'General' tab (EtherCAT Master/Slave Online Functions)

The following information refers to a specific, typical device type. Your screen may differ.

This help topic describes the 'General' editor of the EtherCAT 'Online Functions'. In the 'Online Functions' editor, select the desired node (master or a slave) in the tree on the left and click the 'General' tab on top of the editor on the right.

The tab is divided into several sections. Note that some are only available for the master or for slaves.

'State Machine' section
'Information' section (master only)
'Frame Counters' section (master only)
'Error State' section (slave stations only)

'State Machine'

The section is available for the EtherCAT master and each slave.

It displays the current EtherCAT state and provides buttons to change the state.

Element Description

Current state Displays the currents state of the device.

Requested state Displays the requested state of the device.

Change state Buttons with which a state change can be requested by a click of the mouse.
When performing a state change with such a command, the relevant init commands are executed.

Element	Description
Current state	Displays the currents state of the device.
Requested state	Displays the requested state of the device.
Change state	Buttons with which a state change can be requested by a click of the mouse. When performing a state change with such a command, the relevant init commands are executed.

Further Info
Refer to the topic "EtherCAT State Machine" for details.

'Information' (EtherCAT master only)

The information in this tab section is read-only and only available if the master is selected in the tree on the left.

Element Description

Number of found slaves Number of EtherCAT subdevices (slave stations) that are physically connected to the EtherCAT network.

Number of slaves in configuration Number of slaves configured in the project that is currently loaded on the AXC F xx52 controller.

Number of DC slaves Number of slaves for which the Distributed Clock (DC) functionality is enabled in the configuration and which are available on the network.

DC in-sync Only applicable if distributed clocks is configured: Information about the synchronization status of the system.

'Yes': all slaves with DC support are correctly synchronized.

'No': at least one slave with DC support is not synchronized correctly.

Topology OK Indicates whether the detected topology is "okay" or not.

Note
Optional slaves stations are not considered here. A slave becomes optional by adding it to a HotConnect group (to be done in the master settings). Slaves which do not belong to an HC group are mandatory and are considered here.

'Yes': the number of slave stations that are configured in the project matches the number of found slaves that are physically connected to the EtherCAT network.
Depending on how the 'Identification Mode' is set for each slave ('None', 'Configured Station Alias' or 'Explicit Device', see 'Settings' editor of the slave), the sequence or the station alias or the set device address has also been verified and matches the expected configuration.

'No': a mismatch between the configured network and the currently connected configuration has been detected.
Possibly devices are missing, or, depending on how the 'Identification Mode' is set for each slave ('None', 'Configured Station Alias' or 'Explicit Device', see 'Settings' editor of the slave), the sequence or the station alias or the set device address of slaves does possibly not match the expected configuration.
To analyze the configuration and fix the problem, the Network Mismatch Analyzer is available in a separate tab.

Note
This value is also reflected in the system variable 'EC_TOPOLOGY_OK' which is contained in the Data List of the IEC 61131-3 node ('System Variables' group). By evaluating this global system variable, the status of the EtherCAT network can be taken into account in the application.

Link connected

'Yes': all configured slaves are physically connected via Ethernet cable.

'No': for at least one slave, the Ethernet cable is not connected properly.

Slaves in master state

'Yes': all slaves are in the same state as the master.

'No': at least one slave is in a different state as the master.
The LED-like icon in the tree on the left shows by its color which slave/s is/are affected. You can open the 'Extended Diagnostics' tab of an affected slave to analyze and solve the problem.

'Frame Counters' section (EtherCAT master only)

The information in this tab section is read-only (except the 'Clear counters' button) and only available if a slave station is selected in the tree on the left.

Element Description

Sent frames Number of sent frames since the last power cycle.

Lost frames Number of lost frames since the last power cycle.
Counts data frames that either do not return to the master at all or are damaged. This counter can therefore be seen as a first indication of communication problems at hardware level.

Cyclic frames Number of cyclic frames since the last power cycle.

Acyclic frames Number of acyclic frames since the last power cycle.

Clear counters Clicking this button resets all frame counter values to zero.

Element	Description
Sent frames	Number of sent frames since the last power cycle.
Lost frames	Number of lost frames since the last power cycle. Counts data frames that either do not return to the master at all or are damaged. This counter can therefore be seen as a first indication of communication problems at hardware level.
Cyclic frames	Number of cyclic frames since the last power cycle.
Acyclic frames	Number of acyclic frames since the last power cycle.
Clear counters	Clicking this button resets all frame counter values to zero.

'Error State' section (slave stations only)

This field is only visible, if a slave station is selected in the tree on the left.

If an error has occurred during a state transition, it is shown in the field 'Current'.

You can open the 'Extended Diagnostics' tab of the slave to analyze and solve the problem.