Flexible, High-speed Software for Direct PLC Access
OMRON’s Upgraded FA Communications Software Lets You Create Applications with
Flexible, High-speed, and Direct Data Link Access to SYSMAC PLCs from Personal
Computers.
The need for faster transmission of more and more information between personal computers and
PLCs is coupled with the need for frequent changes to specifications, such as address allocations
in PLCs, a demand for software standardization to eliminate dependence on specific applications
and networks, and a demand for cost reductions.
In response to this demand, OMRON has completely renovated its FA Communications Software under new names. Data links are now possible using Ethernet. Data links can even be accessed via a LAN port on a notebook computer.
And FA Communications Software can be used to access PLC data by using
only tag names to enable more flexible and higher-speed access of PLC data
from personal computers, and that lowers costs by eliminating the need for a
special board for data links.
FA Communications Software
Product Positioning
SYSMAC Gateway
System Applications Device-embedded Applications
CX-Compolet
(formerly SYSMAC Compolet)
FINS/CIP Communications Middleware
SYSMAC Gateway
RS-232C USB
Easy PLC Data Reading
and Writing with VB.NET
and VC#.NET Control
Objects
EtherNet/IP
(formerly FinsGateway)
Ethernet
Controller Link
SYSMAC Gateway can be
used as the communications
driver on most networks. It is
the successor to FinsGateway and has inherited all
FinsGateway functionality.
CX-Compolet
CX-Compolet software
enables easily reading and
writing PLC data using Visual
Basic.NET and Visual
C#.NET. It is the successor to
SYSMAC Compolet.
High SpeedFlexibility
−Tag Access
−Two Types of Access
Simultaneous Upgrade for All OMRON FA Communications Software
Application
Two types of
access are
supported.
Access to
collected data
in personal
computers
High-speed
access
As-needed
access to
PLCs on
networks
Easy
CX-Compolet, etc.
NEW
Tag access
Tag access
Personal computer
No special
Board required.
Tag Access Data Links
Application data can be accessed using tag names
rather than addresses.
No changes are required at the application.
−Access to personal computers
via data links.
−Communicate using software
processing.
Virtual PLC
memory
Flexibility
You can easily handle
changes to specifications.
EtherNet/IP
NEW
Reduced costs and greater communications capacity.
Two New Features
Data links are possible between personal computers
and PLCs on Ethernet networks.
Personal computers become nodes on EtherNet/IP data links just like PLCs.
Data links
SYSMAC CJ2 SYSMAC CJ2
Direct Data Link Access
−Special Boards, such as
Controller Link and SYSMAC
LINK Support Boards, are not
required.
NEW
PLC data can be read and written across
EtherNet/IP networks by simply reading and
writing values in personal computer memory.
High-speed, large-capacity data links are possible.
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You can easily handle changes to
SYSMAC PLC SYSMAC PLC SYSMAC PLC SYSMAC PLC SYSMAC PLC
Upgraded Functions for FA Communications Software
Item
Operating system Windows Vista
Network
PLCs CJ2 (with EtherNet/IP functionality)
Other functions Checking operation on EtherNet/IP
EtherNet/IP Yes (Tag access and data links enabled.)
USB Yes (CJ2, CP1)
SYSMAC Gateway CX-Compolet
Visual Studio.NET 2008
• Array variables are supported.
Tag
name
Name server
Data
FROM TO
PLC data was accessed
using addresses, so if an
address was changed in the
PLC it also had to be
changed in the application.
specifications.
The addresses in PLC assigned to tag
names can be changed without creating
additional work.
CJ2
With EtherNet/IP functionality
PLC data is accessed using
tag names, so there is no
need to change addresses in
the application even if
addresses are changed in the
PLC. This enables application
standardization.
Same name
server as for CJ2
FROM TO
A PCI Controller Link Support
Board was required to
establish data links.
There were strict limitations on
the capacity and speed of
Controller Link data links.
∗1
EtherNet/IP is required for data links on Ethernet networks.
− The LAN port at the personal
computer is used, so no special
board is required. Data links are
possible even for a notebook
computer.
− Software operations are used,
improving personal computer and
communications performance.
EtherNet/IP provides greater capacity
and higher speed, and because data
link areas in personal computer
memory are accessed, data access is
faster than having to constantly
access EtherNet/IP nodes.
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