ProSoft Technology RLX-OPC-SRV User Manual

RLX-OPC-SRV

ProSoft Software

RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency
Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

January 22, 2009

USER MANUAL

Please Read This Notice

The use and configuration of this software requires a reasonable working knowledge of the involved protocols and the
application in which they are to be used. For this reason, it is important that those responsible for implementation
satisfy themselves that the combination will meet the needs of the application without exposi ng personnel or
equipment to unsafe or inappropriate working conditions.

This manual is provided to assist the user. Every attempt has been made to assure that the information provided is
accurate and a true reflection of the product's functionality. In order to assure a complete understanding of the
operation of the product, the user should read all applicable ProSoft documentation on the operation of the module
and protocol driver.

Under no conditions will ProSoft Technology, Inc. be responsible or liable for indirect or consequentia l damages
resulting from the use or application of the product. Reproduction of the contents of this manual, in whole or in part,
without written permission from ProSoft Technology, Inc. is prohibited.

Information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of
ProSoft Technology, Inc. Improvements and/or changes in this manual or the product may be made at any time.
These changes will be made periodically to correct technical inaccuracies or typographical errors.

Your Feedback Please

We always want you to feel that you made the right decision to use our products. If you have suggestions, comments,
compliments or complaints about the product, documentation or support, please write or call us.

ProSoft Technology
1675 Chester Avenue, Fourth Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93301
[phone]
[phone] (Fax)
http://www.prosoft-technology.com

Copyright © ProSoft Technology, Inc. 2009. All Rights Reserved.
RLX-OPC-SRV User Manual

January 22, 2009
ProSoft Technology ®, ProLinx ®, inRAx ®, ProTalk® and RadioLinx ® are Registered Trademarks of ProSoft

Technology, Inc.

Contents RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

Contents

Please Read This Notice 2

Your Feedback Please........................................................................................................................2

1 Start Here 5

1.1 About the RadioLinx OPC Server .............................................................................5

1.2 Tags That Can Be Read............................................................................................6

1.3 System Requirements.............................................................................................15

1.4 Set Up Network.......................................................................................................15

2 Installing the Server 17

2.1 Choosing the Right RadioLinx OPC Server Project for Your Application...............17

2.2 Installation Process.................................................................................................18

3 Configuring the Server 19

3.1 Opening the Configuration Tool..............................................................................19

3.2 Creating a Configuration .........................................................................................21

3.3 Loading Your Configuration ....................................................................................25

3.4 Validating Your Configuration .................................................................................26

3.5 Adding a Channel....................................................................................................27

3.6 Channel Settings.....................................................................................................28

3.7 Adding a Radio........................................................................................................30

3.8 Radio Settings.........................................................................................................31

3.9 Adding Tags............................................................................................................31

3.10 Changing the Server's Update Rate........................................................................32

3.11 Adjusting an Existing Radio or Channel..................................................................32

3.12 OPC Reset Tags / Commands................................................................................32

3.13 Description of OPC "Commands" ...........................................................................33

4 Security and Password Protection 35

4.1 Password Protection for the Server ........................................................................35

5 DCOM Configuration 37

5.1 DCOM Configuration...............................................................................................37

5.2 My Computer Properties Checks............................................................................38

5.3 Component Services...............................................................................................44

5.4 RadioLinx OPC Server Properties ..........................................................................50

6 Connect to Server and Monitor Tags 57

6.1 Matrikon Example....................................................................................................57

6.2 RSView Example.....................................................................................................65

6.3 WonderWare Example............................................................................................86

ProSoft Technology, Inc. Page 3 of 108
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Contents RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

7

Support, Service & Warranty 99

7.1 How to Contact Us: Technical Support................................................................... 99

7.2 Return Material Authorization (RMA) Policies and Conditions............................. 100

7.3 LIMITED WARRANTY.......................................................................................... 101

Index 107

Page 4 of 108 ProSoft Technology, Inc.
January 22, 2009

Start Here RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

1 Start Here

In This Chapter

 About the RadioLinx OPC Server............................................................5

 Tags That Can Be Read..........................................................................6

 System Requirements...........................................................................15

 Set Up Network.....................................................................................15

For most applications, the following installation and configuration steps will work
without additional programming. ProSoft Technology strongly recommends that
you complete the steps in this chapter before developing a custom application.

