Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs PanelMate epro

Transcription

1 Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs PanelMate epro Q. What is the PanelMate epro and how does it compare to the PanelMate Power Pro and PanelMate PC Pro products? A. The first model of the PanelMate epro family is a full VGA, 8.4 color TFT touchscreen integrated unit. The catalog number is: 7585T color TFT touchscreen $4195 List Price US$ The PanelMate epro is a 24 VDC unit that has the exact same panel cutout and stud pattern as the PanelMate Pro LT 1100, PanelMate Power Pro 1700 and PanelMate A key difference is that it runs PanelMate PC Pro Runtime software and drivers as well as optional OPC servers. Features include the following: On-board Ethernet: Each epro unit has a fast Ethernet (10/100 Base-T) port used for PLC communications, network data transfer, upload/download and software installation. A high-speed communication interface slot that supports optional network cards such as Data Highway/ Data Highway+, Modbus Plus, and ControlNet. One RS232, DB9 serial port for PLC communications or alarm and message printing. One high speed USB port for Iomega USB drives such as PocketZip and Zip. One standard VGA output for driving slave monitors. A PS/2 keyboard port and a PS/2 mouse port. Non-rotating DoM (Disk-on-Module) non-volatile flash module for operating system and application software storage. Note: DoM storage, while similar to the older Disk-on-Chip technology, connects directly through the IDE port of the CPU card and utilizes the native IDE disk driver instead of a custom driver. This allows the DoM to function as a hard drive eliminating the reliability concerns of rotating media in industrial environments. 1 of 13

2 Q. What other hardware and software models are planned for the epro and when are they expected to be available? A. The first model is an integrated 8.4 color TFT touchscreen unit with a standard software offering that includes PanelMate PC Pro Runtime software with DDE and OPC client support, PanelMate PC Pro driver support and OPC server support for optional KEPware and SST OPC servers. Its catalog number is 7585T-8. A second model is the PanelMate epro Extended model that includes additional integrated software and more non-volatile (flash) and volatile (RAM) memory to run the additional software. Its catalog number is 7585T-8X. A partial list of the software included in the epro Extended model is: Document Viewer A user friendly, configurable front-end Graphical User Interface (GUI) to Microsoft Internet Explorer that allows the user to create a home web page and a controlled web environment that gives operators access to documents and web pages needed for machine operation and diagnostics without providing free rein to the entire Internet. Microsoft Internet Explorer and Adobe Acrobat Reader are included in this package. Advanced Recipe Management An integrated application kit that allows the user to develop large groups of machine settings or operating parameters that can be selected by the operator and downloaded to the process. The kit includes an offline recipe editor that stores the recipes in a Microsoft Access compatible database (.MDB file). The database can store hundreds of recipes with thousands of parameters per recipe and can be located on the local epro or on a remote file server over an Ethernet network for use by multiple epro units. Each recipe can contain up to 32 groups with each group containing all the parameters required for a single PLC or controller. Alarm Bannering and Message Display An integrated application kit that allows the user to configure one or more alarm pop-up windows to display messages from the message library based on process alarm conditions, cautions or events. The kit also supports simultaneous printing of those messages out of the serial port to text message display units or paging systems. The serial port support features include prefix and suffix message strings, character padding and truncation to minimum/maximum character values, and message initialization and clearing strings. Plus Optional add-ins: Canary Labs Historian A full-featured data archiving and real-time/historical trending package that easily logs selected data to a network file server for offline analysis along with online presentation and analysis tools such as: 2 of 13

