HMS Flexy Family User Guide User Manual
Flexy Family User Guide
USER MANUAL
UM-0002-00 1.4 en-US ENGLISH
Important User Information
Disclaimer
The information in this document is for informational purposes only. Please inform HMS Industrial Networks of any
inaccuracies or omissions found in this document. HMS Industrial Networks disclaims any responsibility or liability
for any errors that may appear in this document.
HMS Industrial Networks reserves the right to modify its products in line with its policy of continuous product
development. The information in this document shall therefore not be construed as a commitment on the part of
HMS Industrial Networks and is subject to change without notice. HMS Industrial Networks makes no commitment
to update or keep current the information in this document.
The data, examples and illustrations found in this document are included for illustrative purposes and are only
intended to help improve understanding of the functionality and handling of the product. In view of the wide range
of possible applications of the product, and because of the many variables and requirements associated with any
particular implementation, HMS Industrial Networks cannot assume responsibility or liability for actual use based on
the data, examples or illustrations included in this document nor for any damages incurred during installation of the
product. Those responsible for the use of the product must acquire sufficient knowledge in order to ensure that the
product is used correctly in their specific application and that the application meets all performance and safety
requirements including any applicable laws, regulations, codes and standards. Further, HMS Industrial Networks will
under no circumstances assume liability or responsibility for any problems that may arise as a result from the use of
undocumented features or functional side effects found outside the documented scope of the product. The effects
caused by any direct or indirect use of such aspects of the product are undefined and may include e.g. compatibility
issues and stability issues.
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Table of Contents
Page
1 Preface ................................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 About This Document .......................................................... .. ................... .. ...................... 3
1.2 Document History .. .. ..................... ............................................ ..................... ..................3
1.3 Related Documents ..................... ..................... ............................................ ....................3
1.4 Trademark Information . ..................... ............................................ ..................... ..............3
2 Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Hardware .... ............................................ ..................... ............................................ ......4
2.2 Software........ .. ..................... ............................................ ..................... .........................4
3 Get in Touch with the Flexy................................................................................................ 5
3.1 Assigning an IP Address....................... ..................... ............................................ ............. 5
3.2 Accessing the Web Configuration Interface.......... ............................................ ..................... 5
4 Quick Launch Wizard........................................................................................................... 6
4.1 System Wizard......................... .. ..................... ............................................ ..................... 6
4.2 Internet Wizard ............................. ................... .. ............................................ ................. 7
4.3 VPN Wizard................. ..................... ............................................ ..................... ..............8
4.4 Gateway Wizard ............... ..................... .. ..................... ............................................ ....... 8
5 Remote Access..................................................................................................................... 9
6 Create Tags and Monitor Values ...................................................................................... 10
6.1 Available IO Servers.............. .. ................... ................................................................. .. .. 10
6.2 Tag Management ............. ................................................................. .. ..................... ...... 10
6.3 Tag Creation.. ..................... ............................................ ..................... .. ........................ 10
6.4 Monitor Tags..... .. ............................................................... .. ..................... .................... 13
7 Alarm Management .......................................................................................................... 14
7.1 Configure Alarm Settings for a Tag .......... ............................................ ................... .. ......... 14
7.2 Alarm Display .... .. ............................................................... .. ................... .. .................... 14
7.3 Alarm Summary ....................................................... .. ..................... ............................... 14
7.4 Alarm History ................... ..................... .. ..................... ............................................ ..... 15
7.5 Alarm Actions................................. .. ..................... ............................................ ............ 15
8 Real-time Logging .............................................................................................................. 17
8.1 Real-time Logging Configuration ............. ............................................ ..................... ......... 17
8.2 Real-time Graph ...................................................... .. ................... .. ............................... 17
