Software installation

and configuration
IEC-line series
update: 11-01-2014

IEC-line by OVERDIGIT overdigit.com

 Software installation and configuration

Table of contents
1. Installing the software .......................................................................................................... 3
1.1. Installing CoDeSys ...................................................................................................................... 4
1.2. Installing IEC-line........................................................................................................................ 4

2. Configuring the PLC ............................................................................................................... 7

2.1. General information about Ethernet network ............................................................................ 8
2.2. Configuring Ethernet network .................................................................................................... 9
2.3. Direct Ethernet connection to a PC ........................................................................................... 12
2.4. FTP connection and PLC files management ............................................................................... 13
2.5. Web server connection ............................................................................................................ 16
2.6. Configuration by CoDeSys ........................................................................................................ 16

3. Remote access via Internet .................................................................................................. 17

3.1. Configuring the modem-router on the LAN .............................................................................. 17
3.2. Setting the NAT service ............................................................................................................ 18
3.3. Registering a name server for the PLC ...................................................................................... 19

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 Software installation and configuration

1. Installing the software

On the software installation package are available all the tools needed to use the PLC of IEC-line
series.
The main tool is the programming environment CoDeSys V2.3 that is an advanced PC-based
software developed in Germany by an independent company, the 3S-Smart Software Solutions,
and used by more than 250 manufacturers of PLC, industrial PC and boards for automation.
CoDeSys can also be downloaded, after a simple registration, on www.codesys.com and used
without restrictions on PLC of IEC-line series.
Other tools, on the installation package, are available for the management and configuration of
PLC, and some programming examples to allow using the system immediately.
The installation package can be downloaded at the following web pages:

www.web-plc.com/Download.html
www.overdigit.com/Download.html

The compressed file obtained from this page contains two executable setup files. The first is the
standard setup of CoDeSys, as well as available on the 3S website, while the second is the setup
program specifically for the IEC-line series. The setup of CoDeSys must be executed first because
the second provides for the completion of CoDeSys with all supporting files relating to the PLC of
IEC-line series.

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1.1. Installing CoDeSys

To install CoDeSys tool must be run the setup program CoDeSys_v23xxx.exe (xxx current version)
of the installation package.
Confirm all the installation steps until the window for the selection of components to install. The
installation package includes some auxiliary tools some of which can be used under specific license.
It is recommended to install only the CoDeSys programming environment, whose license is
included in the PLC, the Gateway Server and the OPC server:

After installation, a folder is created in the Start menu of desktop, which also includes the CoDeSys
main manual in PDF format:

Additional manuals in PDF format are available in CoDeSys installation path:

C:\Programs\3S Software\CoDeSys V2.3\Documents\English

1.2. Installing IEC-line

CoDeSys is a development environment for IEC61131-3 programming designed to be used
independently of the particular PLC. This is why it has been widely used in the world and has been
adopted by many manufacturers of automation equipment.
This tool has all the functions of development, testing, documentation and maintenance of the IEC
program. Also comes with extensive documentation, both online and PDF format, with detailed
information on IEC61131-3 language and several programming examples.
To the standard structure of CoDeSys must be added everything related to the specific PLC to use,
so now you must install the “target" that is a synonymous of a PLC device.

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A target for its operation requires two set of files:

1. TSP (Target Support Package) installed on PC

2. RTS (Run Time System) installed on PLC

The Target Support Package is a set of files that must be installed on Personal Computers to inform
CoDeSys about the specific characteristics of the target. With the installation of the TSP some files
are added in special folders of the CoDeSys installation path which provide the tools to work with
the specific device.
In particular, are installed the configuration files for the PLC resources, the library files for the
management of specific parts of the target and the online help files integrated in the CoDeSys
menu.
To install TSP must be run the setup program IEC-line_V23xxxx.exe (xxxx current version) of the
installation package:

Follow the instructions of the setup Wizard until the end of the installation process.
With the IEC-line package will be installed all the TSP files under the Targets folder of CoDeSys
standard installation. The Overdigit/IEC-line subfolder will be created (under Programs folder of
PC) containing all the documentation, example programs, a backup copy of RTS files (already pre-
installed on PLC) and other files and programs to support the use of IEC-line series. The setup
program also installs the CHIPTOOL program that allows access and management of the PLC using
some utilities (such as FTP client) to be used in particular for the RTS software update.

