].

• To add a variable press [Add variable].

You can choose to:

• Manually add new variables
• Import variables from a file (or device)

Manually add new variables

To add a new variable you need to know the data type and address. These differ per CPU type and are explained in the following sections.

• AB CompactLogix / ControlLogix / FlexLogix / Micro800, Omron NX / NJ / NY / NA
• AB MicroLogix

AB CompactLogix / ControlLogix / FlexLogix / Micro800, Omron NX / NJ / NY / NA

The following table shows an overview of all available data types.

Symbolic addressing is used for these CPU types. For atomic / base / global variables you simply enter the variable's name inside the PLC as address on the IXON Cloud. If you're using a variable that is part of a structure, you'll need to enter the full name (including the struct names). If you're using a program or local tag, then the variable name needs to be prefaced with "PROGRAM:ProgramName.".

Take a look at the table below for an overview, including examples.

AB MicroLogix

The following table shows an overview of all available data types.

A specific address syntax is used for this type of CPU. The syntax is: MF:W/B (practical example: S2:30/7). Take a look at the table below for an overview of all available options.

Go back to the IXON Cloud and press [Add new variable].

• Enter the variable's name, data type, address, additional information, and press [Add]. The image below contains explanatory text for each text field.

Duplicate

You can easily duplicate this variable if you're adding variables that are only slightly different. This way you'll only have to make small adjustments.

• Finally, press [Push changes]in the config tab to complete the setup.

Import variables from a file (or device)

You can easily and effortlessly copy variables from one device to another by exporting the concerning variables (view the "Manage variables" part of this article) and then importing them in your new device. Alternatively, you can manually prepare your variables in the required CSV format to load them all at once into your configurator. The CSV file structure is explained in our "Import variables: CSV file structure"-article.

When you press [Import from CSV-file], you'll see a browse window.

• Select a CSV file to import and press [Open].
• When the file has been read, press [Add] to add all variables to your data source.

• Finally, press [Push changes]in the config tab to complete the setup.

Test variables

The test utility is used to check if all the added variables are set correctly. It shows the status of every variable and displays the variables' latest values if everything is configured correctly. If not, it'll show an error message.

• In the configurator press [Run test].

A connection will now be set up to stream the data directly to your computer, using:

When the connection is set up and all variables are set correctly, it should look like this:

Manage variables

You can view all defined variables in a list view or table view . Multiple variables can be selected by pressing the icon on the left, or you can select all by pressing [∙∙∙]. These can then be removed , duplicated , or exported to a CSV file .