3 Canary Labs Trend Link Viewer A line trend visualization package that displays both real-time trended data and historical archive data. The Trend Link features include: Time based line trends (both live and historical) Histogram plots X/Y plots and scatter diagrams Database export utility to Microsoft Excel compatible.csv file format for creation of custom reports. The epro Extended package is planned for a Q release. The catalog number for the Extended 8.4 TFT touchscreen epro will be 7585T-8X. Additional hardware platform are scheduled for future release: 7.7 color STN touchscreen integrated unit Blind node unit with 15, 18 and 20 remote color TFT touchscreen displays 15 color TFT touchscreen integrated unit 10.4 color TFT touchscreen integrated unit More. Q. What software do I need to configure a PanelMate epro? A. You can configure PanelMate epro applications using any PanelMate Power Pro Configuration Software V1.10 and later. Q. What Executive Firmware do I need to run a PanelMate epro? A. You need to run the PanelMate PC Pro Runtime software V6.02 (included in Power Pro Software V2.02 SR1) or later. Q. What software can be installed on a standard epro unit? A. You can install PanelMate PC Pro Runtime software, PanelMate PC Pro native drivers, KEPware OPC servers, and SST OPC servers on a standard epro. Other 3 rd party software packages or OPC servers will need to be qualified by Cutler- Hammer before they can be used on epro. We need to test and authorize those products for several reasons. First, since NT Embedded is different from commercial Windows NT, some drivers and support components that other software programs require may not be present in the NT Embedded load. Second, there may not be enough disk space (DoM non-volatile flash memory) to install or configure that software. And third, because the epro doesn t support runtime writes to the operating system partition, 3 rd party packages that routinely write to log files or diagnostics to the OS partition would be redirected to a RAM buffer which could consume all available RAM resulting in unstable system operation. We ve sized 3 of 13

4 both DoM and RAM memory in the epro for those software packages that have been authorized for the unit and have validated their runtime integrity. Since we can make no guarantees for compatibility with non-qualified software, the installation of such software will void the warranty of the PanelMate epro. Contact Tech Support for updates to the list of authorized epro software. Q. What software can be installed on an epro Extended unit? A. While the epro Extended unit will have considerably more non-volatile DoM storage as well as additional RAM, it is not an open system like a PC. The software that we have qualified to run on an epro Extended is the same as the standard epro plus the Document Viewer, Advanced Recipe Management and Alarm Bannering and Message Display application kits. (Note that qualified versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer and Adobe Acrobat Reader come pre-installed on the epro Extended unit.) In addition, the optional Canary Labs Historian and Trend Link Viewer packages available in our catalog may be installed on an epro Extended unit. As with the standard epro unit we make no guarantees for compatibility of nonauthorized software. Because the epro doesn t support runtime writes to the operating system DoM partition, if a 3 rd party package routinely tried to write log files or diagnostics to that partition it would be redirected to a RAM buffer which could consume all available RAM and result in unstable system operation. Because some drivers and support components that other software programs require may not be present in the NT Embedded load, these programs may install but not run properly. For these and other reasons we make no guarantees for compatibility with nonauthorized software, and installation of such software will void the warranty of the PanelMate epro. Contact Tech Support for updates to the list of qualified software. Q. If I have a software program that works under Windows NT can I use it on my epro unit? A. Yes. and no. There are several issues that must be resolved before making a determination as to the viability of a Windows NT compatible application working on the epro platform. The following is a general list of steps we would take to make such a determination: determine if there is sufficient space in non-volatile DoM to both install and house the application. determine the volatile (RAM) memory requirements of the application. determine if the application software requires any operating system components not included in epro. 4 of 13

