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SOFTNET and WinCC

Created by: Nestor at: 7/16/2007 10:36 PM (7 Replies)

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7/16/2007 10:36 PM	Rate (0)
Nestor Posts: 22 Rating: (1)	Dear Sirs, I´ve trying a concrete answer to the following question ¿Do we really need a SOFTNET license to link WinCC to a SIMATIC PLC (S7-200, -300 or -400) using any protocol (MPI, PROFIBUS, Industrial Ethernet, PROFINET? The information provided by SIEMENS in catalogues, manuals and FAQs is ambiguous or vague . Please let me know the cases in which we MUST use SOFTNET Best Regards Nestor Guzman
Nestor Posts: 22 Rating: (1)
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7/16/2007 10:51 PM	Rate (0)
Danielle Posts: 1275 Rating: (123)	Hi Nestor, If you have Step7 installed on the computer you don't need Simatic Net (Softnet). If you don't have Step7, though, you do need Simatic Net, and a license which will depend on the protocol you're using. Best regards, Danielle
Danielle Posts: 1275 Rating: (123)
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7/17/2007 12:01 AM	Rate (0)
Nestor Posts: 22 Rating: (1)	Hi Danielle, Than you for your answer but I have some extra doubts. In an OS, in most of the cases, there is no STEP7 so, according to your answer, we would need SOFTNET. Please briefly explain me the function of the following software in a communicarion over an Ethernet network: - SIMATIC S7 Protocol Suite (Channel DLL included in WinCC...no extra charge ) - SOFTNET-S7 (driver or OPC....extra charge ) - S7-1613 (In case we use CP1613, I think...extra charge ) I have communicate an OS (with standard 3-Com card) to a SIMATIC S7-300 (with CP343-1) without any software but using Intouch and IFIX. Why does SIEMENS, the manufacturer of the PLC and HMI software, need extra software? Best Regards Nestor
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7/17/2007 1:30 PM	Rate (0)
Danielle Posts: 1275 Rating: (123)	Hi Nestor, If you use WinCC v6.0 SP3 or any newer version, a Simatic Net Softnet Lean license comes along for free with your WinCC license. This Softnet Lean license allows for up to 8 ethernet connections, so it's usually good for the basic applications. What this means is if you're communicating through ethernet with up to 8 Siemens PLC's you don't need to pay for any extra license. A Simatic Net CD is also included on the WinCC package. So in your case you'd use - SOFTNET Lean (driver or OPC....for free, for up to 8 connections) About the CP-1613, it's extra charge, but only if you buy that CP. You can use other Ethernet adapters with no problems. All you MUST purchase is the WinCC license, which already comes with a Softnet Lean license. Best regards, Danielle
Danielle Posts: 1275 Rating: (123)
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7/17/2007 1:36 PM	Rate (0)
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (412)	Dear Nestor, this issue here is that a Channel DLL is not a communication driver, so we have two different things. But, as far as I know, does WinCC contain usually a SOFTNET S7 for Industrial Ethernet installation. This Driver even works with the WinCC License and offers you up to 8 S7 Connections on Ethernet. The use on PROFIBUS or MPI depends on the used CP 51. So if you run WinCC (I think starting at something about 4.*) you can use your NDIS Ethernet NIC. Even with PCS7 you have BCE, which is nearly the same as SOFTNET S7 Lean but without OPC Server. Even if it does not work without a License you should get an error Message and the Driver works for a while. (Be careful with the latest SIMATIC NET CD, there the License Mechanism changed) Best regards J_Bell
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (412)
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7/17/2007 3:04 PM	Rate (0)
Nestor Posts: 22 Rating: (1)	Hi Danielle, Thank you very much for the answer. Now it is clear the topic for an Ethernet connection
Nestor Posts: 22 Rating: (1)
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7/17/2007 3:11 PM	Rate (0)
Nestor Posts: 22 Rating: (1)	Dear J_Bell, Thank you very much for your answer. About the MPI and PROFIBUS DP, we use the CP5611 when the amount of data it is not so big. For an MPI connection, no license is needed but for PROFIBUS DP we were using the SOFTNET-DP. Is it possible to connect to an OS to PROFIBUS DP (as Master Class 1) without using SOFTNET? Best Regards Nestor
Nestor Posts: 22 Rating: (1)
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7/17/2007 3:23 PM	Rate (0)
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (412)	Dear Nestor, being a DP Master or a DP Slave requires SOFTNET DPMASER / SLAVE if you use a CP 5611. Best regards J_Bell
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