S7Plus Driver Configuration

Click on the S7+ driver button in the system management to open the S7Plus driver configuration panel.

Figure 1. System management - "Driver S7" tab

You can define all parameters necessary for connection establishment (like PLC type, connection type or IP address) via this configuration panel.

Figure 2. S7Plus driver configuration panel

Connection

You can select one of the existing connections via this combo box.

Connection description

This text field allows defining a description for the currently selected connection.

Create

Click on this button to open an input dialog for defining the name of the new connection.

Figure 3. input dialog

A connection data point of type _S7PlusConnection is automatically created for each new connection (refer to Internal data points of the S7Plus driver for further information). In case of a redundant project, the <connection name>_2 data point is automatically created. The *_2 data points are not available in the combo box.

You can also define the browsing mode for the connection:

TIA project

This option enables file browsing. The panel for selecting a TIA project and station is automatically opened (refer to Engineering - Selection). The appropriate PLC type, IP address and access point is automatically determined after selecting the TIA project and station.

Online device

This option enables online browsing. When selecting this option, you have to specify the IP address and PLC type in the configuration panel.

Note:

You can either enter the IP address or a host name for the connection.

If a host name is used, it must not contain a dot.

Note: Online browsing is not performed at runtime unless changes have been made on the PLC side.
CAUTION: S7Plus alarming cannot be used if you enable online browsing.
Important: Please note that the data structures, function blocks, etc. are cached in WinCC OA , when a "Online devices" connection with the PLC is used and changes within the PLC are only queried again when the connection is newly established.

Remove

Removes the selected connection. Active devices must not be deleted.

PLC type

By default the PLC type is automatically set after defining the TIA project and station. Use this combo box to override the automatic selection. Following options are available:

  • Automatic
  • S7-1200
  • S7-1500
  • S7-1500 R/H
  • S7-1500 R/H Single
  • S7-1500 Soft PLC (SIMATIC ET 200SP Open Controller or Industrial PC with Soft PLC)
  • PLCSim: For simulating S7-155 & ET200SP (supported from TIA portal version 14 onwards). This option supports the following simulation software:
    • PLCSim - for local tests on your computer
    • PLCSim Advanced (from version 1.0 onwards) - provides additional functions (simulation of multiple PLCs, real time simulation, communication via TCP/IP i.e. within the network)
Note: Please note that PLCSim is only supported if the driver is started on a Windows host, since the TIA portal must be running locally.

S7-1500 R/H

The S7-1500 R/H PLC can be connected in one of two ways.

  1. The device can present itself as a device having one IP address called 'System IP'. This 'System IP' is handled by the active CPU or
  2. in a more traditional way with 2 IP addresses.
Use the PLC type 'S7-1500 R/H' when you connect to the system IP. Use the PLC type 'S7 1500 R/H single' when you connect to the traditional IP numbers.
Note:
  • When you use the System IP (PLC type "S7-1500 R/H") then the driver will not be able to read the individual OpState of each CPU. Therefore, switching on OpState is not possible (Switching should be restricted to ConnState). When you use traditional IP numbers and the PLC type "S7-1500 R/H Single" then the driver is able to read the individual OpState and switching can be done on OpState and ConnState.
  • The PLC type must be explicitly set for using a S7-1500 R/H system and must not be "Automatic".
  • The PLC type S7-1500 R/H Single is specifically designed to overcome security flaws in some environments when the system IP of the S7-1500R/H is used.

Driver number

Select the appropriate driver number using this combo box.

Note: You can define the driver number only once and cannot change it after confirming the setting by either enabling the connection or clicking Apply or OK.

Configuration

Redundant connection

If a redundant connection to the PLC exists, you can enable it via this check box. In this case, additional configuration fields for defining an IP address and an Access point for Connection 2 will be displayed.

Activate alarming

Enables the WinCC OAS7+ alarming to trigger and acknowledge PLC alarms.

Set PG/PC Interface (only for Windows!)

Click on this button to open the PG/PC settings of the Windows control panel (the entry "Set PG/PC Interface" is automatically added to the control panel when you install WinCC OA with the S7Plus component) in order to configure the access point to the network.

Figure 4. PG/PC settings

Go to the "Access Path" tab and select the appropriate access point via "Access Point of the Application". Then define the network interface via "Interface Parameter Assignment Used". Click on OK to confirm the settings.

Note: The default Access point is S7ONLINE (STEP7). Usually it is not necessary to change this. It is necessary to assign the correct network interface.
Important: Do not use a connection that is configured as Auto. These connections are intended for engineering usage, e.g. with STEP 7 and not for HMI interfaces such as WinCC OA. For example use Intel(R) Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter.TCPIP.1" instead of "Intel(R) Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter.TCPIP.Auto.1

Establish connection

Select the Active checkbox to enable the connection.

Tabs

The following tabs provide additional configuration options.

Tab Description
Connection Configuration of connection parameters
Engineering Loading a TIA project and selecting a station
Advanced settings Additional settings (security settings, switching conditions, etc.)
Time settings Configuration of intervals, timeouts and time synchronization
TSPP TSPP specific configuration settings
State details Details regarding the connection status
Statistics Statistical information on data sent received
Channel Diagnostic Diagnostic information for the S7Plus driver connection

State

State Host 1 / Host 2

Displays the connection state of host 1 / host 2. Following states are possible:

  • Inactive
  • Disconnected
  • Connecting
  • Connected
  • Disconnecting
  • Failure

Commands

Switch over

In case a redundant connection is configured this button allows you to manually force a switch over to the currently passive connection.

GQ

Triggers a general query.

Inverse GQ

Triggers an inverse general query, i.e. all output addresses write at the same time.