Configuring Hardware and Communication Connections STEP 7.pdf

Configuring a SIMATIC PC Station (SIMATIC PC based)
6.2 Slot Rules for a SIMATIC PC Station
SoftPLC
SlotPLC
Components such as CPs, PC-based user programs for configuring connections
and OPC servers can be inserted in slots (index) 1 to 32.
Up to STEP 7 V 5.2 Service Pack 1, the software PLC WinLC can only be inserted
in Index 2. As of STEP 7 V 5.3, the WinLC variant V 4.1 is supported. It can be
inserted in all slots and can be operated with up to four SlotPLCs (CPU 41x-2 PCI
as of V 3.4).
Up to STEP 7 V 5.2 Service Pack 1, the SlotPLC CPU 41x-2 PCI (WinAC Slot 412
and WinAC Slot 416) can only be inserted in Index 3.
As of STEP 7 V 5.3, the CPU 41x-2 PCI V 3.4 is supported. It can be inserted in all
slots. Up to 4 of these CPUs can be inserted, even together with the new SoftPLC
WinLC V 4.1.
Address Areas with Multi-PLC Operation
Further Information
If there are several WinAC controllers inserted in a PC station, then each of them
has its own I/O address areas. The controllers (e.g. SlotPLCs) can communicate
with each other by means of S7 communications mechanisms (BSEND/BRCV);
otherwise, however, they function independently of each other, comparable to the
operation of S7-400 CPUs in a segmented rack, such CR1. This property allows
the compactness and integration density of a PLC to be increased.
For further information, please refer to the manuals for the SoftPLCs and SlotPLCs
as well as the manual "Commissioning PC Stations - Manual and Quick Start".
6.3 Comparison: S7 Station - PC Station
The configuration of S7 stations is represented in the SIMATIC Manager by the
Hardware object; if you double-click Hardware, you start the application for
configuring an S7 station. End points of a connection are modules that are plugged
in to the real station. Configurable CPUs, CPs, or interface modules form the
interfaces to subnets.
The configuration of PC stations is represented in the SIMATIC Manager by the
Configuration object; if you double-click Configuration, you start the application for
configuring a PC station (as of STEP 7 V5.0 Service Pack 3).
Configuring Hardware and Communication Connections with STEP 7
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