This manual will walk you through the following tasks.

1 Setting up your network (page 15)
2 Install the server (page 17)
3 Configuring the server (page 19)
4 Security issues (page 35)
5 Setting up OPC client to monitor radios (page 57)

1.1 About the RadioLinx OPC Server

OPC is OLE for Process Control. OPC is open connectivity in industrial
automation and the enterprise systems that support industry.

The purpose of the RadioLinx OPC Server is to seamlessly link customer
applications to RadioLinx radios.

It will allow any application that can act as an OPC Client, such as an HMI, to
interact with most RadioLinx radios to get signal strength, serial number, limited
throughput information as well as other useful statistics.

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RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software Start Here
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

The RadioLinx OPC Server operates in the background on any PC. It
independently manages all requests from OPC Clients for information on
RadioLinx radios. The clients can be programs running either on the same PC as
the OPC Server or on a separate PC connected via a network connection.

1.2 Tags That Can Be Read

The RadioLinx OPC Server manages querying the RadioLinx radios over the
appropriate connections. It is configured by the user to query RLX-FH and RLX­IH radios over the appropriate Ethernet port on the PC running the RLX OPC
Server. The user defines a "connection" within the RLX OPC Server for a
particular Ethernet port. They then simply associate as many RLX-FH and IH
Ethernet radios with that port. The OPC Server then knows to direct any queries
of those radios over that connection.

Note: For RLX-FHS radios, the connection will be done through the serial port.

The RadioLinx OPC Server is software provided by ProSoft Technology to assist
in using RadioLinx products. The following sections we will guide you in
installation of prerequisites, RLX OPC Server software, RLX OPC Configuration
Tool, setting up the network, installing Server, configuring Server and connecting
to Server, and how to monitor tags.

Page 6 of 108 ProSoft Technology, Inc.

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Start Here RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

Notes: Only one process can communicate to a radio at the same time. Attempting to
communicate with more than one process at a time can cause unpredictable results.
In order to prevent multiple processes from communicating to a radio at the same time, switch the
RadioLinx OPC Server into pause mode while running ControlScape.
In addition, the validation option on the server will be disabled when the server is running.

1.2.1 RadioLinx Industrial Hotspot Radios

 RLX-IH
 RLX-IHW
 RLX-IHW-66
 RLXIB-IHW
 RLXIB-IESC

Tag Name Contracted name Data Type

RSSI RSSI Integer
Firmware Version FirmVersion String
SSID SSID String
MAC ID MACID String
Up Time UpTime Unsigned Integer
Parent MAC ParentMAC String
Number of Associations Associations Integers
Total Bytes TX TotBytTX Integer
Soft Reset* SoftReset Integer
Total Good Packs TX TotGoodPacksTX Integer
Total Failed Packs TX TotFailPacksTX Integer
* Are also write tags. TX = Transmitted

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RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software Start Here
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

1.2.2 RadioLinx Frequency Hopping Radios

 RLX-FHS
 RLX-FHE
 RLX-FHES

Tag Name Contracted name Data Type

RSSI RSSI Integer
Signal-to-Noise Ration SignalToNoise Integer
Associations Associations Integer
Bit error Rate BitErrRate Floating Point
Reset Statistics* Reset_stats Integer
Serial Number SerialNum String
Parent Address ParentAdd Integer
Total Bytes Forward TotBytFwd Integer
Total Bytes Reverse TotBytRev Integer
TX Packet Errors TxPackErrs Integer
Total Good Packets TotGoodPacks Integer
* Are also write tags. TX = Transmitted

1.2.3 RLX-IFHE

Tag Name Description

RSSI Receive Signal Strength Indicator measurement.
Unit Description Radio name
IP Address The IP Address of the current radio.
Unit Address:

Retransmissions

Destination Address This register specifies the ultimate destination for the data.

