Q&A:

Our facility uses a lot of peer to peer messages between PLCs. All of them
are PLC5 typed read. Is CIP better?
Not all PLC5 supports CIP. MultiHop is the best one can do on a PLC5 but it is
limited to Ethernet, ControlNet path. CIP is easy to troubleshoot as everything
is layout in its communication path.

What is the AIC+ module on slide 26?

AIC+ provides a way to connect devices on DH485. In my case, I used it with

a 1761-CBL-AC00 cable and a 1761-CBL-PM02 cable to connect SLC5/05
channel 0.

Is this for digital PLC data/commands or text messages or both? Can it be

used for text? We often need to send short SMS-style messages across plant
This is not a SMS text Message. PLC5 does not have that capability. Although,
you can send a String data to a ControlLogix and let it relay the Message via
email.

what is the max long for the routing cable between controllers

Routing Table link ID assignment is limited to 1 thru 199. As the presentation

illustrated a MSG going to a PC on Ethernet. Therefore a max length (long)
does not really apply.

Can I message to/from a MicroLogix controller with this same method?

Yes. MicroLogix 1400 and 1100 Chan 1 has the similar user interface and
Chan 0 is almost identical in configuration.

Seeing that the DHRIO and DH485 modules are treated nearly the same...
may I infer that the DH+ and DH485 protocols very similar?
When I said 1756-DHRIO and 1756-DH485 are treated the same in MultiHop,
this is really limited to the use of Routing Table within them. Signal on DH485
network is different from DH+ network.

What kind of message is the best to use between two ControlLogix processors
on Ethernet?
CIP is the best one to exchange data when both Controller understand CIP no
matter is over Ethernet, ControlNet or DH+.

Can you please elaborate on UNSOL.exe command you used?

Unsol.exe is a utility that I wrote with RSLinx CSDK. It is published in Rockwell

automation Knowledgebase AID 7975 with source code in C language. The
Unsol.exe can only process PLC5 type Write. