Hello,

Working on a project with redundant S7-400 where we need to act as OPC UA server to an other system, plan was to use CP 443-1 OPC UA (6GK7 443-1UX00-0XE0) cards but they are now obsolete.

CloudConnect 716 could be a replacement?

How to handle redundant CPUs with CloudConnect 716? Just make two CPUs and the OPC client needs make logic for redundancy? Or is there some inbuilt redundancy solution in CloudConnect 716? 

I guess signals are timestamped in CloudConnect? How much delay can be expected between 400cpu and CloudConnect?

Hello Kicken

you could also use as an alternative a SIMATIC NEt OPC Server to get access to the S7400:

https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/de/en/view/67295801

Bye Murof

Thank you Murof for answering.

I think CloudConnect would be better in this case, as Simatic NET is to be installed on a computer and based on my experience it's more difficult to get computer solutions approved in marine project (as this project is).

An other question regarding CloudConnect:

- Max number of variables is 500 for CC712

- Max number of arrays is 100

Is one array one variable?

The number of signals to be available on OPC UA is about 2-300 analog and 5-700 digital signal, so total number of signals is about 1000 which is more than 500(Max number of variables is 500 for CC712). Can some signal be in arrays to make number of variables be below 500?

My knowledge of UPC UA is very limited 

Hi,

Just switch to CC716, the bigger CC7.

It can handle up to 7 stations/connections with 500 datapoints each.

Here a small part of the Firmware 1.5 announcement:

• Number of data points per process station:It is now possible to establish multiple connections to the same station. This means that the SIMATIC CC716 can now process up to 3500 data points of a station.

Now I have started to play with an CC716.

We will use it as an converter between S7 and OPC UA.

In the PLC we have a DB with a array of 3500 integers. Data in the array is both analog and bits with a lot of empty addresses. Only the addresses with data on we need to send out on OPC UA.

But the import function is retarded!

Only exported files from Siemens are supported, of course its possible to edit the files but there is no address(offset in DB) specified in the files, first signal is on 0 and next on next free address depending on specified data type => the import file must include every unwanted address else the offset will be wrong!

And the second problem is that its not possible to edit or check the configuration without the device => when there is some problem on site its very difficult to give any support from office if we don't have any spare CC716.

Kicken

Now I have started to play with an CC716.

We will use it as an converter between S7 and OPC UA.

In the PLC we have a DB with a array of 3500 integers. Data in the array is both analog and bits with a lot of empty addresses. Only the addresses with data on we need to send out on OPC UA.

But the import function is retarded!

Only exported files from Siemens are supported, of course its possible to edit the files but there is no address(offset in DB) specified in the files, first signal is on 0 and next on next free address depending on specified data type => the import file must include every unwanted address else the offset will be wrong!

And the second problem is that its not possible to edit or check the configuration without the device => when there is some problem on site its very difficult to give any support from office if we don't have any spare CC716.

 Hi, May I know how is your hardware configuration looked like with redundant S7400H? Because I am also looking to propose the same to my client. Is it you require two CC7?