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9 Historical Logging .............................................................................................................. 18
9.1 Historical Logging Configuration ................................. ..................... .. ............................... 18
9.2 Historical Logging Graph..... .. ................... .. ................................................................. ..... 18
9.3 Historical Logging Table......... .. ................................................................. ..................... .. 18
10 Files Transfer Page ............................................................................................................ 19
11 Task Planner ...................................................................................................................... 20
11.1 Configure FTP Server Settings..................................... ..................... .. ............................... 20
12 Tag Publishing.................................................................................................................... 22
13 Data Management ............................................................................................................ 23
13.1 Talk2M API ................. ..................... ............................................ ..................... ............ 23
13.2 Live data and KPI’s .................................... ..................... ................................................ 23
14 NAT 1:1 .............................................................................................................................. 24
15 Custom Web Pages............................................................................................................ 25
16 Backup and Restore .......................................................................................................... 26
17 Other Configuration Mechanisms .................................................................................... 27
17.1 FTP......................... .. ............................................................... .. ................... .. ............. 27
17.2 SD Card ........................... .. ..................... ............................................ ..................... ..... 27
18 Export Block Descriptors................................................................................................... 28
19 Scripting ............................................................................................................................. 29
20 User Management............................................................................................................. 30
21 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................ 31
21.1 Summary Page . ............................................ ..................... ............................................ 31
21.2 Event Log......................... ..................... .. ..................... ............................................ ..... 31
21.3 Scheduled Actions ............................................................... .. ......................................... 32
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Preface 3 (34)
1 Preface
1.1 About This Document
This guide presents the features of the Ewon Flexy and explains briefly the steps to take to get a
functional Flexy.
For additional related documentation and file downloads, please visit www.ewon.biz/support.
1.2 Document History
Version
1.0 2018-01-12
1.1 2018-04-17
1.2 2018-08-29
1.3 2019-06-12
1.4 2019-10-03
Date
1.3 Related Documents
Document
Ewon Configured by SD Card
eBuddy
OPC UA Server HMS AUG-0064-00
Configure your Ewon using FTP
Email & text message (SMS) relaying using Talk2M
Alarm Email & SMS Templates
Publish Tags in SNMP
Publish Tags in Modbus TCP
IO Servers HMS RG-0007-00
Reference Guide: Flexy Family
Export Block Descriptor
Description
First release
Changing scope of the document: Flexy 205 => Flexy Family
Changed: List of IO servers
Added: NTP Client / Server
Added: Anybus Bolt Configuration
Added: Time Zone
Added: Tag KPI
Added: String Tags
Added: OPCUA
Changed: Disclaimer
Changed: Overall display
Author
HMS AUG-0062-00
HMS AUG-0063-00
HMS KB-0020-00
HMS KB-0046-00
HMS KB-0054-00
HMS KB-0150-00
HMS KB-0184-00
HMS RG-0008-00
HMS RG-0009-00
Document ID
1.4 Trademark Information
Ewon®is a registered trademark of HMS Industrial Networks SA. All other trademarks mentioned
in this document are the property of their respective holders.
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Requirements
2 Requirements
2.1 Hardware
This guide presents the features of the Flexy which can be combined with optional extension
cards if needed.
Without extension cards, the Flexy provides Remote Access and Remote Data Services to
Ethernet devices over the local Ethernet network.
Extension cards permit the Flexy to communicate to a wider range of field devices including USB
and serial devices and to use additional Internet connectivity technologies such as Wi-Fi and
cellular modems.
2.2 Software
The Flexy is configured through its web interface which is accessible with any modern web
browser. The recommended platforms are:
• Firefox 15 and higher.
• Chrome 16 and higher.
• Safari 11 and higher.
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• Edge 13 and higher.
eBuddy
The companion tool eBuddy assists with initial IP address configuration for the Flexy and with
maintenance tasks such as upgrading firmware, creating/restoring backups...
Download eBuddy.
eCatcher
The companion tool eCatcher is needed if the Flexy will connect to the Talk2M infrastructure to
allow remote access to its plugged in equipment.
Download eCatcher.
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Get in Touch with the Flexy 5 (34)
3 Get in Touch with the Flexy
3.1 Assigning an IP Address
The first communication with the Flexy can be established using the companion tool eBuddy
(check Software, p. 4 for more details about eBuddy).
