Wonderware Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server 8.1.0 ReadMe

Last revision: 6/28/2005

This document contains important information about Wonderware^® Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server™ 8.1.0. Please carefully review this document for known issues in this version and changes to the Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server documentation included on this CD.

System Requirements

Installation Information

Known Issues - Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server

Release Summary

Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server Documentation

System Requirements

The Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server supports the following operating systems:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server with Service Pack 4
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server with Service Pack 4
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 4
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2

Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher is recommended on the computer where the product is installed.

NetDDE Support under Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition

In the server settings of the I/O Server, the option NetDDE being used is not supported under the Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition operating system; the NetDDE services are disabled by default.

Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 Support and Requirements

Microsoft Windows XP SP2 introduces several security technologies including disabled NetDDE, enhanced Windows firewall, and a reduced RPC attack surface. These enhancements affect the uses of NetDDE, WWLogger, and SuiteLink protocols in I/O Servers.

If the Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server needs to be operated on Windows XP SP2, you should contact your local Wonderware Distributor or download the OS Configuration Utility from the Wonderware Technical Support Web site at www.wonderware.com/support/mmi. This utility opens specific ports that enable NetDDE and adds Wonderware SuiteLink and Wonderware Logger to the firewall exception list.

The Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server will not work properly on a Windows XP SP2 computer if you do not run the OS Configuration Utility after its installation.

Hardware Requirements

To run an I/O Server, we recommend as a minimum the following hardware configurations:

PC with 2 gigahertz (GHz) or higher processor clock speed
1 gigabyte (GB) of RAM or higher (512 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)
8 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space
Super VGA (1024 x 768) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor
CD-ROM or DVD drive
Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

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Installation Information

Detailed installation instructions are included in the I/O Server Installation Guide. It is recommended that you read the I/O Server Installation Guide prior to beginning the installation process. In addition to the procedures described in the I/O Server Installation Guide, the following installation requirements have to be followed.

Local administrator privileges are required to install an I/O Server.
During installation, the UI states that the feature will be installed on the local disk drive. This is not enforced, and you can install on a network drive. However, installing on a network drive is not a valid configuration. Local installation is a requirement.

Installation Order Requirements

The installation for the I/O Servers 8.x and other Wonderware FactorySuite™products on the same computer must follow the order as outlined. A DAServer must always be installed last.

(If required) - InTouch™7.11 followed by application of the latest available InTouch patch
(If required) - Legacy I/O Servers™
I/O Servers 8.x
(If required) - DAServer(s)

This installation order will ensure that any differences, which may exist in the common components included with individual product releases, will install and run without version conflicts. In case of any future patch on the installed Wonderware FactorySuite products, follow the particular installation instructions from the patch.

Uninstall Order Requirements

After installing an I/O Server 8.x on a computer with other Wonderware FactorySuite products, the following applies:

If any Wonderware FactorySuite product is uninstalled from the computer, all other Wonderware FactorySuite products must be uninstalled and reinstalled.

Note: ArchestrA™products, such as InTouch™8.0 or greater, do not require any installation/uninstall order with the I/O Servers.

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Known Issues – Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server

Wonderware I/O Server Compatibility with Other FactorySuite Products on the Same Computer

At the time of this release, Wonderware FactorySuite 2000 and Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server prior to Version 8.1.0, which were previously released with support for Windows NT or greater, are not the supported Wonderware product combinations on the same computer with this Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server (Version 8.1.0).

Please check the FactorySuite Product version-compatibility matrix at www.wonderware.com/support/mmi to determine if the product-version combination associated with this install is supported.

L00038636:

Installing MBENET I/O Server Version 8.1.0 disables WWLogger. Any I/O Server installed in your computer will now log to the new SMC logger installed with the MBENET I/O Server Version 8.1.0.

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Release Summary

The Wonderware Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server is a Microsoft Windows application program that allows access to data in Modicon PLCs over an Ethernet network. The server requires only a standard 10BaseT Ethernet network card (or an Ethernet card with fiber optic output) to access the Ethernet network. Each Ethernet Network Card provides an interface to as many PLCs as the Ethernet topology allows.

The server supports Modicon Quantum (6-Digit) Automation Series controllers equipped with Quantum Ethernet TCP/IP NOE modules P/N 140 NOE 211 00 for 10BaseT twisted pair or P/N 140 NOE 251 00 for fiber optic.

While this I/O Server is primarily intended for use with Wonderware InTouch™, it may be used by any Microsoft Windows program capable of acting as a DDE, FastDDE, or SuiteLink™ client.

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Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server Documentation

The Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server documentation set includes the following guides:

I/O Server Installation Guide. This online Help provides information on installing the I/O Server, including options for installing all components of the system or just individual ones. This Help file can be accessed from the root directory of the CD-ROM.

Change Network Account Online Help. This Help documentation describes the tool you can use to manage credentials for node-to-node communications between ArchestrA™ components. This documentation is available in the CD-ROM directory \Common Files\ArchestrA\Docs\1033.
Protocols Guide. This guide provides background information on the main protocols used between components of the Wonderware products. A protocol is the set of rules and standards for enabling computers to connect and exchange data over the network. This guide also includes information on setting up and using some of these protocols.
Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server User's Guide. This guide describes the user interface and functions of the Wonderware Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server.
License Utility Guide. This guide describes the FactorySuite 2000 (Version 7.1) licensing strategy and explains how to use the License Utility to install license files and browse valid license files on the network.
LogFlag Editor User's Guide. This documentation describes the user interface and functions of the LogFlag Editor utility. This utility can be opened only from the Log Viewer, a part of the System Management Console suite of utilities.
Log Viewer User's Guide. This guide provides information about the Logger™ and the Log Viewer snap-in to the System Management Console.

Except for the Change Network Account Online Help and the I/O Server Installation Guide, all of these guides are provided in PDF form and can be printed. All PDF documents are available in the CD-ROM directory \UserDocs\English. Also, most information included in these guides is provided in online Help, which can be accessed from the Modicon MODBUS Ethernet I/O Server’s Help.

Viewing PDF Documentation

The documentation describing how to use this product is included on the CD in PDF format. Viewing these guides requires the installation of the Adobe's Acrobat Reader. This utility is not included on this CD, but it can be downloaded for free from the Adobe Web site at the following Web address:

www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

After downloading the file from Adobe, you must run the executable to install it on your computer. Follow the typical installation routine. After installation, you can either open the Acrobat Reader and select a user's guide from the File menu, or double-click a user's guide on the CD in Windows Explorer.

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