Roaming

Serial Number Serial number of radio (RF) module.
Version Firmware version within radio module.

The unit address is, and must be, a unique identifier of each modem in
a network.

VALUES

1 Master
65535 Broadcast

This register determines the maximum amount of times that a packet
will be retransmitted (in addition to the initial transmission).

VALUES

0-255

VALUES

1-65535
This feature allows a Remote unit to synchronize with a specified

‘upstream’ unit (either Master or Repeater).

VALUES:

65535 full roaming
1-254

specific (fixed) unit address (Master or Repeater)
with which to associate

Page 8 of 108 ProSoft Technology, Inc.

January 22, 2009

Start Here RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

Tag Name Description

Temperature Temperature as measured within the radio module.
Voltage Supply voltage as measured on motherboard.
VSWR

SoftwareVersion Core radio firmware version (.mhx file)
Operation Mode: The selected mode of operation: Master, Repeater, or Remote.
Link Rate:

RF Output Power:

Network Type:

Channel Mode

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio. Ideally 1:1 (or 1.00), this value gives an
indication of how much power is being reflected back to the radio from
the antenna relative to how much is being transmitted.

This is the RF communications Link Rate. A lower link rate offers better
receive sensitivity performance; a higher link rate, better throughput. All
IFHx radios in a network must use the same Link Rate.

This setting establishes the transmit power level which will be presented
to the antenna connector at the rear of a IFHx network. Unless required,
the RF Output Power should be set not for maximum, but rather for the
minimum value required to maintain. FCC regulations allow for up to
36dBi effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP). The sum (in dBm) of
the transmitted power, the cabling loss, and the antenna gain cannot
exceed 36dBi.

Type of RADIO network: Point-to-MultiPoint network (PMP), Point-To­Point network (PTP), Peer-to-Peer (P2P), or Everyone-to-Everyone
(E2E)

VALUES:

 Point-to-Multipoint
 Point-to-Point
 Peer-to-Peer
 Everyone-to-Everyone
 PMP with ACK

This option applies only to COM 1. Determines which serial interface
shall be used to connect to external devices: RS232, RS485, or RS422.
When an interface other than RS232 is selected, the DE9 port will be
inactive.

VALUES

 RS232

 RS485
 RS422

Data Baud Rate

The serial baud rate is the rate at which the modem is to communicate
with the attached local asynchronous device.

NOTE: Most PCs do not readily support serial communications

greater than 115200bps.

VALUES: bits per second (bps)

Data Format

230400, 115200, 57600, 38400, 28800, 19200, 14400,
and 921600 may be selected for RS422 or RS485 Channel Modes.

This setting determines the format of the data on the serial port. The
default is 8 data bits, No parity, and 1 Stop bit.

9600, 460800

VALUES:

8N1, 8N2, 8E1, 8O1, 7N1, 7N2, 7E1, 7O1, 7E2, 7O2

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RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

Tag Name Description

Flow Control

Used to enhance the reliability of serial data communications,
particularly at higher baud rates.

VALUES

Hardware

None

CTS Framing

Ethernet Received
Bytes

Ethernet Received
Packets

Ethernet Received
Multi-Cast

Ethernet Transmitted
Bytes

Ethernet Transmitted
Packets

Ethernet Collisions

Radio Received Bytes Number of bytes received by the Radio (RF).
Radio Received

Packets
Radio Received Errors Number of errors received by the Radio (RF).
Radio Received

Dropped Packets
Radio Transmitted

Bytes
Radio Transmitted

Packets
Radio Transmitted

Errors
Radio Collisions

COM1 Received Bytes Number of bytes received by the Serial port.
COM1 Received

Packets
COM1 Transmitted

Bytes
COM1 Transmitted

Packets

Specifies the number of bytes received by the Ethernet port.