The Run Time System consists of a set of files that must be installed on the device to make it work
as a PLC. Normally this is not necessary because RTS files are already installed on the device. Only
in the case of software update may be necessary the replacing of these files. In the following, a
brief description of main parts of RTS.
The main executable file is the RTS program of PLC (for example WP240_RTS.EXE), that runs the
device as PLC programmable with CoDeSys. This file must be present on the FLASH disk (in
"A:\SYSTEM") and its execution must be started at power-on by the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

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In the "A:\SYSTEM" folder there are also some executable files for disks driver and USB auxiliary
programming port (also these exe files are called by the AUTOEXEC.BAT) and some utility and
support applications.
In the root directory "A:\" two very important files are stored.
The first is the CHIP.INI file for general configuration of the system that contains several sections,
each with specific parameters. The file contains the preinstalled optimal parameters for many
applications. However, generally must be redefined the addresses for Ethernet network connection
and any username and password for access. For this purpose, a graphical user interface, based on
the PLC Web server, configures the main parameters.
The second is the AUTOEXEC.BAT file that lists the programs to launch automatically when the CPU
is powered on. It allows you to install the drivers of external hard-disks (USB memory and SD card),
the driver of the USB port (to define a virtual COM for CoDeSys programming), to execute some
support applications and finally the RTS program as PLC engine.
Finally, it is necessary the "A:\PLC_PRG" folder for storing all files of the IEC application program
developed with CoDeSys and executed by RTS.
A complete files/folders copy of standard setup for the target is available in the "Disk_A_image"
folder of the specific PLC under the installation on PC of the IEC-line package.

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2. Configuring the PLC

The PLC configuration options are stored in the CHIP.INI file, located in the root folder of disk A.
This configuration file is of text type and thus can be viewed and edited directly by an editor after a
FTP connection with the PLC (server) using a PC (client). However, the PLC is equipped with a
preinstalled set of Web pages that allow direct access to the configuration parameters through a
simple and descriptive user interface. To access the configuration pages, managed by the
ADMIN.EXE application (started by autoexec.bat), just type in the browser the network address
of the device followed by “/admin/admin.html” using the credentials to access Web server. For
example, in the case of default credential:

Address: 192.168.1.101/admin/admin.html
Username: web_user0
Password: web_password0

The home page of PLC administration site contains some general information such as the RTS
software version:

To configure the various parameters follow the instructions in the specific section.
NOTE: After setting one or more configuration values in the page fields, the data must be writed to
the PLC via Send button of the same page.

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2.1. General information about Ethernet network

The PLC has an Ethernet port for connecting to a local network (LAN) or directly to a Personal
Computer. The Ethernet network must be configured setting the following parameters:

• IP address
• Netmask
• Gateway

The value of IP address is the network address of the device. Normally in a private network this
address is 192.168.xxx.xxx where xxx marked fields are different for each device on the network.
Netmask defines the value of a bits mask that separate the IP address part used for routing within
the local network (bits to 0) than that used to addressing outside the local network (bits to 1).
Gateway is the specific address of a device connected to the network that performs the functions
of "exit door" between the local network (LAN) and the external network (Internet). In a local area
network the Gateway usually coincides with a modem-router.
Ultimately in a local network there will be multiple devices (modem-routers, Personal Computers,
printers, devices such as the PLC and others) each of which will have its own IP address. When one
of these devices must communicate with another it will send a data packet to the IP address of the
recipient device. If the destination address is internal to the local network (and this is known by the
Netmask), the packet reaches this through the router, but if the address is not internal to the LAN
this is sent to the Gateway which will send the packet outside the network.
In particular the CHIP.INI file of the CPU is preconfigured with the following parameters:

[IP]
ADDRESS=192.168.1.101
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
GATEWAY=192.168.1.1
DHCP=0

The predefined local network is using the fourth field to address the connected devices. In
particular, the PLC is at 101 final while the modem router at 1. The Gateway, in this case the
modem-router, has the network address 192.168.1.1.
The choice of the network address of a device can be done either manually (by choosing for
example the value 101), or automatically using the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
feature.
In manual configuration must be carefully assigned a unique address to each device connected to a
network. When networks are complex, this assignment requires significant attention by the
network administrator.
In the automatic configuration, toggled by setting the DHCP parameter of CHIP.INI file, the PLC asks
the network Host that is assigned an IP number currently available.
In a typical case of a small local network, where the Host functions are performed by the modem-
router, the DHCP server resides within this unit. The CPU with the parameter DHCP=1 performs the
function of DHCP clients and waits the IP address assignment from the Host. For example, if the

