Can multiple PLC connect to the Ethernet/IP adapter side of an X-gateway?

27 Jun 2022

This documents covers the possibility of multiple connections to an X-gateway Ethernet/IP adapter

 

APPLICABLE PRODUCTS 

AB7800,AB7916,AB7820,AB7668,AB7306,AB9006,AB7554,AB7831,AB7632,AB7649,AB7504,
AB7525,AB7682,AB7956,AB7832,AB7833,AB7838,AB7839,AB7841,AB7665,AB7842,AB7834,
AB7835,AB7836,AB7837,AB7840,AB7980

 

QUESTION

Can multiple PLC connect to the Ethernet/IP adapter side of an X-gateway? 

 

ANSWER

Yes multiple connections can be made to the Ethernet/IP adapter but there are some limitations to the connections.  Only one Class 1 Exclusive owner connection is supported.  However additional connections can be made with Class 3 GET and SET connections.   It should be noted that the PLC's are not aware of the others connection and there for can over write each other.  Due to this limitation it is recommended to only read data for the second connection.

 

Process

On the primary plc you will setup a exclusive owner connection, either with the EDS file or as a generic EIP device.  See the following App notes for details.


Anybus X-gateway EtherNet/IP with Rockwell Studio 5000 - EDS

Anybus X-gateway EtherNet/IP with Rockwell Studio 5000 - Generic Module

For the second PLC get/set messages one option is to set up a read data explicit message.  See the message instructions app note for details. 

Reading/Writing data from Anybus X-gateway using ControlLogix5000 MSG instruction

 

ADDITIONAL INFO

Ethernet Network Guide