Specifies the number of packets received by the Ethernet port.

Specifies the number of multi-cast packets that are received by the
Ethernet port.

Specifies the number of bytes transmitted by the Ethernet port.

Specifies the number of packets transmitted by the Ethernet port.

The number of invalid packets caused from multiple devices
transmitting Ethernet data at the same time.

Number of packets received by the Radio (RF).

Number of received dropped packets recorded by the Radio (RF).

Number of bytes transmitted by the Radio (RF).

Number of packets transmitted by the Radio (RF).

Number of Radio(RF) transmission errors.

The number of invalid packets caused from multiple devices
transmitting RF data at the same time.

Number of packets received by the Serial port.

Number of bytes transmitted on the Serial port.

Number of packets transmitted on the Serial port.

If the attached device supports hardware
handshaking.

If the attached device does not support
hardware handshaking.

Uses the CTS signal to gate the output data on
the serial.

Page 10 of 108 ProSoft Technology, Inc.

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Start Here RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

1.2.4 RLX-IFHS

Tag name Description

RSSI

Temperature Temperature as measured within the radio module.
Unit Address

Destination
Address

Retransmissions

Roaming

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This register displays the average signal strength received over the
previous 4 hop intervals. Should the downstream unit(s) fail, a Master will
maintain the last RSSI reading display.

VALUES:
110 to –55dBm (maximum reading)

The unit address is, and must be, a unique identifier of each IFHS radio in a
network. The address value is 16-bits in length. The Master has by default,
and must retain, a unit address of 1; 65535 is the broadcast address.

VALUES
2-65534
As the name implies, this register specifies the ultimate destination for a

modem’s data.
Different network topologies dictate the configuration of Destination

Address:
PMP: Master Destination Address = 65535, Remote Destination Address

=1
PTP : Master Destination Address = UA of Remote, Remote Destination

Address =1
P2P : Master Destination Address =65535, Destination Address of each (of

2 / pair) Remote radio is the UA of the other
E2E : Destination Address of all radios=65535 (broadcast)
VALUES
1-65535
This register determines the maximum amount of times that a packet will be

retransmitted (in addition to the initial transmission), noting the following
specific behaviors in various network topologies:

PMP: Master will retransmit each data packet the exact number of times
specified; Slave will retransmit only if necessary, and then only until a given
packet is acknowledged or the value of the Slave’s retransmissions is
reached (after which it will discard the packet if retransmission not
successful).

PTP: Modem will retransmit to its counterpart only if necessary, and to a
maximum number of the value in retransmissions. Packet is discarded if
retransmissions are not successful. Recipients of packets will discard any
duplicates.

In a PMP system, set retransmissions to the minimum value required as,
effectively, the data throughput from Master to Remote is divided by 1 plus
the number stored in retransmissions.

VALUES
0-255
Roaming dictates which radio (by Unit Address (UA)) a Remote unit will

’look’ or ’attach to’ for its upstream signal path. This feature allows a
Remote unit to synchronize with a specified ‘upstream’ unit (either Master
or Repeater).

The options are as follows:
Roaming=65535:
With this value in its roaming register, a Remote will synchronize with an

RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software Start Here
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

Tag name Description

upstream unit which has the same network address and static mask as the
Remote. Should that upstream unit fail, this Remote will attempt to
synchronize with another ’upstream’ unit within the same network. This
ability is particularly well-suited to mobile applications.

Roaming=1-254:
In most static (fixed) networks, where there are no Repeaters, the default

value of 1 is maintained: All Slaves synchronize to the Master (whose unit
address (UA) is 1). In networks where Repeaters are present, the value of
a Remote’s roaming value corresponds to the particular upstream radio,
with which a particular Remote is intended to communicate.