5 insure that the application software properly manages system memory resources and does not consume more memory over continued runtime operation (i.e. no memory leaks). insure that the application software doesn t perform periodic writes to files in the operating system partition which, when in protect mode, would cause progressive memory (RAM) consumption that would result in unstable operation. Because shortcutting this process could compromise PanelMate epro viability we cannot warrant the use of unauthorized 3 rd party software on the epro. However Eaton s Cutler-Hammer group will offer validation of such software as a paid-for integration service. Q. Can I use an epro without purchasing an OPC server? A. Yes. The epro supports the same wide range of drivers as the PanelMate PC Pro, which are included free with the PanelMate Power Pro Software. They include serial drivers for Allen-Bradley DF1, GE Series 6/6+ and Series 90, Modicon Modbus ASCII, Cutler-Hammer D50/320/32LT, Omron Hostlink, Siemens S7 MPI, and Reliance Automate, plus Allen-Bradley DH/DH+ using an optional network interface card. Also you don t need to purchase an OPC server when buying one of the SST network interface cards for ControlNet, DeviceNet, PROFIBUS or Allen-Bradley DH/DH+ since OPC servers from SST are included at no extra charge with those cards. Q. What high-speed network cards are authorized for use with epro? A. Currently we have the Allen-Bradley DH/DH+ card (D712-DHP-ISA) in our catalog. We will be adding cards from SST for ControlNet and PROFIBUS to the catalog in the near future. Until then, these cards have been authorized for use with the epro and may be purchased directly from SST: ControlNet 5136-CN ISA PROFIBUS DP 5136-PBMS ISA In addition we have authorized the Modbus Plus network interface card from Square D (Cat. #: SA ISA). This card requires a separate OPC server that can be purchased from Cutler-Hammer (Cat. #: KEPMBP). Q. How do I install one of the optional high-speed network cards? A. There are six Phillips-head screws on the rear of the epro unit which, when removed, will expose the open ½ size ISA slot. Network interface cards insert into the backplane like any other PC card. In all cases, a separate software installation will be required to install the card drivers and OPC servers required for each 5 of 13

6 network. For all high-speed network cards in the Cutler-Hammer epro catalog, an OPC server is included with the card at no extra charge. Q. Can I install any other 3 rd party ISA cards in the PanelMate epro unit? A. No. Installing unauthorized 3 rd party hardware or software will void the warranty of the epro unit. Contact Cutler-Hammer Tech Support for a list of authorized ISA cards. Q. Can I configure my PanelMate epro application on the epro itself? How do I create an epro configuration? A. The PanelMate Power Pro Software is not included with the epro and it may not be installed on the standard epro unit. It is primarily a question of DoM space. Even though there will be additional DoM storage on the epro Extended models, that space is reserved for the standard and optional software available for those Extended models. The epro may be configured with any PanelMate Power Pro software Version 1.10 and greater using the PanelMate PC or PC Pro model selection. Q. Since the epro doesn t have a floppy drive or CD ROM drive, how do I install software onto the unit? A. There are two methods for installing authorized software on the PanelMate epro, over Ethernet or through an Iomega USB drive. With Ethernet you can connect the epro unit directly to a PC using either a standard Patch 5 crossover cable or through a standalone Ethernet hub or switch. Or you can connect the epro to your company s Ethernet network. You may need the assistance of your company s IT personnel to establish the epro s IP address or set the epro TCP/IP properties to DHCP. In any case, you will need to share a network CD drive to which the epro has access rights, then browse to that shared drive from the epro using Windows Explorer from the Start menu, and run the appropriate installation setup executable. If you wish to use an Iomega USB drive such as the Zip, PocketZip, or Predator CD R/W (read only from the epro), first power down the epro, connect the drive to the epro s USB port, make sure the drive is powered if it requires an external power supply (most Zip and PocketZip drives are powered directly from the USB port of the epro), and finally power up the epro unit. The USB drive will automatically show up as the E:\ drive in Windows Explorer. If using a Zip or PocketZip drive to install software on an epro, you will first need to copy any installation files from the software s installation CD to the removable Zip media using a desktop PC that has both a CD and USB port. Once copied to the Zip media, connect the Zip drive to the 6 of 13

