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Tech Note 222

Configuring OPCLink Using TCP/IP and a Standard Network Card for
Windows NT 4.0 to Access S7-400 PLCs via the Siemens S7 OPC
Server

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for more information.

Topic#: 000950
Created: May 10, 2001

This document describes the necessary steps for establishing TCP/IP communications for Windows
NT 4.0, via the Wonderware® OPCLink I/O Server™ to an S7-400 PLC through a standard Ethernet
card in the PC. This document is broken down into three basic sections:

l Section 1 - Configuring the Siemens Simatic Net software

l Section 2 - Configuring the Siemens S7 OPC Server

l Section 3 - Configuring the WW OPCLink I/O Server

Throughout this document it is assumed that you have a basic working knowledge and
understanding of the Siemens Simatic Net and Wonderware FactorySuite™ I/O Server software.

Note: This Tech Note uses examples from Siemens Simatic Net S7/SR-OPC-Server V2.2.

Section 1 - Configuring the Siemens Simatic Net Software

This section provides step-by-step description of the installation and configuration of the Siemens
Simatic Net software.

Installing the Siemens Simatic Net S7/SR-OPC-Server V2.2

In order to communicate through the Siemens S7 OPC Server via a standard Ethernet card in the
PC, it is necessary to install the Siemens Simatic Net S7/SR-OPC-Server. It is recommended that
the most current version of the Siemens S7 OPC Server is installed. V2.2 is the current version
available at the time this Tech Note was created.

1. Obtain and install the Siemens S7 OPC Server from the Siemens Simatic Net CD.

2. Go to the Control Panel and select Add/Remove.

ก When the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box (Figure 1) appears, verify if the
Siemens OPC Server is installed, and if so what version of this S7 OPC Server is
installed on your system.

ก For this Tech Note’s example, the latest version of the Siemens S7 OPC Server
available, V2.2, is used.

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FIGURE 1: THE ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS PROPERTIES DIALOG BOX

Note: If you do not have the most current version of the Siemens S7 OPC Server installed,
contact your Siemens distributor or Siemens Technical Support to obtain the latest
Siemens Simatic Net CD.

Creating a Database Using COML S7 (V2.12)

The COML S7 program creates the .txt and .ldb files necessary for Simatic Net to interface the
Siemens S7 OPC Server to a standard Ethernet card in the PC, to the CP 443-1 TCP module on the
S7-400 UR. The following steps illustrate the procedure for generating the .txt and .ldb files.

1. Go into COML S7 and create a .txt file Figure 2).

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FIGURE 2: CREATING A .TXT FILE

2. Enter the following information in the fields when creating the COML S7 files.
a. Node name: The name of the PC station.
ก For documentation purposes, it is suggested that the name match the assigned
PC name, however, this is not required for communications.

b. Network type: Select TCP/IP as the Network type for TCP/IP communications.

c. Name: The symbolic name of the S7 connection.

ก Maximum 32 characters.

ก Can be freely chosen.

d. VFD Name: The Virtual Field Device name.

ก Maximum 32 characters.

ก This name is used by an application to specify which S7 connection to use.

e. Remote Addr: This is the TCP/IP address of the CP443-1 TCP module on the S7-400
UR.
ก This should match the TCP/IP addresses defined in Step7 Project Hardware
Configuration.

f. Local TSAP: The Transport Service Access Point for the local station.
ก The TSAP is the layer-4 address.

ก The first two digits specify the device.

ก The last two digits have to be zeros.

ก Recommended setting: 01.00

g. Remote TSAP: The TSAP of the PLC. It consists of two parts:

n group: specifications of the device: 01 = PG, 02 = OS, 03 = others

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n group: addresses of the SIMATIC components: (Bit 0..2) = Rack

(Subsystem), (Bit 3..7) = Plug in port

ก Recommended setting: 03.0x, where x = the slot of the CPU (Not the CP).

ก Since the CPU is normally installed next to the power supply (which takes 2
slots), the usual setting here is 03.03.