( e.g. A Slave with a UA=3 may have Roaming=2, where the radio with a
UA=2 is a Repeater between the Slave and the Master; the Repeater will
have Roaming=1.)

When setting up 3 radios for a Master-Repeater-Slave link, be sure to set
the Slave’s Roaming to the UA of the Repeater, and the Repeater’s
Roaming to the UA of the Master(1). This will ensure that data is routed
from the Slave through the Repeater to the Master; otherwise, if the Slave’s
Roaming is left at the default value of 1, the Slave will communicate directly
with the Master and bypassing the Repeater altogether.

VALUES:
65535 Full Roaming

1-254 Specific (fixed) UA of Master or Repeater with which to associate
Voltage Supply voltage as measured on motherboard.
VSWR

Operation Mode

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio. Ideally 1:1 (or 1.00), this value gives an

indication of how much power is being reflected back to the radio from the

antenna relative to how much is being transmitted.

The operating mode defines the role of a radio. An IHFS radio may be

configured for any role required within a radio network. This is convenient

for reasons of familiarity with any/all units, as well as for hardware sparing

purposes.

The default operating mode is dependent on which factory default option is

selected.

MASTER: Only one per network. In all network types data either originates

at, is destined to, or ‘passes through’ the Master.

REPEATER: May act simply as a ‘Repeater’ to store and forward data

to/from an upstream unit to/from a downstream unit (e.g. when there is a

long distance between the latter units), or, may act as a Repeater/Slave in

which case the above function is performed AND the unit may also

exchange data as a Slave within the network.

SLAVE: Interfaces with remote devices and communicates with Master

either directly or via Repeater(s). Communications between 2 or more

Slaves is possible - through the Master.

A ‘Remote’ (non-Master) modem is either a Repeater or a Slave. If a

Repeater is not being used as a Repeater/Slave (i.e. there is no device

attached to its local data port), leave its handshaking OFF (&K0) and set

the serial baud rate (S102) to 115200bps.

VALUES:

Master

Repeater

Slave

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Start Here RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

Tag name Description

Link Rate

RF Output Power

Network Type

This register determines the rate at which RF communications will occur
over a given network.

All radios within a particular network must be configured with the same
wireless link rate.

Faster link rates result in greater throughput, however, for each ’step’
increase in link rate, there is an approximately 1dB reduction in sensitivity.

VALUES
bits per second (bps)

19200
115200
172800
230400
270000
340000

This setting establishes the transmit power level which will be presented to
the antenna connector at the rear of the radio. Unless required Output
Power should be set not for maximum, but rather for the minimum value
required to maintain an adequate system fade margin.

FCC regulations allow for up to 36dBi effective isotropic radiated power
(EIRP). The sum (in dBm) of the transmitted power, the cabling loss, and
the antenna gain cannot exceed 36dBi.

VALUES

dBm (mW equivalent)
20 (100)
21 (125)
22 (160)
23 (200)
24 (250)
25 (320)
26 (400)
27 (500)
28 (630)
29 (800)
30 (1000)

Defines the type of network: point-to-multipoint, point-to-point, peer-to-peer,
or everyone-to-everyone

In a point-to-multipoint (PMP) network, the Master broadcasts data to all
units, and all remote units send their data (ultimately) to the Master.

A point-to-point (PTP) network involves a Master and a Slave (with 0 or
more Repeaters in-between).

Peer-to-Peer involves either communication between 2 (typically remote)
units (P2P) or between all units (everyone-to-everyone - E2E).

ALL modems in a network must have the SAME value for Network Type.
VALUES
Point-to-Multipoint
Point-to-Point
Peer-to-Peer or Everyone-to-Everyone

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RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software Start Here
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

Tag name Description

Channel Mode

Data Baud Rate

Data Format

Radio Received
Bytes

Radio rEceived
Packets

Radio Transmitted
Bytes

Radio Transmitted
Packets

Repeaters in
System

Defines the physical serial interface which will be used for data

communications.