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network is already connected to a PC (which has already been assigned the address 192.168.1.2)
and then is connected a PLC, the address 192.168.1.3 can be assigned to this device.
The reason why for the default setting of CPU is preferred not to use this service (DHCP=0) is due to
the fact that, with the dynamic assignment, the addresses order can be different every time
(depending on the active devices on the network). If you do not known the local network address
of the PLC is not possible for the modem-router to open specific ports accessible from outside the
network using NAT functionality.
The NAT (Network Address Translation) service makes the connection from outside the local
network, via the Internet, through translations of addresses. The table of translations associates a
particular request of a service (Web server, FTP server and remote CoDeSys programming) from
outside the network to an internal device of LAN and for this you need to know in advance the IP
address. In a next paragraph will be provided all the information needed to use this feature.

2.2. Configuring Ethernet network

The PLC is factory configured with the network values indicated in the previous paragraph. To
change these values, the Network page of Web interface can be used:

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 Software installation and configuration

However, in some types of networks, the Web interface could not be immediately accessible
because the network configuration parameters could not be compatible with those programmed
as default inside PLC. For this it is necessary, initially, set the PLC network values in a manner
compatible with the LAN using the CHIPTOOL utility program:

With the start of the CHIPTOOL program is constantly scanned the network for all PLC devices
connected (the scanning can be stopped later with Stop button).
The window shows some information about the PLC connected and in particular the network
parameters currently set on the CHIP.INI configuration file.
To change the value of the DHCP parameter (for the service enabling) and others network
parameters, position the mouse cursor on the specific line of the device and press the right button
to activate the context menu as follows:

Click on the "IP configuration" menu to access the network configuration:

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The current values in the configuration file are automatically reported.

To manually configure network parameters, leaving off the "Use DHCP", put the three desired
values for "IP Address", "Network mask" and "Gateway".
To activate the self-assigned address instead activate the option "Use DHCP" leaving unchanged
the three address fields.
To update the CHIP.INI file with the new settings, click the "Config" button.
With the DHCP=1 option, every time the PLC is powered on, it makes a request to the Host for
address assignment, and these values are automatically updated in the CHIP.INI configuration file.

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2.3. Direct Ethernet connection to a PC

The PLC can be connected directly (point to point) with a single Personal Computer without using a
routed network. A direct connection to a PC provides, in a simple way, to accomplish all the
programming functions and handling of a single PLC.
In this case a crossover Ethernet cable (usually marked with the "cross" label or a red color) must
be used to connected directly the PLC and the PC Ethernet port.
The DHCP=1 option is possible only if in the PC is running a "DHCP server" program that can
automatically assign an IP address to the PLC. The most common situation is however to assign
manually two different IP addresses, one for the PLC and one for the PC.
To set a specific IP address for the PC the properties of the TCP/IP Internet protocol must be
accessed:

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2.4. FTP connection and PLC files management

An important tool offered by the CHIPTOOL program is the FTP client. FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
allows the access to the folders and files on the FLASH disk of the PLC.
On the CPU is active, by default, the FTP server service that allows the connection to any FTP client
program like that, very simple, provided by CHIPTOOL.
Remember that any FTP client program can be used such as the sophisticated "FileZilla" freely
downloadable from the Internet.
The FTP connection is made either in the local network or remotely by running the FTP client on a
PC connected to the Internet. For the outside access must be opened a FTP port using the NAT
service of the modem-router as will be described in the specific paragraph.
Activate the context menu after placing the mouse cursor on the specific line of the founded
device:

Click on the FTP menu to access the FTP connection:

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The IP address of the PLC is automatically proposed while the User and Password fields should be
properly set equal to the values currently stored on the CHIP.INI file.
In the CPU pre-installation the default values are:

Username: ftp_user0
Password: ftp_password0

The CHIP.INI file provides for the possibility of having two separate users (0 and 1) each with its
own User and Password values.
An extract of the file section on CHIP.INI for the FTP connection parameters is as follows:

[FTP]
…
USER0=ftp_user0
PASSWORD0=ftp_password0
…
USER1=ftp_user1
PASSWORD1=ftp_password1

In the absence of definition lines regarding USER and PASSWORD by default are defined two special
users:

Username: anonymous Username: ftp

Password: “not defined” Password: ftp

The connection option "Use passive mode" must be enabled in the case of remote connection via
the Internet.
Confirming the connection with the "Connect" button to access the files window:

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On the left side is available the folders/files tree of the Personal Computer while, on the right side,
the files of the PLC.
This tool allows the execution of some commands such as view, edit, copy, move and delete files
and folders and perform the PLC FLASH disk operations. In this way the CHIP.INI and
AUTOEXEC.BAT files can be customized and can be managed all the files of the IEC program in the
"A:\PLC_PRG" folder.

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2.5. Web server connection

CoDeSys programming environment allows you to create, in a simple and intuitive mode, graphic
pages for visualization and management of the IEC program variables.
With this feature, called "Visualizations", pages created can be viewed within the CoDeSys
environment (usually for testing and development) and by a "Web browser" locally or remotely
over the Internet.
The PLC includes a Web server that can make accessible the pages, created with the CoDeSys IEC
program, through a "Web browser" (such as Internet Explorer) by typing the specific network
address of the PLC.
To use the Web visualization on the PC must be installed the Java engine program that can be
downloaded, free of charge, at the following link:

www.java.com/download/index.jsp

To access Web pages created by CoDeSys, in the case of PLC configured with default parameters,
use the following values:

Address: 192.168.1.101
Username: web_user0
Password: web_password0

After loading the Java application on the PC, the home page, created in the IEC program, will be
viewed. Each page corresponds to an XML file (generated by CoDeSys and transferred to the PLC)
that will be downloaded and subsequently interpreted by the local Java program, leaving to the
network communication only the exchange of the values displayed on the page.

2.6. Configuration by CoDeSys

The configuration of the main parameters of the FTP connection, the Web server and other parts of
the PLC can be performed, as an alternative to Web administration interface or editing of CHIP.INI
file by the FTP connection, through the CoDeSys programming environment.
Through the CoDeSys "PLC_Browser" function a communication with the PLC can be established
using a command window. There are some commands to perform PLC configuration such as the
setting of the Ethernet network, the FTP connection, the Web server and the Real Time Clock.
The configuration of the Ethernet network connection can also be done with the "PCL
Configuration" function, clicking on "CPU (* Local resources *) [SLOT]" and then "Modul
Parameters". After selecting the line for the device, new network addresses for the PLC can be
selected.

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3. Remote access via Internet

3.1. Configuring the modem-router on the LAN

In a private LAN the Gateway is a network device that allows access to and from the outside (the
public Internet network).
This device is usually an ADSL modem that often integrates the router function. This operates as
the central for the routing of the communication packets of the other devices connected in the
local network. The Ethernet port only provides a physical connection between two devices.
Therefore, to form a complete network, routers are needed with a number of sockets to be
connected to various devices. There are other devices such as switches that allow the creation of
even more complex structures operating in a similar way of routers. The switches allow multiple
devices to interconnect with each other on the same network and routers also interconnect
different networks among them.
In the following example will be made reference to a LAN realized by a simple ADSL modem-router
with 4 ports. At this router two Personal Computers and one PLC are connected.
The PLC is configured with 192.168.1.101 static address (DHCP client disabled) while the modem-
router has the address 192.168.1.1 and the DHCP server enabled:

The two Personal Computers, with the DHCP client enabled (option "Obtain an IP address
automatically" in the properties of the TCP/IP Internet protocol), make request to the router of its
own unique network address. The modem-router then assigns the network address 192.168.1.74,
192.168.1.2 to the PC's.
The PLC, with DHCP automatic assignment disabled, is configured at 192.168.1.101 as programmed
in the CHIP.INI configuration file.

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At this point the Gateway (ADSL modem), the two Personal Computers and the PLC form a private
network. Through each of the two PCs, the CPU disk can be accessed with FTP connection, the PLC
can be programmed and the pages of CoDeSys visualization viewed by a Web browser. The PLC
can also directly access outside the network, for example by sending E-mail or synchronizing the
clock with a NTP server.

