Going Online with a

Controller Using
FactoryTalk Linx
Software
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 Level 1: Logix - On Demand Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software

Before You Begin

About this Lab

Whenever we have a Studio 5000 Logix Designer® project that matches the project already
running in a controller, we can simply go online with the controller without having to download.
In this lab you will:
 Go online with a controller using FactoryTalk® Linx software
This lab takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Hardware
To complete this lab, you will require the following hardware:
 PC-based programming workstation with access to the RAcbi learning environment

Software
To complete this lab, you will require the following software:
 Studio 5000 Logix Designer version 32

Files
To complete this lab, you will require the following files:
 Machine_1_Lab20.ACD

Setup
To complete this lab, you will need to perform the following setup procedure:
1. Log on to your instance of the RAcbi learning environment.
2. If it is not already downloaded, download the Machine_1 project to the 1756-L85E
controller and then go back offline.

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 Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software Level 1: Logix - On Demand

Go Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx

Software
We have a project on our programming workstation that matches what is currently in the
controller. Thus, we can simply go online with the controller without having to download.
Furthermore, we have two software options for communicating with a controller: RSLinx®
Classic and FactoryTalk Linx. In this lab, we will use FactoryTalk Linx software to go online with
a controller.

1. If you have completed all labs up to this point in the Level 1: Logix - On Demand course,
then you may continue using your Machine_1.ACD file from previous labs:
a. Open the Studio 5000® environment.
b. Under Recent Projects, select your Machine_1 project:

1.b.

2. If you have NOT completed all labs up to this point in the Level 1: Logix - On Demand
course (e.g., you are just doing this individual lab as a refresher), then open the starting
file for this lab:

a. Use the shortcut on the desktop of your instance of the RAcbi learning
environment to open the LabFiles.
b. Open the Machine_1_Lab20.ACD file.

Prior to version 31 of the Logix Designer application, we could only use the RSLinx Classic
application/service for communications between the Logix Designer application and a controller.
However, with the release of version 31, the FactoryTalk Linx application became an option as
well. Let’s take a look at how to choose the desired communications software.

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software

3. Within the top ribbon menu, expand Communications and select Select
Communications Software… :

4. Notice that we cannot choose communication software while our project is open and
then click the OK button:

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Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software Level 1: Logix - On Demand

5. In the top ribbon menu, expand File and select Close:

6. In the top ribbon menu, expand Communications and select Select Communication
Software… :

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software

7. Select the FactoryTalk Linx application and then click the OK button:

8. Read the warning that appears and then click the OK button:

9. Look in the lower right corner of the Logix Designer application and notice that the
current communication software selection is displayed:

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Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software Level 1: Logix - On Demand

10. In the top ribbon menu, expand File and select Open… :

11. Navigate to and open the Machine_1 project that you are using.
12. In the top ribbon menu, expand Communications and select Who Active:

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software

13. Expand the Ethernet driver:

This driver is included in the FactoryTalk Linx application by default. It is configured to

broadcast and find devices on the local network accessed via the default Windows
Ethernet network interface card (NIC). So, this driver is comparable to a similarly
configured EtherNet/IP Driver in the RSLinx Classic application.
Of course, we may create additional drivers just as with the RSLinx Classic application.
However, one advantage of using the FactoryTalk Linx application is that drivers may be
created directly from within this Who Active dialog.

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Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software Level 1: Logix - On Demand

14. Click the add driver button:

15. Select the Ethernet driver and click the OK button:

When this lab was written, the only driver available within the FactoryTalk Linx
application was for Ethernet. Thus, if we needed to communicate over a network other
than Ethernet, we would need to use the RSLinx Classic application.

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software

16. Click the Discovery Method dropdown and select Device List/Range:

Choosing the Broadcast method would allow us to create a driver similar to the RSLinx
Classic EtherNet/IP Driver. We could then choose to have it broadcast for discovery on
the network local to our NIC, or we could choose to have it broadcast on some remote
network.
Because we already have the default Ethernet driver that broadcasts on the local
network, let’s create one that does not broadcast for discovery, but, instead, only
communicates with addresses that we specify. This is similar to the RSLinx Classic
Ethernet Devices driver, and is created by selecting Device List/Range.

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Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software Level 1: Logix - On Demand

17. Click the Add New button:

18. Type ‘192.168.1.20’ in the address box for the first device and press Enter on your
keyboard:

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software

19. Type ‘192.168.1.21’ in the address box for the second device and press Enter on your
keyboard:

20. Type ‘192.168.1.32’ in the address box for the third device and press Enter on your
keyboard:

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Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software Level 1: Logix - On Demand

21. Go to the Advanced tab, select the NIC that is configured with a 192.168.1 address, and
click the OK button:

22. Expand your new driver, select the 1756-L85E controller, and click the Go Online
button:

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Going Online with a Controller Using FactoryTalk Linx Software

23. Notice that, in the Online toolbar, the Logix Designer application is communicating with
the controller and showing its staus:

24. In the Online toolbar, click the mode dropdown arrow and select Go Offline:

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