Overview

The Beckhoff Device Manager can be used for device diagnostics. It can provide a variety of system values. They can be accessed via standard functions of the Windows operating system and via special functions of the Beckhoff BIOS. The functions available for individual IPCs depend on the hardware, the BIOS, the operating system, and the Device Manager version. They may therefore differ between different Beckhoff IPCs.

In view of the fact that the control computer is the central element of the machine control system, any failure can cause high downtime costs. It is therefore essential to be able to check the device. To prevent failure and minimize downtime, it is important to detect critical conditions early on. These include impending heat collapse due to failure of a fan or insufficient passive cooling. For the acquisition, analysis, and evaluation of system data during operation, all newer Beckhoff IPCs therefore offer the option of sophisticated system diagnostics with standardized, safe access to existing hardware and software components.

The Beckhoff Device Manager is only available for Beckhoff Industrial PCs and Embedded PCs, since it requires a customized BIOS. The current version of the Device Manager is available from Beckhoff support. On Beckhoff IPCs that are delivered with an embedded operating system, the Device Manager is pre-installed as standard (IPCs with standard Windows OS are available on request).

Communication and programming interfaces

The Beckhoff Device Manager supports local system access (in the control program on the device) and remote access from another IPC (or PLC).

The Device Manager functions can be integrated in user applications (particularly TwinCAT) via different communication and programming interfaces.