3.2. Setting the NAT service

The next step is to allow access, from outside the local network, to the PLC and to the services that
it offers. For this some ports in the modem-router must be opened using NAT service, usually
available on all devices of this type.
The connection through the external network (Internet) to a device connected in a private local
area network (LAN) is done by the remote software (Web browser, FTP client and CoDeSys) with
the sending of a port address as well as the IP address of the device (address assigned to the
modem from the Internet Service Provider).
Each type of service is usually associated to a predetermined port address. For example, the port
values normally used for services of interest are:

FTP 21
HTTP (Web browser) 80
Telnet 23
CoDeSys 1200

In this example the NAT service is accessible via the "Port Mapping" menu. It should be added the 4
rows in the table of virtual servers. Normally there is a predefined list of virtual servers such as FTP,
HTTP and Telnet. It may be possible to manually define all four services with the "Custom Virtual
Server":

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The purpose of this table is to redirect an external request of a particular service directly to the IP
address of the LAN device that offers this service.
For example, when CoDeSys wants to remotely access the PLC, it sends packets with the TCP/IP
internet address associated with the ADSL modem and the port address 1200. The modem-router,
looking at this table, will send packets to address 192.168.1.101 of the PLC. At this point, the PLC
responds to the sender, transmitting own data packets. As the answer destination is outside the
local network, the Gateway (or modem) sends this data to the external network and so the replay
is returned to the remote PC on which CoDeSys operates.
Similarly are accessed from the outside, on a different port addresses, other services such as Web
server and the FTP connection.

3.3. Registering a name server for the PLC

Every network device has its own IP address. This is true both for the local private networks (where
normally is used the addresses group 192.168.xxx.xxx) and for the public network (Internet). The
popularity of Internet has, however, quickly led to a shortage of addresses, despite the 32 bits used
for the TCP/IP version 4. For this was introduced a 128bits addressing with protocol version 6 with
which the PLCs of IEC-line are already compatible.
However, because the large use of the 32 bits protocol, is used a solution to solve the problem of
addresses shortage. Instead of assigning to every Internet connected computer a fixed IP address,
the Internet Service Provider assigns a different IP (dynamic address) that is free at the moment in
order to more efficiently allocate network addresses.
When an ADSL modem-router is turned on, the provider assigns a temporary IP address within the
WAN (Wide Area Network), which represents a great network that connects local networks in large
geographical areas. Viewing the WAN settings in the modem, the IP address that is currently
assigned to the modem can be checked.

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The presence of a dynamic IP makes it very difficult to access from outside the services locally
performed by a network device because this address may vary and consequently the remote
computer will not have the address information.
For this reason, could be necessary the use of a Dynamic DNS (Domain Name System) capable of
continuously match the value of dynamic IP address to a well-defined naming convention.
The DNS servers are very important for Internet because it can translate a name of a website into
the corresponding IP address as it happens in a telephone directory for a name and the related
telephone number. It is much easier to type the name of a site rather than its IP address.
The service provided by "dyndns.com" and other similar sites, as “no-ip.com”, is also very useful in
the case of dynamic IP addresses. Normally these sites offer the service with an inexpensive
subscription but are also possible free accounts as in the case of "no-ip.com".
Now will be recorded, by way of example, the third level domain "myplc.no-ip.org" to be
associated with the IP of the modem-router which is connected to the PLC:

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Using the "Sign Up Now" button a simple registration form of the service is visualized:

In the Hostname field, type the name chosen for the PLC (in the example "myplc").
Confirming the subscription, the following page is viewed:

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To complete the registration, must be accessed the E-mail account, specified in the previous form,
clicking on the link received in the confirmation E-mail.
At this point, the registration of the name associated with the PLC is ended.
To maintain updated, on the DNS server, the correspondence between the dynamic IP address and
the Internet "myplc.no-ip.org" address, the modem-router must be configured with the
information about this service:

In particular, under the "Dynamic DNS" menu you have to add a row to the table providing the full
name of the Host ("myplc.no-ip.org"), the Username and Password chosen when registering to
the service and selecting the DNS server provider ("no-ip.com").
The modem-router, so configured, will operate as a dynamic DNS client, and the dynamic IP will be
constantly updated on the DNS server.

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