7 epro, reboot, and then browse to the drive from epro using Windows Explorer and run the installation setup executable. Q. How do I transfer my epro configuration onto the unit? A. You can use the same methods for transferring the PanelMate epro s PPS file as you use for installing software, over Ethernet or through an Iomega USB device as explained in the previous question. Using Ethernet, you can transfer the PPS file from the remote device to the epro over Ethernet by using copy/paste with Windows Explorer or Network Neighborhood, to the shared directory D:\Cfg on the epro. Or using Windows Explorer from the epro, browse to a shared drive on the Ethernet network where the configuration is stored and copy/paste from the remote drive to the epro s D:\Cfg directory. If the PPS file is copied from the PanelMate development PC to a USB drive, connect that drive to the epro as explained previously and use Windows Explorer to copy/paste from the E:\ drive to the D:\Cfg drive. Q. How do I get my epro configuration to start automatically when the unit boots up? A. You can get a detailed explanation from the PanelMate epro help found on each epro unit using the Start>Help menu selection. In short, copy your configuration file to the D:\Cfg directory then edit the batch file on the root directory of the D:\ partition name Pmstart.bat. In the following line: Myconfig = D:\Cfg\Myconfig.pps Replace the.pps file name with the name of your configuration file. Q. Will my Configuration Storage Module for PanelMate Power Pro (CSM catalog #0614) work with my epro? A. No, the CSM is designed specifically for the Power Series/Power Pro models and no support is available for that module on the epro. However, Iomega USB devices such as the PocketZip, Zip, or Predator CD R/W, are readily available online at Iomega s web store at as well as through local PC retailers. These devices are priced starting at under $80 for the PocketZip drive compared to the CSM, which lists for over $380. Q. How do I remove programs that have been installed in an epro since there is no Add/Remove Programs icon in epro s Control Panel? A. There is no need to remove PanelMate PC Pro Runtime software from the epro. If you want to upgrade to a newer runtime version simply run the install program of that newer version. There is similarly no need to remove a native PanelMate PC Pro 7 of 13

8 driver from the epro. You can upgrade the driver version without removing the previous driver since the driver installation just replaces older files with updated ones. If you no longer need a driver that has been installed simply remove the driver executable from the directory C:\Pmconfig\Ntonline. If you need to remove an installed SST OPC server, the uninstall program option can be found on the SST installation setup menu. KEPware s OPC server can be uninstalled using the following command string from the Start>Run command: C:\winnt\uninst.exe f "C:\Program Files\KEPServerEx\DeIsL1.isu" Q. Can I print PanelMate alarms and messages from my epro unit? A. Yes, the same way you do from a PanelMate Power Series or Power Pro unit, through the serial port. Since the epro uses serial port 1 (Comm 1) for the touchscreen, you should use serial port 2 (Comm 2) if you want alarm and message printing. Since the epro has only one available serial port, you won t be able to print alarms or messages if that serial port is being utilized for PLC communications. Q. Can I get additional serial ports on my epro unit? A. Yes. A serial port expansion card option will be qualified and made available as a catalog item in the near future. It will take up the expansion slot. Q. Can the serial port on the epro be configured for RS422 or RS485? A. No. The serial port provided with the PanelMate epro is RS232 only. In order to run epro applications on RS422 or RS485 networks you must use an external RS232 to RS422/485 adaptor. We have tested a number of such adapters and a recommended list will be published shortly. A serial port expansion card option will be qualified and made available as a catalog item in the near future. It will take up the expansion slot. Q. What s the difference between Microsoft s Windows NT and Windows NT Embedded (NTE) products? A. The short answer is that Windows NT Embedded is a subset of Windows NT. NT Embedded allows us to customize the operating system to eliminate the OS components we don t need on the epro system. By eliminating components that will never be used on the epro we can offer a lower priced product. Because NTE allows us to protect the operating system from unwanted software changes, we can make epro reliable for industrial applications, where an open NT operating system is susceptible to lockups from OS file corruption. 8 of 13

