Configuration of RT Ethernet devices

By installing the special TwinCAT Intel PCI Ethernet Adapter driver, a network adapter is turned into an RT Ethernet adapter. Installation is done with the TwinCAT System Manager using the “Options|Show Real Time Ethernet Compatible Devices ...” dialog.

CP-Link 3 and RT Ethernet

If the same network adapter is used for CP-Link 3 as for RT Ethernet under certain conditions this can lead to connection losses (see Comments chapter or Troubleshooting). In addition, graphical data must be sent over TCP/IP, since the client's RT Ethernet adapters do not accept UDP Multicast packets (also see Client Configuration).

Adding an RT Ethernet device to the I/O Configuration

An RT Ethernet device can be added to the I/O Configuration with "Append Device". On the Adapter tab the RT device is associated with an RT Ethernet adapter. The cycle time of the RT Ethernet device is specified indirectly through linking the DevState variable with a task variable. The cycle time of the task then defines the cycle time for the RT Ethernet device.

The following illustration shows an I/O Configuration for a host PC with one RT Ethernet device:

rt_ethernet_adpaterconfig_host

The following illustration shows an I/O Configuration for a client with one RT Ethernet device:

rt_ethernet_adpaterconfig_client

Routing configuration of RT Ethernet devices

On the Routes tab it is necessary for the routing to be switched on. The NetIds of both the host PC's and client's RT Ethernet devices respectively are entered in the "Routes" tables.

The NetID of the client RT Ethernet adapter is added to the host PC "Routes" table:
rt_ethernet_adpaterroute_host

The NetId of the host PC RT Ethernet adapter is added to the client "Routes" table:
rt_ethernet_adpaterroute_client