Device description ESI file/XML
The ESI device description is stored locally on the slave and loaded on start-up. Each device description has a unique identifier consisting of slave name (9 characters/digits) and a revision number (4 digits). Each slave configured in the System Manager shows its identifier in the EtherCAT tab:
The configured identifier must be compatible with the actual device description used as hardware, i.e. the description which the slave has loaded on start-up (in this case EL3204). Normally the configured revision must be the same or lower than that actually present in the terminal network.
For further information on this, please refer to the EtherCAT system documentation.
Display of ESI slave identifier
The simplest way to ascertain compliance of configured and actual device description is to scan the EtherCAT boxes in TwinCAT mode Config/FreeRun:
If the found field matches the configured field, the display shows
otherwise a change dialog appears for entering the actual data in the configuration.
In this example in Fig. Change dialog, an EL3201-0000-0017 was found, while an EL3201-0000-0016 was configured. In this case the configuration can be adapted with the Copy Before button. The Extended Information checkbox must be set in order to display the revision.
Changing the ESI slave identifier
The ESI/EEPROM identifier can be updated as follows under TwinCAT:
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- Trouble-free EtherCAT communication must be established with the slave.
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- The state of the slave is irrelevant.
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- Right-clicking on the slave in the online display opens the EEPROM Update dialog, Fig. EEPROM Update
The new ESI description is selected in the following dialog, see Fig. Selecting the new ESI. The checkbox Show Hidden Devices also displays older, normally hidden versions of a slave.
A progress bar in the System Manager shows the progress. Data are first written, then verified.