To change the IP address of the Flexy:
1. Connect the port labeled as LAN (port #1) of your Flexy.
This can be done either to the computer point-to-point or through a network if the default
IP of the Flexy, which is 10.0.0.53, will not conflict with another connected device.
2. Start the eBuddy application.
The application scans through the Ethernet adapter network and identifies the connected
Ewon devices displaying the IP address, subnet mask and serial number.
The utility also allows the modification of the default IP address without necessarily being in
the same network range.
3. Optional: Highlight the row representing the device to be modified
4. Click on the button Set IP from the top bar menu or hit the F2 keyboard shortcut.
5. If step 3 was skipped, indicate the serial number of the Flexy to be modified. Click Next.
6. Enter the new IP address and its subnet mask. By clicking Next, eBuddy sends the
commands to the Flexy to change its IP address and to reboot.
7. Once the reboot completes, the Flexy will be accessible at its new IP address.
3.2 Accessing the Web Configuration Interface
The configuration of the Flexy can be done using its internal web pages.
While your computer is connected to a LAN port of the Flexy, open an Internet browser and
enter the LAN IP address of the Flexy into the address field.
If your computer is not in the same network address range as the Flexy, the web interface can be
reached using the EZ DHCP feature of eBuddy. For more information, refer to the eBuddy
reference in Related Documents, p. 3.
Before beginning the configuration of the Flexy, authentication is required. The default login and
password are both adm.
For security reasons, the default password must be changed.
The password can be changed through the System Wizard described below.
At the first boot of the Flexy or after a reset level 2 and after successfully logging in, a prompt
will appear to set the interface language.
After the interface language is selected, a wizard button appears which allows a quick
configuration of the system and communication settings of the Flexy. On later connections, the
configuration wizard is accessible through the Wizards button in the upper right corner.
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Quick Launch Wizard 6 (34)
4 Quick Launch Wizard
The Quick Launch Wizard makes it easy to configure the initial system and communication
settings for the Flexy.
Fig. 1 Quick Launch Wizard Button
It passes sequentially through the System Wizard, the Internet Wizard and the VPN wizard:
• The System Wizard configures basic system settings such as the date & time and the default
username & password.
• The Internet Wizard configures the WAN or Internet communication settings for the Flexy.
• Once the Internet Wizard is complete, the VPN wizard connects the Flexy to the Talk2M
VPN infrastructure or to an eFive VPN server.
Based on the hardware configuration of the Flexy, the Quick Launch Wizard can also include the
Gateway Wizard which assists in configuring communication to serial, MPI and USB devices. Each
wizard can also be run independently through the menu options on the right hand of the
Wizards page.
4.1 System Wizard
The System Wizard configures basic system settings.
The first screen of the System Wizard configures the name of the device and the default user
settings. However, checking the Erase all first checkbox will erase all previously configured
settings on the Flexy.
The <Ewon name> helps identify the Flexy for an application. The name appears in the footer of
every web page and can be included in reports and alarm notifications.
The Flexy comes with an initial default user with username adm and password adm.
For security reasons, it is required to change the default password for the adm user. This
username and password can be changed in the System Wizard.
Additional users can be added from Setup ► Users menu. More information about adding
additional users is described later in this document.
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Quick Launch Wizard 7 (34)
Click Next to proceed to the second screen.
The second screen of the System Wizard configures the date & time settings. For Talk2M
communication, the date of the Flexy must be correct. Click on the Timezone or Datetime field
icons in the to adjust the date. If typing the date & time directly into the field, be sure to format
the value as shown.
With regard to the timezone option. it allows to configure the timezones including day saving
time [DST] by clicking either on the arrow or the map icon.
Caution
Starting firmwre v13.1s0, the exported Ewon data (through EBD, Talk2M API or any other
methods) with timestamps are by default exported in UTC!
To enable automatic date and time synchronization with an NTP server, check the Enable NTP
checkbox and adjust the NTP synchronization settings as needed.
The default remote NTP server is ntp.talk2m.com but other NTP servers can be used.