ก If configuring to communicate to an S7-300 PLC, the settings would be 03.02.

3. After all the information has been entered in the fields, save the .txt file under the File/Save
Text DB menu option.

4. When the Save Text Database dialog box appears, select the “*.txt” option from the Save file
as type: drop-down menu (Figure 3).

FIGURE 3: THE SAVE TEXT DATABASE DIALOG BOX

5. Then generate an .ldb file under the File/Generate Binary DB menu option.

6. When the Check and Save Binary Database dialog box appears, select the “*.ldb” option
from the Save file as type: drop-down menu, as shown in Figure 4.

FIGURE 4: THE CHECK AND SAVE BINARY DATABASE DIALOG BOX

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Configuring the Standard Ethernet Card with the Siemens Simatic Net “Set PG/PC
Interface”

Once the COML S7 .txt and .ldb files are created, it is necessary to configure and activate either
the TCP/IP interface via the Siemens Simatic Net “Set PG/PC Interface (V5.0)” software. The
following procedure illustrates how the configuration is done.

1. Start the Set PG/PC Interface software.

ก The Set PG/PC Interface (V5.0) dialog box (Figure 5) appears.

2. Set the Access Point of the Application: drop-down menu, located under the Access Path tab,
to “S7ONLINE (STEP 7)” (Figure 5).
ก Normally the “S7ONLINE (STEP7)” is used for Siemens Step7 communications, but this
access point is used as an example for this Tech Note.

ก It is possible for you to create and own your own unique “Access Point of Application.”

ก Consult your Siemens documentation or Siemens Technical Support on how to do this.

ก Highlight the interface so that the “Access Point of the Application:” points to the
desired “Interface Parameter Assignment Used:.”

ก For this example, the TCP/IP protocol is being configured.

FIGURE 5: THE SET PG/PC INTERFACE (V5.0) DIALOG BOX - THE ACCESS PATH TAB

Note: In the example above, the Interface Parameter Assignment Used: field shows
“TCP/IP -> Intel EtherExpress PRO...;” this may not be the case when initially setting up
the interface, and it may be necessary to configure the TCP/IP interface. Consult your
Siemens documentation or contact Siemens Technical Support if you need assistance in
configuring the TCP/IP interface.

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3. Once the “Access Point of the Application:” is defined correctly, click on the Properties button
from the main Set PG/PC Interface (V5.0) window.
ก The Properties – TCP/IP -> Intel EtherExpress PRO... dialog box (Figure 6) appears.

FIGURE 6: THE S7 PROTOCOL TAB - THE SAPI S7 DATABASE LOCATION

4. Click on the S7 Protocol tab.

5. Populate the SAPI-S7 Database field by clicking on the Search button.

6. Search the directory where the .txt and .ldb files were created and saved with the COML S7
software, as illustrated in Figure 6.
ก Notice how the path in the SAPI-S7 Database field points to exactly where the .txt
and .ldb files were saved to in the “Creating a Database Using COML S7 V2.2” section
earlier.

ก The TCP/IP Network tab does not require any configuration.

ก This completes configuring Simatic Net’s Set PG/PC Interface for the TCP/IP
communications.

7. Click OK.
ก The main Set PG/PC Interface window returns.

8. With the “TCP/IP -> Intel EtherExpress PRO...;” (or, TCP/IP -><network card>) interface (in
the Interface Parameter Assignment Used: field) highlighted and the Access Point of the
Application: drop-down menu reflecting “S7ONLINE (STEP7) -> TCP/IP -> Intel
EtherExpress PRO...,” click the OK button (Figure 5).
ก Simatic Net will now make the “TCP/IP -><network card>” the active interface.

ก The following dialog box (Figure 7) will appear with a prompt.

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FIGURE 7: THE CHANGED SIMATIC NET SETTINGS DIALOG BOX'S PROMPT

9. Click the OK button.

a. The main Set PG/PC Interface (V5.0) window will disappear and the TCP/IP -
><network card> window now becomes the active interface.

