NI-Fbus Versions

[Randyw]

I have been using NI-Fbus Conf. V-2.3.5 on a project that we have. We just added some new Flow Transmitters but we are not able to configure them. All of the tech support that we contacted said that we need version 3.0.

We are using Allen-Bradley 1788-CN2FF Linking Device, so I contacted Allen-Bradley about software. They sent me there latest Version which is v-2.6. I have not been able to get any information from them to say if this AB version in your v-3.0. Looking on NI web site, it does not look like NI had a version 2.6. It goes from v-2.3.5 and 2.3.6 to 3.1 and 3.1.1.

Can anyone tell me if my AB v-2.6 is the latest version, or do I need to purchase the software through NI.

I wanted to go through Allen-Bradley to get the Phone tech support but seeing that I can not even get the above information them, maybe that does not mean anything.

Thanks for you help.

[fieldbus]

Hello,

Thanks for your inquiry on NI-FBUS Software.

2.6 is based on the old 2.3.6 version. It is a special version for CN2FF use and it is different from the version 3.0. Please note that this is the only version that we officially guarantee it works well with CN2FF interfaces.

For your information, the latest NI-FBUS is version 3.2. It sustains the CN2FF part from the previous version. The related information and the evaluation software are available through the following link. Please be aware that NI-FBUS Configurator in the evaluation version doesn't support any online operations (H1, HSE and CN2FF). The CN2FF is still operable within Interface Configuration Utility and Communications Manager.
http://digital.ni.com/softlib.nsf/websearch/F8F368E7A6563319862571E600140826?opendocument&node=132060_US

Hope it helps and please feel free to let me know if I could do more help!

--Josiane

[Ricardo1549]

Hello,

I'm working with the AB CN2FF with the NI-FBUS Configuration Soft. ver 2.3.6. All the AI blocks work fine with many limitations in diagnostics and network performance. My problem is when I try to stablish the link between the Metso Intellegent positioner ND9000F AO Block and the CNet_AO block. Every time when I try to download the configuration, an error message is show up: NIF_ERR_NOT_FOUND (NI-FBUS could not find the specified object). When the blocks are not Linked each one works without problem and I couldn't find more information in the NI-FBUS manuals. I would really appreciate any recommendation.

Regards,

Ricardo

[Ryan.S]

Please clear the device and then download the configuration.

In configurator, right click device, select "clear device"

[Ricardo1549]

Hello Ryan,

I'm still having the same error message. I'm attaching the complete Download log for your review. Any sugestion, please let me know.

Begin task configure link LINK "interface0-0":
      Begin task stop LAS schedule LINK "interface0-0":
          DEVICE "Device-4E49434002_CN-FF/2_802205" - ID=4E49434002_CN-FF/2_802205B2_0:
              stop LAS schedule ...success
      End task stop LAS schedule
      Begin task write blockmodes LINK "interface0-0":
      End task write blockmodes
      Begin task clear devices:
          DEVICE "Device-4E49434002_CN-FF/2_802205" - ID=4E49434002_CN-FF/2_802205B2_0
              clearing - DEVICE "Device-4E49434002_CN-FF/2_802205" - ID=4E49434002_CN-FF/2_802205B2_0...success
          DEVICE "4100-FV-100" - ID=000E052328ND90000413009830
              clearing - DEVICE "4100-FV-100" - ID=000E052328ND90000413009830...success
      End task clear devices
      Begin task write changes to devices LINK "interface0-0":
          DEVICE "Device-4E49434002_CN-FF/2_802205" - ID=4E49434002_CN-FF/2_802205B2_0
          DEVICE "4100-FV-100" - ID=000E052328ND90000413009830
      End task write changes to devices
      Begin task configure linkages:
          linking - CNetMacId02_AO_Module1_0.CN_OUT_A0 <-> Neles_Metso_Pos.AO.CAS_IN...<retry> <retry> <retry>
 *        linking...fail Error - NIF_ERR_NOT_FOUND - Not found. (Error Code = -2)
 *    configure link...fail Error - NIFCONF_ERR_CONFIGURATION_INCOMPLETE - Link was only partialy configured.  Partial configurations can exhibit strange behavior. (Error Code = -1059)
 *    configure link...fail Error - NIFCONF_ERR_CONFIGURATION_FAILED - Configuration failed.  Check the 'Download' log for errors, correct and download again. (Error Code = -1057)
  End task configure link

[fieldbus]

Hello Ricardo,

We did a test with a Metso ND800FF (sorry that we didn't find a ND9000) and NI-FBUS Configurator 2.3.6; the linkage configuration was downloaded successfully (with the "clear device" option). The attached files show the test environment and the device information.

The most possible reason for the NIF_ERR_NOT_FOUND error is that, the software doesn't get the response from the device in time. So would you please:
1. Please try another device(s) and see whether the problem is still the same;
2. Please contact Rockwell for NI-FBUS Configurator 2.6.

Hope it helps and please let us know if we can do more help for you!

------------------------------------
Josiane Zhou
National Instruments China
Product Support Engineer for NI-FBUS