Configuring FP-20xx without MAX

[Snamprogetti]

Think about a FP-20xx which may be unreachable by ethernet network, so unreachable by MAX. It can be contacted via GSM modem connected to serial port. I'd like to remotely change its configuration (connected I/O modules, channel ranges... possibly anything i'd normally configure with MAX), or tell somehow the RT application to self-configure.

What's the way to do this? Can i send optomux commands thru the modem? Can i send a new IAK or fpbank.ini file and tell the RT to use it? Can i tell the RT to programmatically apply some settings?

As for last question, i saw some interesting VIs (LV7.1) under NI Measurements -> FP -> Advanced -> Ethernet Config, they can be run in RT and work for self-configuring most channel parameters. But the settings are temporary and are lost if power goes down. And you can't redefine modules.

[AlessioD]

Hi,

there are different points in your message that need to be addressed:

1) What you can do programatically is described in this Knowledgbase . It basically deals with the creation of Items in the IAK file that are then configurable through software.

2) As far as the fpbank.ini file goes, remember the following: The IAK file is used on host computers and contains channel name, communication parameters and channel settings. The full IAK file is never downloaded into FieldPoint controllers. With FP-20XX controllers, a subset containing the channel names is downloaded into the module. With all controllers, the channel configuration information is saved into non-volatile memory (this does not include channel naming information which is only relevant for the FP-20XX series). The fpbank.ini is essentially the .iak configuration information, but without the Resource Names.

3) Changing the item names that are downloaded on to the controller is not supported, but here is an untested and unsupported solution could be:

1. Download the item names to your controller.
2. FTP to the controller and then change the name of the following file: ftp:///NI-RT/SYSTEM/fpbank.ini. This is the file that holds the I/O modules names.
3. Repeat the previous two steps until you download several different sets of item names to the controller.
4. When you want to switch which configuration you are using just use the file I/O VIs to ch
ange the name of the item name file to fpbank.ini.
5. You may have to restart the controller before the new item names are valid.

4) To me it sounds quite hard to change the modules that are attached to a bank if you only have access to it via GSM Modem. You would need to physically move modules around, wouldn't you?

AlessioD

[Graziano]

Hi AlessioD,
   problems with the link to the knowledge base, can you verify it? I was interested in taking a look... thanks!

graziano

[Snamprogetti]

Yes please check the link, it doesn't work here either 🙂

As for 4), yes you have to get there anyway to make HW changes, and you can bring along a portatile pc with MAX and an ethernet cable... But it needs a skilled person with equipment, while changing a module can be done by any electrician.

However, it would be good enough if i were able to change just channel ranges/attributes, without involving modules and names. Those Ethernet Config VIs do it, but don't save to disk permanently... Where is that info stored?

[AlessioD]

here you go with a couple of links:

Progammatic Configuration of FieldPoint Modules on an Ethernet Bank

How Can I Programmatically Change Configurations of a FieldPoint Module?

Part of the config info is saved on the modules' eeprom. This is what I reffered to when I was talking about non-volatile memory.

AlessioD

[Snamprogetti]

Thanks... but i tested FP-2010, AIO-600, AI-110 and DI-330, and all i can change with that method is Input Filter attribute of AI-110. And the setting is not saved to permanent memory, either. This is not going to be very useful...

I guess the only solution is to send the ranges/attributes info on a custom file and have the RT application read the file and apply the settings at every reboot.