Testing the TCP/IP Configuration with the “Set PG/PC Interface”

Once the interface is active, it is possible, and advisable, to test the physical connection to the
network card before trying to communicate with the Siemens S7 OPC Server.

1. Restart the Set PG/PC Interface.

2. From the main menu, click on the Diagnostics button.

3. Then select the SR Protocol tab.

4. Click the Test button.

ก If all has been configured properly, Simatic Net will return an “OK,” as seen in Figure
8.

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FIGURE 8: THE SIMATIC NET DIAGNOSTICS DIALOG BOX

5. It is also advisable to ping the CP443-1 TCP module that is being connected to.
ก This will confirm whether the TCP/IP can “see” the CP443-1 TCP module on the
network.

Section 2 - Configuring the Siemens S7 OPC Server

Upon the successful installation of the Siemens S7 OPC Server and the configuration of the Simatic
Net interface for TCP/IP communications, it is necessary to now configure the Siemens S7 OPC
Server.

1. Select the “OPC Settings” under the “Start/Simatic/Simatic Net/OPC Server.”

ก Once the SIMATIC NET OPC Server (v2.2) window is started, the OPC Parameter tab
should be displayed.

2. Check the S7 Protocol box as shown in Figure 9.

ก There is no need to check any other boxes in this window or in the OPC Reset and S7
Protocol tabs/sections.

3. Once the S7 Protocol box is checked, click OK.

ก The Siemens S7 OPC Server is now configured.

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FIGURE 9: THE SIMATIC NET OPC SERVER DIALOG BOX - THE OPC PARAMETER TAB

Adding/Defining Items in the S7 OPC Server

In order for WW OPCLink to advise items from the Siemens S7 OPC Server, it is necessary to first
define the items in the Siemens S7 OPC Server. This is done via the Siemens OPC Scout program
that is provided when the Siemens S7 OPC Server is installed.

1. Start the Siemens OPC Scout.

ก When initially started, the OPC Scout will display all the OPC Servers installed on the
system (Figure 10).

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FIGURE 10: THE OPC SCOUT WINDOW

2. Highlight “OPC.SimaticNet” and double-click on it.

ก The “[New Group]” option will be displayed under “OPC.SimaticNet” as shown in Figure
11.

FIGURE 11: THE [NEW GROUP] OPTION

3. Double-click on the “[New Group]” option.

ก The Add Group dialog box will appear (Figure 12).

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FIGURE 12: THE ADD GROUP DIALOG BOX

4. Enter a name for the new group to be defined.

ก There is no need to modify the other fields unless desired.

5. Once completed, click the OK button.

ก The new group that was created will be displayed (Figure 13).

ก It is up to you to determine how many groups need to be craeted within the Siemens
S7 OPC Server.

ก Upon completion of defining the groups, the items within each group need to be
defined.

FIGURE 13: THE OPC SCOUT - NEW PROJECT WINDOW

6. This is done one group at a time, by double-clicking on each group created.

ก When double-clicking a group, the Siemens OPC-Navigator window will appear.

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ก Upon initially opening this window and if all has been configured properly, the
connections that were defined with the combination of the Siemens COML S7 program
and Simatic Net’s “Set PG/PC Interface,” described in the earlier sections of this Tech
Note, will be displayed.

7. It is now necessary to “drill down” to where the defined DBs (Data Blocks), FBs (Function
Blocks), and any other data types, defined in the Step 7 project, loaded to the S7-400 PLC
CPU.
ก See an example of what this looks like in Figure 14.

ก After navigating down to the level where the data has been defined in the PLC's CPU, it
is now necessary to define the OPC variables, which are the actual items that will be
advised with the OPCLink.

FIGURE 14: THE OPC NAVIGATOR DIALOG BOX

8. For each data type there will be a “New Definition” option; double-click on this to define the
new variables (items).
ก The dialog box for defining new variables will be displayed as shown in Figure 15.

ก It is very important to define variables correctly.

ก Consult your Siemens documentation or Siemens Technical Support for any

questions/problems encountered during this process.