VALUES

RS-232

half-duplex RS-485

full-duplex RS-485

The serial baud rate is the rate at which the modem is to communicate with

the attached local asynchronous device.

VALUES

bits per second (bps)

300, 600, 1200, 2400, 3600, 4800, 7200, 9600, 14400, 19200, 28800,

38400, 57600, 115200, 230400

This value determines the format of the data on the serial port. The default

is 8 data bits, No parity, and 1 Stop bit.

VALUES

8N1

8N2

8E1

8O1

7N1

7N2

7E1

7O1

7E2

7O2

Number of bytes received by the Radio(RF).

Number of packets received by the Radio(RF).

Number of bytes transmitted by the Radio(RF).

Number of packets transmitted by the Radio(RF).

This setting applies to the Master only. The default value is No, stating

there are no Repeaters in the network. If there are 1 or more Repeaters in

the network, configure this setting as Yes.

Page 14 of 108 ProSoft Technology, Inc.

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Start Here RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

1.3 System Requirements

The following system requirements are the recommended minimum
specifications to successfully install and run RadioLinx OPC Driver.

 Microsoft Windows compatible PC
 Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 or higher, Windows VISTA, or

Windows 2003

 Microsoft .NET Framework version 3.0 or higher
 300 mHz Pentium processor (or equivalent)
 128 megabytes of RAM
 300 megabytes of available disk space

1.4 Set Up Network

See the ProSoft Technology documentation on your radio.

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Installing the Server RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

2 Installing the Server

In This Chapter

 Choosing the Right RadioLinx OPC Server Project for Your Application17

 Installation Process ...............................................................................18

2.1 Choosing the Right RadioLinx OPC Server Project for Your

Application

1 Go to www.prosoft-technology.com, or use the ProSoft Technology supplied

CD to retrieve RLX OPC software!

2 Open setup file and follow the install directions. The install process will copy

the RLX OPC Server and OPC Configuration Tool onto your PC.

Note: Before installing, verify that you have the Microsoft .NET Framework (version 3.0 or greater)
already installed. If you don’t then download this from Microsoft.com and continue installing
RadioLinx OPC Server. Select the ServerInstaller.msi file to install.

This is an example of the Tree structure you will see. See descriptions below and
select the version for your system.

The Window XP Service RadioLinx OPC Server is the recommended version.
 Windows XP Service RadioLinx OPC Server

This is the primary server project. The configuration tool will also be installed.

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RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software Installing the Server
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

2.2 Installation Process

1 Launch the ServerInstaller.msi file to begin the installation process. You will

be asked for a directory to install to. Select a directory that Windows will have
access to for all user accounts and you would like to make the project
available to.

A registry entry will be placed in the Windows Run folder in order to load
some applications at Windows start up. These applications can only be
launched by a Windows session if the current user account has access to the
directory where the applications reside.

2 During the server installation process, you will be asked to install the OPC

Core Components 2.00 Redistributable.

Note: Unless you are 100% sure that you already have these "Core" components installed, it is
highly recommended that you complete this install as well.

3 When the installation is complete, you must restart your computer.
If you choose not to install the OPC Core Components and then later change

your mind, you can find the setup file for the core components in the "\Setup"
subdirectory of the main RadioLinx OPC Server folder.

Page 18 of 108 ProSoft Technology, Inc.

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Configuring the Server RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

3 Configuring the Server

In This Chapter

 Opening the Configuration Tool.............................................................19

 Creating a Configuration........................................................................21

 Loading Your Configuration...................................................................25

 Validating Your Configuration................................................................26

 Adding a Channel..................................................................................27

 Channel Settings...................................................................................28

 Adding a Radio ......................................................................................30

 Radio Settings.......................................................................................31

 Adding Tags..........................................................................................31

 Changing the Server's Update Rate......................................................32

 Adjusting an Existing Radio or Channel ................................................32

 OPC Reset Tags / Commands..............................................................32

 Description of OPC "Commands"..........................................................33

3.1 Opening the Configuration Tool

When you first install the server and configuration tool, the server will not be
configured to monitor your wireless radio network. The server is configured using
a separate utility. The first step in the configuration process is to open the server
and this utility.

