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S7-300 / MP277 Connection with a Router

Created by: 93Mustang at: 6/21/2008 12:41 AM (7 Replies)

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6/21/2008 12:41 AM	Rate (0)
93Mustang Posts: 65 Rating: (0)	Ok I'm fairly computer literate but have had no experience setting up Routers. I'm trying to connect my equipment consisting of an S7-300 plc, an MP277 10" and 2 MP277 8" HMI to my building network using a Linksys Router. All devices are connected to a Scalance 100 Switch. Then the switch is connected to a Linksys Router which is attached to my building network. I want to be able to eventually connect to this equipment over the internet but I am working in small steps. I currently have a PC on this LAN which I can connect to all the devices and I am using Smart@Service to view my screens as HTML pages. What special requirements are needed in order to connect to the devices from a PC up in the Office for example ? Will any router work or do I need one with extra bells and whistles ? I tried this using a Linksys Router bought locally but have had no success at all. I experimented with all kinds of stuff Port Forwarding etc etc. but can't connect at all, can't even get Smart@Service to display an HTML page either. Could someone explain to me how to do this in simple terms ? Most of the posts I have read are far too confusing to me.
93Mustang Posts: 65 Rating: (0)
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6/22/2008 12:48 AM	Rate (0)
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (411)	Hello, well actually Port Forwarding should work if you use all the required Ports, but it only works with one of the two HMI devices. What I would recommend for a working solution would be a VPN Network. With this type of network you may access all the Devices and you can do everything you want. Try this Application: WAN Access Methods and here especially the document: VPN Connections with standard DSL Routers (Gateway / Gateway and Gateway / Client) (English) But I personally expect, with my experience in Linksys Router,that the used type of Router does not support VPN Gateway capability. Youmay use other Routers. Best regards J_Bell
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (411)
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6/24/2008 3:02 PM	Rate (0)
93Mustang Posts: 65 Rating: (0)	We bought a router that specifically supports VPN's Model # BEFSX41 EtherFast® Cable/DSL Firewall Router with 4-Port Switch/VPN Endpoint Hopefully it will do what we need
93Mustang Posts: 65 Rating: (0)
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6/24/2008 3:12 PM	Rate (0)
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (411)	Hello, I hope it will work, usually it does. Cisco produces quite good stuff. Best regards J_Bell
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (411)
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6/24/2008 9:34 PM	Rate (0)
93Mustang Posts: 65 Rating: (0)	Well as said If I Forward all ports on the router to a single IP address I can access one HMI at a time. I'm struggling on how to connect to the PLC from my PC up in the office. My PC has IP 134.238.203.110 Router has IP 134.238.203.75 on the WAN side and 192.168.100.1 on the LAN side MY PLC has IP 192.168.100.80 What do I have to do in Step 7 and or Netpro or my hardware configuration to connect to this PLC on the floor from my PC upstairs in the office over through this router ???
93Mustang Posts: 65 Rating: (0)
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6/24/2008 11:11 PM	Rate (0)
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (411)	Hello, first of all... can you ping the IPs on the private network? Have you checked with trace rt that your route is crossing this special router? Is the router set in your PC as a default route? I thought you use VPNs now... does it work out? Best regards J_Bell
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (411)
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6/25/2008 2:40 AM	Rate (0)
93Mustang Posts: 65 Rating: (0)	I've never set up a VPN and I'm still trying to figure that part out. I just wanted to see if I could access the PLC. I can ping the WAN side of the router from my PC upstairs and I can ping all devices on the LAN side with a PC on the LAN but I cannot ping through this router it does not allow that or support it. What is trace rt ? Have no idea what that is. Where I'm stuck is what to put in the CP 343-1 properties for ethernet IP. Do I put the IP address of the Router on the WAN side and what to do with the "use router" option. I forwarded all ports on the router to the IP address of the PLC 192.168.100.80 similar to how I was able to do the HMI's. I tried putting the IP address of the Router (134.238.203.75) in the CP 343-1 properties in Netpro but could not connect.
93Mustang Posts: 65 Rating: (0)
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6/25/2008 11:00 AM	Rate (0)
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (411)	Hello, I am sorry but the BEFSX41 is a NAT Router. You will have Problems accessing anything on the private side, as long as you do not use VPN. Port Forwarding will allow you access to one node, the way you configured it, but not complete Access. About STEP7 it is the following, you will have to forward the Port 102 from the Router (Public Address) to Port 102 of the CP 343-1. In STEP7 you have to choose the public IP of the Router than you can try to get online. This has to work, BUT you have to enter the public IP of the Router to the CP in HW Config, then it works. In such a case a Download of the SDB container or a HW Config download will get your PLC that far that you will not be able to access it anymore. I hope I could show you how important it is to get a VPN running between your PC and the Router you use. If you have a VPN you can access everything and you can do everything without caring about all that I showed you here. Best regards J_Bell
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (411)
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