3. Getting Started

For a better usability, the product comes up with a start page, where the user can choose what he wants to do:
../_images/welcome.png

3.1. Offline (Configuration)

This mode is for configuring the EtherCAT network in the office by manually adding SubDevices to the network.

If the user clicks on this link he will see first the Select MainDevice Dialog for choosing the desired MainDevice (at the moment he can choose between Class A and Class B MainDevice):
../_images/select-master.png
Afterwards he will see the SubDevice Select Dialog, where he can configure his EtherCAT network:
../_images/select-slave.png

If you can not find your SubDevice or if you want to use your own ESI file, you can edit this list by using the ESI-Manager. After configuring the network you can select the network node and use the Export ENI button for generating an ENI file.

3.2. Online Local

This mode can be used if SubDevices are connected to the Engineering System by scanning the EtherCAT network configuration.

If user clicks on this link he will see first the Select MainDevice Dialog for choosing the desired MainDevice (at the moment he can choose between Class A and Class B MainDevice):
../_images/select-master.png
Afterwards he will see the General-Tab, where he can choose the network adapter which is connected to the control system:
../_images/local.png

After selecting the network adapter, the EC-Engineer scans the control system and adds the network configuration to the project explorer. Here the user can adjust the configuration or use the Export ENI button for generating directly an ENI file.

Note

Please make sure that the selected network adapter is connected to the EtherCAT SubDevices.

3.3. Online Remote

This mode can be used if SubDevices are connected to the control system. Means user can connect via TCP/IP to the control system if EC-Master RAS (remote access service) server is running and scan the EtherCAT network configuration.

If user clicks on this link he will see first the Select MainDevice Dialog for choosing the desired MainDevice (at the moment he can choose between Class A and Class B MainDevice):
../_images/select-master.png
Afterwards he will see the General-Tab, where he can enter the IP address of the remote system (and if necessary change the port and the MainDevice-instance, but normally this should not be necessary):
../_images/ras.png

After entering the IP address, a click to Select tells the EC-Engineer to connect to and scan the remote system. The EC-Engineer adds all SubDevices of the network configuration to the project explorer. Here the user can adjust the configuration or use the Export ENI button for generating directly an ENI file.

3.4. Offline Diagnosis

This mode should be used if the user wants to analyse a previously created capture file. This can be done offline, which means that the “real system” no not necessary.

If user clicks on this link he will see the General-Tab, where he can enter the path to the capture, which contains one or more previously taken snapshots:
../_images/capture.png

After choosing the path to the capture file, a click to Select switches the EC-Engineer into Diagnosis Mode. Now, the user can analyse the previously taken snapshots of a EtherCAT system.

3.5. Local

This mode should be used to diagnose the network, connected to the local system.

If user clicks on this link he will see first the Select MainDevice Dialog for choosing the desired MainDevice (at the moment he can choose between Class A and Class B MainDevice):
../_images/select-master.png
Afterwards he will see the General-Tab, where he can choose the network adapter which is connected to the control system:
../_images/local.png

After selecting the network adapter, the EC-Engineer scans the control system and is starting the diagnosis mode.

3.6. Remote MainDevice

This mode can be used if SubDevices are connected to the control system. Means user can connect via TCP/IP to the control system if EC-Master RAS (remote access service) server is running and diagnose the remote EtherCAT network.

If user clicks on this link he will see the General-Tab, where he can enter the IP address of the remote system (and if necessary change the port and the MainDevice-instance, but normally this should not be necessary):
../_images/ras.png