9 A more long-winded explanation is that Windows NT Embedded uses the same source code base as Windows NT so it is essentially the same as Windows NT from a functionality and capability standpoint. The difference is that the NT Embedded developer s tool kit provides tools and utilities to create a subset of NT that matches both the hardware platform and applications software requirements of a target embedded system. By doing so, many of the NT components may be eliminated from the operating system allowing the system developer to significantly reduce the size of the OS footprint from that of an open PC platform. This can provide a less expensive system with lower volatile and non-volatile memory requirements, targeted at solving specific application requirements. In addition, NT Embedded was designed to be installed on read-only media so that the critical files of the operating system cannot be corrupted. This results in superior system reliability over desktop systems, a requirement for industrial applications. PanelMate epro takes advantage of both of these key NTE features providing a low cost, feature rich OI platform with the stability of a dedicated, proprietary system. Q. What s the difference between Windows NT Embedded and Windows CE, and why would you choose one over the other? A. Both Windows NT Embedded and Windows CE are Microsoft embedded operating systems (OS s) with some similarities and some important differences. Both are 32- bit operating systems designed so that they can be customized and compiled to specific hardware and applications software platforms. Standard desktop Windows operating systems such as Windows 98, NT, 2000 and XP allow minimum customization of the installed product ( Do you want to install games or not? ) and install a multitude of software drivers and libraries that may never be required by a particular system but which are included to make it easier to add hardware and software components in the future. Embedded operating systems like NTE and CE (also known now as Pocket PC) are designed for specific combinations of hardware and software packaged in systems with limited add-in capability. By making the system more closed the embedded developers can minimize the number of software components that are built or compiled into the OS thereby reducing the memory requirements, both volatile and non-volatile, and processor requirements of the system which lowers the overall system cost. Where NTE and CE differ is in the fundamental target application set for which each was designed. CE was originally designed for the handheld consumer electronics market populated by products such as Palm, and Jornada. It was also aimed at small non-graphic real-time control applications such as drive controls, and hospital sanitation systems, or appliances such as microwaves and dishwashers. NTE was originally targeted at more full-featured graphical applications such as fixed location or tethered OI systems. When we evaluated the relative merits of NTE versus CE for PanelMate we boiled the decision down to the following list of criteria: 9 of 13

10 Features Win. NTE Win. CE Fully platform independent Yes No Standard NT drivers Yes No Application software 100% Yes No NT/2K compatible Full functionality applications Yes No and utilities Full NT security Yes No High speed graphics Yes No Instant Power Off Yes Yes Instant Power On No Yes Protected OS no Blue Yes Yes Screens Small footprint Yes Yes All solid-state media Yes Yes The only advantages for CE were a quicker power up and slightly smaller memory requirements. The power up process for NTE running PanelMate software is slightly less than current PanelMate Power Pro systems, so while a faster power up is always desirable, that advantage could hardly make up for the graphic performance difference and overall availability of 3 rd party applications software. With today s memory prices, the memory savings didn t translate into a significant cost savings to our customers and was dwarfed by additional software development costs required by CE. If you look at Microsoft s own analysis as well as independent 3 rd party analyses of decision criteria you get a similar result. The following comparison can be found on the Internet site of an Industrial Computer supplier that offers both NT Embedded and CE based Industrial Computer platforms. Their guidelines are: Windows CE or NT Embedded (NTE)? If this is important: Then the advantage goes to: GUI/Graphic functionality Windows NTE Networking functions Windows NTE Available 3rd party software Windows NTE Headless (no display) CE and NTE Non-moving media operation CE and NTE Low power and mobile Windows CE Non-x86 CPU support Windows CE Smallest footprint Windows CE 10 of 13