Start OPC Monitor)
1 Click Start / Programs / RadioLinx OPC Server / RadioLinx OPC Monitor

-or-

2 Double-click on desktop icon for server
Start OPC Configuration Tool - to open as a Client
1 Click Start / Programs / RadioLinx OPC Server / RadioLinx OPC

Configuration Tool

-or-

Double-click on RadioLinx OPC Monitor system tray icon,

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RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software Configuring the Server
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

Or right click on icon, then select Configure Server.

One of the above processes brings up the RadioLinx OPC Server
Configuration screen shown below.

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Configuring the Server RLX-OPC-SRV ♦ ProSoft Software
RadioLinx® OPC Server for Frequency Hopping and Industrial Hotspot™ Radios

3.2 Creating a Configuration

There are two methods for configuring the server. You can connect to the server
and then configure it directly, or you can save your configuration to disk and then
load it into the server manually.

3.2.1 Configure to Server Mode

When you use the Configure to Server mode, you will connect to a server
running on the same machine as the Configuration Tool. The Configure to Server
will save your work to the server.

The status bar (bottom of box) should now say "Configuring to file." When you
connect to local or remote server it will change to "Configuring to server."

Note: If you have not created and saved a file for your radio, please follow the instructions in
Configure to File Mode for Adding a Channel (page 27), Radio (page 30) and Tags. (page 31)

Local Server Procedure

1 Click File / Configure to Server / Connect to Server / Local Server

The RadioLinx OPC Server Configuration box appears with Channel and
Radio (upper left panel), Tags (upper right) and Server Time Log on bottom.
If you right click on a date in Time Log, you can view details of that incident.

You can also configure a server that is running on another machine.

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Remote Server Procedure

1 Click File / Configure to Server / Connect to Server / Remote Server

Enter the IP address or the name of the computer that the remote server is
running on.
You can choose to attempt a secure remote connection, or not.

Note: If the IP address is not valid, you will receive a "Connection Failed" message.

Secure connections require certain Windows security options to be in place
before they will work. The unsecured remote connection is a lot more reliable,
but it is possible for others to intercept and interpret the messages that are
sent.

2 Click OK button.

3.2.2 Configure to File Mode

This section details how to create a custom configuration for your server.

Note: Do not connect to a server using the Configuring to Server method.

If you are connected to the server, disconnect before proceeding.
1 Select File / Configure to Server / Disconnect from Server.

The status bar (bottom of screen) should now say "Configuring to file."

2 Add a Channel. Select Edit / Add Channel

3 Choose a Channel name and Channel type.

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4 Click Next. FHS is for serial connections.

5 A dialog box will appear for connection timeout. Default is 2000 milliseconds,

but you can decide your speed. Click OK.

6 Add a Radio. Select Edit / Add Radio.

- or -

7 Now that you have a Channel, you can right click on your Channel name and

select Add Radio. This will bring up the dialogue box below.

8 Choose a Name and give it your specific IP address. Click OK to accept.
9 Add or Remove Tags. Select Edit / Add/Remove Tags

- or -

10 You can right click on your Radio name and select Add/Remove Tags.

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11 To Add or Remove tags, click on appropriate button. Then, click OK.

12 Click File / Configure to File / Save to File

13 Choose a directory and file name and click Save. The Status bar shows utility

in "Configuring to file".

If you want more detailed information on the procedures above please go to
Adding a channel, Adding a radio, Adding tags, and adjusting an existing
radio or channel in this manual.

