Step 4: Configuring a Channel

Now that you have seen our Simulation demo in action, you may want to go ahead and create your own project and configure the driver from the start on your own.  This step and the steps that follow will show you how to configure a channel and device.

Before you start, you will notice that TOP Server’s title bar say “Runtime” as shown here. 

This means that any changes you make are made live in the server as soon as you make then while in “Runtime” configuration mode.  TOP Server V5 adds a new Offline Configuration mode that enables you to build a new project or edit an existing project offline, and then update the runtime with your changes. 

In this Quick Start, we will use this offline configuration mode to build our new project and then update the runtime. 

To start a new project, Click File->New from the TOP Server menu.  TOP Server will ask you if you want to replace the runtime project now or edit offline as shown below.  For the Quick Start click “No, Edit Offline”.  As long as you understand that by clicking “Yes, Update” you are immediately replacing the runtime project with your new one and going into Online Configuration Mode, there is nothing wrong with clicking “Yes, Update”.

Notice now that your TOP Server says “Configuration” as shown below.  This means you are in Offline Configuration Interface Mode. Changes you make will NOT be applied to the TOP Server runtime until we connect and update the Runtime, which we will do later.

Once you have started a new project, you can save it at any time with a filename of your choice (using the .OPF extension please) by clicking File-> Save.

1. Click on “Click to add a channel” which will launch the Channel Wizard. The wizard will guide you through the channel definition process.
    
2. Name your channel - The wizard first prompts for a logical name to use for the channel. Think of the channel as representing the communications method you are using - DF-1, Modbus_Enet, Siemens_Enet1 etc. This name must be unique among all channels and devices defined in the project.  Make it something that is meaningful to you.
   
   
   
3. Pick Your Device Driver
• The device driver is the protocol being used to connect to your device(s).
• A list box will be presented displaying all of the device drivers that are installed in the system
• If no devices are listed then that means when you installed the TOP Server you did not install any drivers.
• All serial drivers can be used with multiple channels in the same project.
• Each channel corresponds to one serial port.
• For hardware card drivers (i.e Modbus Plus), refer to the driver help for ability to use with multiple channels in a single project.
• For Ethernet drivers, the channel is a single thread of operation.
• You can have multiple Ethernet channels running to create a very high-performance multi-threaded Ethernet configuration.
• When you are first starting a project it is recommended you check the enable diagnostics box for trouble shooting, but once the project is up and running this can be unchecked to save on computer resources. To change the enable box of an added channel just right click on the channel and click properties then make the change. (Click here for more information on diagnostics)
• For the purposes of this example, we will use the Allen Bradley DF1 driver.  NOTE - you may see different screens if you pick a different driver!  Each driver specific help file describes all the settings for that driver in detail.  Clicking “Help” from any TOP Server setup screen will open the proper help file and explain the choices you are seeing.
  
  
  
4. Set Communications Parameters - We chose a serial driver so our wizard asks for things related to serial communications.  If you chose an Ethernet driver then you would be asked to choose which Ethernet Card you want to use.  Device address (node, or IP address) settings come later.
• Note: Multiple serial channels cannot share identical communication parameters, i.e. two serial drivers cannot use COM1, but two Ethernet drivers can connect to the same IP address through the same Ethernet Card. Refer to the manufacturer's documentation and the driver's online help for the correct communication parameters to use for a particular device.
• The flow control settings for serial drivers are primarily used when connecting RS422/485 network devices to the RS232 serial port via a converter. Most RS232 to RS422/485 converters require either no flow control (None) or that the RTS line be on when the PC is transmitting and off when listening (RTS).
• If the Com Port you are choosing is connected to a Modem that option will be available. (Click here to learn about TOP Server Modem support)
• Report comm. errors lets you turn of the logging of comm. errors in the Server event log
  
  
  
5. Set Write Optimizations - Next, you will need to define the write optimizations for the tags. You will need to choose the one that corresponds to your needs. We strongly recommend using the default setting until you understand these settings or find you need to alter this setting.  Writes can have a substantial impact on PLC communications effectiveness. It is recommended that writes be done from your client on an event driven or exception basis to minimize this impact.
   
   The choices available for the Write Optimzations settings are:
    
• "Write all values for all tags" - useful if you have a client that does many writes to the SAME tag and all the writes must be made, even if they are writing the same value most of the time.
• "Write only latest value for non-Boolean tags" - If you have boolean tags (i.e. start/stops) and you want all values written even if they are the same value, but you can accept writing the latest value for non-booleans, this setting may be useful.
• "Write only latest value for all tags" (DEFAULT - and recommended setting)
  
  
  
6. Driver Specific Settings - As you go through the Wizard using your chosen driver, you may see different screens than the one below or you may go directly to the summary.  The screen below is an example for the DF1 driver. 
   
   
   
7. Summary - The wizard will finish with a summary of the new channel.  You are now ready to configure a device.
   
   
   

Many of these settings are also available as System Tags and some can be changes at runtime.