11 Q. Are there embedded versions of Windows 2000 or Windows XP, and if so do you plan to have PanelMate epro upgrades to those versions? A. Microsoft did not create a Windows 2000 Embedded product, but they are developing an XP Embedded (XPE) product instead. The XPE Beta release has just been made available to developers with an announced Q final product release. Eaton s Cutler-Hammer group is testing the Beta version and plans to offer a migration to an XPE epro platform in the future. Q. If I have AC power what AC/DC power supply should I use? A. The epro requires a 24 VDC (-15%/+20%), 29-watt electrical supply (34-watt with optional communication interface card). The current catalog item D712PWR24A can be used for the epro to convert AC to DC power. We are in the process of qualifying and offering alternate AC/DC supplies. Q. What other PanelMate options and accessories can I use with the PanelMate epro? A. You can use several existing PanelMate options and accessories with the PanelMate epro. They are: 17AGT Antiglare overlay kit (set of 5) 17CPT Clear protective overlay kit (set of 5) 1527TS 26xx/27xx touchscreen to PanelMate 1100/1500/1700/ePro touchscreen adapter plate 1524TPTS 24xx TouchPanel to PanelMate 1100/1500/1700/ePro touchscreen adapter plate 1527TPTS 26xx/27xx TouchPanel to PanelMate 1100/1500/1700/ePro touchscreen adapter plate All PanelMate Power Pro RS232 Serial PLC Communication cables Q. Do I need a Hardware Key with the PanelMate epro? A. No, the PanelMate epro does not require a hardware key for online use. The unit is licensed for running PanelMate PC Pro Runtime software without the use of a hardware key. Q. What about the security keyswitch, fault relay and audio output? A. The epro doesn t have a keyswitch (hardware password protection), fault relay (PanelMate Power/Communications integrity output) or audio output for annunciation of alarms. However, the epro still supports two software passwords for security and the following are application tips for creating communications integrity checks and audible alarm annunciation. 11 of 13

12 If you want the PLC to detect whether PanelMate is on line and operational a small amount of ladder logic plus two spare registers can establish a heartbeat using the Passthru Messaging functionality in the PanelMate Message Library. Assuming the two spare registers in the PLC are N7:50 and 51 (Allen-Bradley PLC 5 addressing) and that you want to check the heartbeat once a minute, take the following steps: Create the following message in the message = [N7:51] In the System Parameters Communications tab set the Message Scan Delay to 30 seconds. In the PLC create a timer that increments N7:51 every minute and prior to incrementing the register test to see that N7:51 is equal to N7:50. If the registers are not equal then PanelMate must be off line or not communicating. If the registers are equal increment N7:51 and check again in another minute. If you want audible alarm annunciation, an alarm counter can be configured on the epro which increments with each new alarm that triggers in the PanelMate alarm stack. This variable can be sent to a PLC register to turn on a horn attached to an output on the PLC through ladder logic. The alarm counter is an internal scratchpad variable named alarmcount. This variable can be created and configured to write its value to a PLC address in a single Message Library entry. For example, if you want to send the variable to register in a Modicon PLC with a PanelMate device name of Mod1, create the following message in the Message = [sp,alarmcount;u32;0] This will create the scratchpad variable as an unsigned 32-bit type initialized to zero and write the alarm count value into the Modicon register each time a new alarm occurs in PanelMate. The logic in the PLC can then drive alarm annunciation whenever the register value changes. Q. Is the PanelMate epro available in stainless steel? A. No, the standard PanelMate epro is available at this time with a thermoset polyester/fiberglass bezel only. The PanelMate epro is approved for Type 4, 4X and 12 installations when properly mounted in a correspondingly rated enclosure. Q. Can I use configurations (page data) that I built for a PanelMate Power Pro or PanelMate Power Series on the PanelMate epro? A. Yes, pages and other configuration components may be copied and pasted into epro configurations (configured using the PanelMate PC Pro model in the database) just like any other PanelMate model. In addition, whole Power Pro configurations may be converted for use on epro using the PC Pro Model selection. 12 of 13

13 Q. Where can I find PanelMate epro documentation and software of the Cutler- Hammer Internet site? A. Just go to and navigate to Documents & Support. From the Browse section on the left edge, select Solutions & Topics. From there select Free Software Downloads and search for the desired PanelMate topic from the list shown. October of 13