Click Next to proceed to the next screen.
The following LAN / WAN ports attribution step of the System wizard applies only for the Flexy 205.
The third screen of the System Wizard configures the attribution of the ports of the four ports
switch. Click on a port to change its attribution.
If no Ethernet extension card is detected then ports #2, #3, and #4 can be configured to be either
a LAN (local access) port or a WAN (Internet access) port. Port #1 will always remain a LAN port.
The attribution of a port can be easily recognized by its LED color:
• Orange for a WAN port.
• Green for a LAN port.
If an Ethernet extension card is detected, all four ports are set to LAN ports and are not
configurable.
Click Next to save the system settings.
If the attribution of the ports changed during the wizard, reboot the Flexy to apply the
changes.
4.2 Internet Wizard
The Internet Wizard configures the WAN or Internet settings for the Flexy. The options available
will depend on the specific hardware configuration of the Flexy.
The first screen selects the WAN interface that will be active.
Checking the <Initialize Configuration> checkbox will delete any existing WAN and VPN settings
already configured.
From the drop down menu, select the WAN interface to configure and activate.
Click Next to begin the WAN interface configuration.
Subsequent screens will differ depending on the WAN interface selected.
Below are the steps for connecting the Flexy to an Ethernet network. Information about
configuring other WAN interfaces is available in the General Reference Guide from the Related
Documents, p. 3.
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Quick Launch Wizard 8 (34)
In the <Address Setup> section, select DHCP from the dropdown menu to have the Flexy receive
an address automatically from the network or Static and then enter the network address settings
manually.
If the network uses a proxy server and the Flexy will connect to Talk2M, check the <Connect to
Talk2M through Proxy> checkbox.
Click Next to proceed to the next screen.
Check the Enabled checkbox to make a test connection to the Internet. If this network uses a
proxy server or if port 80 is closed for outbound connections, leave this checkbox unchecked.
Click Next to apply the configuration changes.
If the wizard completes successfully, the Flexy is now connected to the local Ethernet network. If
the wizards fails, check with the local network administrator for any special connection
instructions.
4.3 VPN Wizard
The VPN Wizard configures the settings required to connect the Flexy with the Talk2M
infrastructure or an eFive network.
The first screen of the VPN Wizard selects the VPN network to use. Information for connecting to
an eFive network is available on www.ewon.biz/support.
To connect the Flexy to the Talk2M VPN infrastructure, click the T2M (Configure Talk2M
connectivity) button.
Before proceeding with the Talk2M wizard, the Flexy must first be defined in eCatcher.
Information about eCatcher and defining Ewon devices is available on .
On the next screen select the registration mechanism.
To register with an activation key, select Register with Activation Key and enter the appropriate
activation key.
To register with an Ewon Name, select Register with Ewon Name and enter the Talk2M account
name, the name of the Flexy on the account, and valid user credentials for this account.
Click Next to advance to the next screen.
If the network used for Internet access uses a proxy server, check the Enable checkbox in the
<Connect via HTTP Proxy> section and enter the appropriate connection information for the
proxy server.
Click Next to test and apply the Talk2M connection settings.
If the wizard completes successfully, the Flexy is properly configured for Remote Access through
Talk2M. If the wizard fails, the Diagnosis section will give additional troubleshooting information.
4.4 Gateway Wizard
If the hardware configuration of the Flexy includes certain extension cards that allow
communication with field devices over interfaces other than Ethernet, the Wizards might include
the Gateway Wizard.
The Gateway Wizard configures any necessary communication parameters for these cards. For
specific information about the hardware configuration of the Flexy, check the General Reference
Guide from the Related Documents, p. 3.
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Remote Access
5 Remote Access
The Flexy can be used to allow remote access to a wide variety of PLCs.
Under most circumstances, completing the Quick Launch Wizard successfully configures the Flexy
for remote access. In addition, there may be additional configuration steps required in the
programming software of the field device.
Specific documentation for remote access to different manufacturers’ PLCs is available, check
www.ewon.biz/support.
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