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Creating jobs for ControlLogix controllers

octoplant can create backups of ControlLogix controllers.

If you have a valid and licensed version of RSLogix 5000 Editor, you can restore the backups directly to the ControlLogix controller (emergency restore) and perform a detailed comparison.

RSLogix 5000 Editor is installed on your octoplant server or client.

  • Advantages:
    • Easier configuration of backup jobs (RSLinx data is directly available)
    • Disaster recovery is possible. (A backup of the PLC can be restored directly to it. It is also possible to restore an earlier version of an ACD file)
    • Detailed comparison is possible.
    • Current values are included in the backups.

  • Disadvantage:

    • Activated and licensed software from Rockwell Automation is required (license costs).

    Info

    If the RSLogix 5000 editor is installed on the client, you need an agent.

Procedure

  1. Start the AdminClient and open the Jobs module.
  2. In the Project tree, select the component for which the job is to be created.
  3. Click on the Create button in the ribbon or drag and drop the component into the Jobs area.
  4. Select RSLogix 5000 from the Upload type dropdown menu.
  5. Go to the Job configuration area.
  6. In the Upload type dropdown menu, check whether the correct upload type has been adopted.
  7. In the Execute dropdown menu, select whether the job should be executed according to a schedule or by using the BackupClient.
  8. Implement the desired settings in the general sections General, Notification, Upload and compare and Create a version automatically after job run.

  9. Configure the settings in the RSLogix 5000 settings section.

    Figure: Job configuration, sections RSLogix 5000 Settings and Advanced

  10. Under Project, the ACD file of the RSLogix 5000 project should be selected automatically. If not, select it from the drop-down list.

    Info

    If the Component does not contain a project, this will be displayed as a note when you open the dropdown list. In this case, RSLogix5000.ACD is entered as the project name by default.

  11. Enter the gateway data in the Communications path field. Depending on the software used (RSLinx Classic or FactoryTalk Linx), there are different procedures:

    If you have updated RSLogix Entreprise Edition with FactoryTalk Linx, the communication path must be entered manually:

    1. Open the FactoryTalk Linx Browser tool and click on the required project on the right. The properties of the project will then open.
    2. Now copy the path of the Device path field here (e.g. RSLinx Enterprise!Ethernet\10.0.220.145, the part of the RSLinx Enterprise! path is optional).
    3. Paste the path in the Communications path field of the Job configuration.

    If you are using RSLogix Enterprise Edition or RSLogix Classic Edition, the communication path can be selected via the Browse... function:

    1. Click Browse... behind Communications path to select the path to the PLC.
    2. The vd - RSLogix 5000 dialog opens and you can select the PLC to be backed up by the job. At the bottom of the page is a field that displays the currently selected access path. The content of this line is copied to the Communications path field when you click OK.

    Figure: RsLogix 5000, Access Path

  12. You can use the Merge with offline project checkbox to specify whether the current status of the project on the controller should be merged with the status already saved on the server.

    Info

    If the component does not contain a project, deactivate the Merge with offline project checkbox.

    If the project is not to be merged with the offline project, information on the controller can be entered. By default, the Detect controller information automatically checkbox is activated and the project name and revision are determined automatically. To enter the revision manually, deactivate the checkbox.

  13. You can use the Warn when forced values are active checkbox to specify whether a warning is displayed, if forced values are activated in your project.

    Info

    Displaying the warning can be useful if, for example, states are controlled manually during setup mode and the corresponding forced values can be forgotten.

  14. Select your job, go to Execute in the menu bar and click on Execute selected jobs once.

Info

You can implement further settings for jobs of this upload type in the AdminClient in the Global settings dialog and by using the INI files.

Known problems during job execution

If the error message At least one instance of the RSLogix 5000 editor is still active [21700] is displayed in the AdminClient Event log, you can rectify the error by running RSLinx as a Service. Start the RSLinx (Classic) Launch Control Panel and activate the checkbox to run the application as a service. Then run the Job again.

When using firmware revision 32, it may not be possible to create a backup. Error messages may appear when executing the job. This is a known behavior. If you experience this, we recommend using a different revision of the firmware and running the Job again.

If an error message is displayed in the Event log of the AdminClient stating that a modal dialog cannot be displayed (Error when uploading the CLX [Details: A modal dialog is currently displayed so the requested action cannot be completed.]), this may indicate that the start screen of RS Logix cannot be displayed. This may be the case if no ActiveX is installed on the computer. You can resolve this error as follows:

  1. Start the application Regedit.exe with the user account under which the upload agent is running.
  2. Go to SOFTWARE\Rockwell Software\RSLogix 5000\Start page.
  3. Adjust the Never Show key accordingly.

RSLogix5000_error.png