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3.3 Loading Your Configuration

When you are finished creating and saving your configuration in the RLX OPC
Configuration Tool, you should Close it.

Note: If you saved your configuration to file, you will now need to load it into the RLX OPC Server.

If you chose the Configure to server method, none of the following steps are
necessary. Skip to "Validating Your Configuration."

1 Right click on the RLX OPC Server system tray icon and make sure that the

server is stopped. If Stop is checked, the server is stopped.

2 If the server is running, select Stop to stop the server.
3 Right-click on the RLX OPC Server system tray icon and select Load

Configuration. The "Select Configuration" box opens.

4 Navigate to the directory where you saved your file and open it.

When the configuration is finished loading, the Configuration Results dialog will
appear.

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The Configuration Results dialog describes the configuration that was loaded into
the server. Items that are listed green were successfully configured. Red items
could not be configured. Select an item in order to see more details about why it
could not be loaded.

3.4 Validating Your Configuration

Before you attempt to connect to the server with your OPC client, you may want
to test your configuration and make sure everything is configured properly.

1 Right-click on the RLX OPC Server system tray icon and select View

Configuration.

The view pane on the left of the dialog shows you what channels and radios
are configured. The view pane on the right shows what tags are configured
for each radio.

2 Click Validate to test the configuration.

The server will attempt to communicate to your wireless radios. After a
pause, the items in the two view panes will turn green or red. Green items
were contacted successfully. Red items could not be contacted.

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Radios or channels that remain white have no tags associated with them. No
attempt is made to contact these items. Notice that the current values of the
tags are also displayed after validating.

Note: You can re-verify you are connected by pressing validate again. This will update the values.

3 Click Close when you are finished.

Notes: Only one process can communicate to a radio at the same time. Attempting to
communicate with more than one process at a time can cause unpredictable results.
In order to prevent multiple processes from communicating to a radio at the same time, switch the
RadioLinx OPC Server into pause mode while running ControlScape.
In addition, the validation option on the server will be disabled when the server is running.

3.5 Adding a Channel

Wireless radio networks are composed of RadioLinx radios of the same type
configured to communicate together. In the server, these networks are
represented by channels. A channel is a communications stream for
communicating to a specific type or model of radio.

The first step in configuring the server is to add a channel for your wireless
network.

1 Click Edit / Add Channel

-or­Right click on top left pane and select Add Channel from the context menu.

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A dialog opens.

2 Enter a custom name for the channel.
3 Select the RadioLinx product that the channel will communicate to from the

drop down list.

4 Click OK.

Another dialog opens.

5 Enter the settings specific to your radio network into this dialog.

(See also: Channel Settings)

6 Click OK.

A channel with the given name appears in the top left view pane.

3.6 Channel Settings

Connection Timeout: The time the server will wait for a response from the radio.

3.6.1 RLX-IH Channel

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3.6.2 RLX-FHE Channel

3.6.3 RLX-FHS Channel

Name of COM port: The label of COM port that you are using to communicate to
the radio.

Baud rate: The baud rate of the COM port.
Parity: The parity settings for the COM port.
Data bits: The number of data bits used for communication via the COM port.
Stop bits: The number of stop bits used for communication via the COM port.
Handshaking: The flow control used by the COM port.
Timeout: The number of milliseconds that the server will wait for a response from

the radio.

Note: The settings can be copied from the properties window of the COM port that you are using to
connect to the radio network.
Note: The settings you enter for your FHS channel must be compatible with your com port.

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3.6.4 RLX-IFHE Channel

3.6.5 RLX-IFHS Channel

3.7 Adding a Radio

Purpose: Add radios that are part of your network to server configuration so that
OPC clients can monitor radio tags.

1 Select appropriate channel.
2 Click Edit / Add Radio.

-or­Right click on appropriate channel / Add Radio…
"Add Radio" dialog opens.

3 Enter a custom name for the radio.
4 Enter settings for communicating to radio.

See Radio Settings for more details.

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