RSLinx is a communication software package of windows based developed by Rockwell Software to interface to all of the Rockwell and A-B industrial control and automation hardware. RSLinx comes in a variety of different flavors including RSLinx-Lite – PLC Programming software communication interface.
RSLinx-OEM – Provides DDE capability for Rockwell DDE capable software.
RSLinx Professional – Provides DDE capability to and DDE capable software.
RSLinx-Gateway – Communication network bridgeing, routing, and OPC server.
RSLinx SDK – Software Development Kit includes the OEM version.
In fact, all of the RSLinx software packages are the same. What differentiates the software packages from one other is the copy protection software key for RSLinx. If you run RSLinx without a key of software the software operates in the Lite mode. If you have a key the software works in the mode that the software key authorizes it to run in. This appendix will explore the capabilities of RSLinx-Lite. However, the driver configurations sections are applicable to all uses of RSLinx.
RSLinx is the intermediary communication between the hardware and the software package that needs data from the communication hardware. It must be configured to use the communication hardware interface of your choice for RSLinx to function. Select the correct communication hardware interface requires a thorough understanding of the device that is to be communicated with. It is important to understand the communication capability of the specific PLC that is being used, in the case of communicating with a PLC. Different types, revisions and models of PLCs have different communication capabilities.
For the objectives of this discussion and the following examples I am going to focus on the PLC hardware; specifically the PLC-5 and the SLC-500 processors. By focusing on the PLC hardware we can concentrate on the following communication hardware choices.
1. Serial – Using the serial port on a PC to the serial port on a PLC.
2. KT-Card – Use one of the many types of KT card to talk DH+, DH-485, or ControlNet.
3. Ethernet – Use Ethernet to communicate to an Ethernet capable processor.
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Allen Bradley PLC
Allen Bradley PLC