ก Once a new variable is defined, it will be displayed in the OPC Navigator dialog box's
middle window (Figure 14).

ก It is necessary to add this newly defined variable to the group.

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FIGURE 15: THE DEFINE NEW VARIABLE DIALOG BOX

9. Highlight the newly defined variable now displayed in the middle window and click on the
arrow pointing to the right window (Figure 14). (The arrow is located on the pane between
the middle and right windows.)
ก This adds the new variable to the group.

ก The same process needs to be done for each and every variable defined.

10. Once all the variables are defined/populated in the group, click the OK button.
ก Figure 14 shows an example of what the OPC Navigator window would look like after
successfully adding a newly defined variable to a group.

11. Once all variables are defined, click the OK button.

ก If everything has been configured properly, OPC Scout will show the current values of
the newly defined variables on the main OPC Scout window (Figure 16).

FIGURE 16: THE MAIN OPC SCOUT WINDOW

This completes the Siemens Simatic Net and Siemens S7 OPC Server side of the configuration.

Section 3 - Configuring the WW OPCLink I/O Server

After the Siemens Simatic Net and Siemens S7 OPC Server configurations have been completed,
the WW OPCLink I/O Server needs to be configured.

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1. Start the server and create a topic.

ก The topic definition fields that will need to be populated are seen.

2. Enter a topic name.

3. With the Siemens S7 OPC Server and OPCLink on the same PC, leave the Node Name field
blank.

4. For the OPC Server Name, click on the pull-down arrow.

ก The OPC.SimaticNet should be listed as an option.

ก If it is not displayed, then this would indicate that the OPC Server was not registered
properly when installed on the PC.

ก It will be necessary to consult your Siemens documentation or contact Siemens

Technical Support for further assistance on troubleshooting this.

5. Click on the OPC SimaticNet option.

ก Figure 17 shows what the OPC Server Name field will look like when OPCLink can “see”
the registered Siemens S7 OPC Server.

FIGURE 17: THE OPCLINK TOPIC DEFINITION DIALOG BOX

Next comes the setting of the OPC Path field. The Siemens S7 OPC Server supports browsing which
makes this process easy to accomplish.

6. To set the OPC Path field, click on the Browse button.

ก The OPC Browser will be started.

7. Once the browser is started, “drill down” to where the newly defined group/variables are
contained within the Siemens S7 OPC Server.
ก Figure 18 shows the OPC Browser “drilling down” to where the new group/variables are
defined in the “Adding/Defining Items in the S7 OPC Server” section of this Tech Note.

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FIGURE 18: THE OPC BROWSER DIALOG BOX

ก Notice the OPC Path field.

ก Once the OK button is clicked on, this will be the same path defined in the OPC Path
field of the WW OPCLink I/O Server (Figure 19).

FIGURE 19: THE OPCLINK TOPIC DEFINITION DIALOG BOX

8. Leave the remaining fields at their default settings and click OK.
ก The WW OPCLink I/O Server is completely configured.

Testing OPC Communications with the WW OPCLink I/O Server

With the Siemens Simatic Net, Siemens S7 OPC Server, and WW OPCLink I/O Server now
configured, it is time to test the OPC communications with the WWClient, through a standard
network card via the TCP/IP, to the S7-400 CPU via a CP443-1 TCP module, in the S7-400 UR.
Please see Tech Note 132 on how to use WWClient.

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l Figures 20 and 21 show how the OPCLink and WWClient successfully advising item
“dDB21,0.7,1” from an S7-400 PLC based off the Siemens Simatic Net, Siemens S7 OPC
Server, and WW OPCLink I/O Server settings, configured throughout this Tech Note.

FIGURE 20: THE OPC COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE WW OPCLINK I/O SERVER

FIGURE 21: THE WONDERWARE CLIENT WINDOW

R. Acosta

The Tech Note is published occasionally by Wonderware Technical Support. Publisher: Invensys
Systems, Inc., 26561 Rancho Parkway South, Lake Forest, CA 92630. There is also technical
information on our software products at www.wonderware.com/support/mmi

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