FX1N, FX2N and FX2NC-ENET-ADP

[mitica]

Hello, We are currently developping a project using the following - PLC FX1N/FX2N - Several sensor in a industrial process we are monitoring - An application that is sending command strings (from time to time) to the COM Port where the PLC is connected and read PLC’s reply - (basically we are querying several data registers that are set by the program being executed by the PLC) Recently we found FX2NC-ENET-ADP and we are planning to use it in order to change the above-mentioned application to send the command using an internet line. We need our application (written in C#) to directly connect to the PLC by using the IP address configured for the Ethernet Adapter (TCP/IP, Sockets …). After searching on several forums and reading several technical manuals we have the following questions: - Is it possible to directly communicate with the PLC using the Ethernet Adapter we purchased – this means sending commands to an IP Address instead of a COM Port? - If using a 3rd party software - virtual COM-to-IP Mapper, will our application send the usual commands to the virtual port (like the PLC is connected to this port)? - Do we need a special driver to communicate with the PLC through the Ethernet Adapter? Thank you in advance.

[Crossbow]

The FX2NC-ENET-ADP is really designed to be an Ethernet programming port. Prior to the latest releases of GX-Developer, we still needed to use Serial-IP from Tactical Software to map the IP address to a COM port. You can use MX-Component to talk to the PLC via the virtual serial port created by Serial-IP.

[Guapo]

Hi, Crossbow! Which Ethernet adapter can be used without virtual COM port (COM-ET10-T, fx3u-enet..)?

[Crossbow]

The only Ethernet module which can be used with the FX1N and FX2N is the FX2NC-ENET-ADP. The FX3U-ENET is only usable with the FX3U series PLC. COM-ET10 is the European designed predecessor to the FX2NC-ENET-ADP.

[Guapo]

Thanks Crossbow! Just be sure, you say, using FX2NC-ENET-ADP I can direcly access from my PC to PLC vía Ethernet, without using any virtual com port? Which version of GX developer needed to make this? After being succesful in programing vía Ethernet, I plan to controll PLC vía Internet. I mean after intall PLC, I want to access it vía Internet. Have you some idea about it?

[Crossbow]

Version 8.25 or newer of GX-Developer will support the communication without the virtual com port driver. I do not know if MX OPC Server supports this connection directly or not yet. As for controlling the PLC via Internet, what exactly do you mean? Keep in mind that the Internet, with all it's routers, firewalls, and roadblocks, is not a very easy connection, more of a giant can of worms... If the PLC is inside a plant behind a firewall you will most likely not be able to see it from outside without some cooperation with the IT department.

[Guapo]

Hi Crossbow! Now, I'm right in GX and Ethernet! Thanks for you' About controlling PLC via Internet. Yes, PLC will behind router and firewall. So I must discuss those with IT guys, and much more. I mean, I want to controll remotely PLC just I would in PLC site. Manily using GX developer, or MX Sheet. I thinking about security, but till I couldn't decide what to do. The most secure would VPN, but this means that the routers on both side must cooperate on the same way to be able make a live connection between PC and PLC. So for the first time I plan to do that without VPN. I think, that no to much probability to get an successful external attak due to the special Mitsubishi protocoll. Is it right? The second difficultity is the PLC's IP address resolution, if the PLC site has DHCP IP address (depend on the Interent Provider). This can be solved using DYNDNS feature of the target router. I have done, and it works. So, here I go!