Scanning the Network for a Controller (controller-based Template)

The following exemplary procedure is based on an AXC F 2152 PLCnext Technology controller type.

The following is assumed:

The project was created by selecting the suitable template on the start page. The PLANT then contains a controller node with a contained 'PLCnext' node and a 'IEC 61131-3' node as shown below.
You have already configured the IP range for the project.

If you do not use a controller-specific project template, proceed as described in the topic "Scanning the Network for a Controller with an Empty Project".

Note
For a network scan as described below, it is not necessary to manually establish a communication connection using the 'Connect' command (controller context menu in the PLANT) before the scan. This is done automatically by PLCnext Engineer.

Double-click the 'Project' node.
In the editors area, open the 'Online Controllers' editor (see (1) in the figure below).
In the devices list, the name of the controller contained in the PLANT is already entered on project side ('Name of station (Project)'). However, it is not yet assigned to a physical device in the network.

Note
The IP address entered on project side is derived from the IP address range of the current project as set in the 'Ip subnet' category in the 'Settings' editor of the 'Project' node.
In the drop-down list (2), select the LAN adapter of your computer which is connected to the controller network to be scanned.
Click the 'Scan the network' button (3) on the 'Online Controllers' toolbar.
The network is scanned and found controller devices are listed in the table.

Assignment of project device and online device:

The behavior is different, depending on whether the controller names on project side and online side are the same or different.

If the name of the found online controller does not match the controller name used in the project (PLANT node 'Project'), the project controller and the online controller are listed in different table lines.
In this case, open the drop-down list 'Name of station (Online)' in the table line with the controller specified in the PLANT. Select the identifier of the scanned controller to assign it to the project station name.

Note
Alternatively, you can assign a controller device listed in the PLANT tree to the scanned controller by selecting a project device from the drop-down list 'Name of station (Project)'.
If the project controller name and the online controller name are identical, the assignment is made automatically after scanning.

Note
If the controller device includes a Safety PLC and you are not logged on to the Safety-related Area, you first have to enter the password for accessing the Safety-related Area. If this is the first edit operation of safety-related data in the current project, you are now prompted to define a password.

After the project and the online device have been assigned, the communication connection 'Status' may switch to 'Warning' because the communication settings of the scanned controller do not match the (default) communication settings in your project (which are predefined in the used project template).

In this case, proceed as follows:
Select the table line of the controller with 'Warning' status and execute the command 'Apply the online device settings to the project device settings' (context menu or toolbar button):

The communication settings configured in the scanned controller are transferred to the project.

Note
After reading the IP address from the scanned controller, an error message may be output that the IP range configured in your project does not match the read IP address. Open the 'Settings' editor of the 'Project' node and adapt the IP range in the 'Ip subnet' category accordingly.

Overview: status icons in the device table

Note
When you position the mouse pointer over an icon, a tooltip shows further information about the current status.

Icon

Meaning

Status 'OK'.

The project device and the online device are identical. All comparison values of the project and online device match.

Status 'Unassigned: Not in project'.

The discovered device is not in the PLCnext Engineer project, i.e., not assigned to a project device. It is only available "online" (online device).

To add the device to the project (PLANT), right-click the entry and select 'Add to project' from the context menu or click

on the editor's toolbar.

Status 'Unassigned: Not online'.

The device is only contained in the PLCnext Engineer project.

Status 'Warning'. (See the icon's tooltip for details.)

The project device and the online device are not identical. At least one comparison value of the project and online device does not match. The status is indicated, for example, if the values of the project device and the online device have changed after the last network scan.

Remedy: You can transfer the communication settings from the device into the project or vice versa:

Note
Project device settings that you modify in the 'Online Controllers'/'Online Devices' editor, such as the 'IP address', 'Subnet mask', 'Default gateway', etc. are immediately written to the online device by entering the value and confirming it with <Enter>.

Note
If the device settings cannot be synchronized, a corresponding warning is shown in the MESSAGES window.

Status 'Error'.

There is a critical error reported for the device.

Status 'Conflicted'.

Status symbols such as the 'OK' and 'Unassigned' statuses may have an exclamation mark overlay. An exclamation mark symbol is displayed on the status symbol if there is a conflict between devices listed in the device list (for example, several devices have the same IP address or the same name of station).

Status 'Outdated'.

The settings of the online device are possibly not up to date. This status is for example indicated if a new configuration file with different settings have been downloaded to the device after the last network scan.

Status 'Pending'.

A write/read operation, firmware update, etc. is currently in progress. The icon is also shown while an assignment is applied.

Status 'Unknown'.

Scanning is in progress and the comparison between project and online device is not yet completed.

Status 'Flashing'. After pressing the 'Flashing' button in the editor's toolbar, LEDs are flashing at the device for identification purposes.

Further Info
Continue with configuring and parameterizing new devices, e.g., for editing the controller IP address.

Further Info
The topic "Safety-Related Area with Password Protection" contains details on accessing the safety-related parts of the project.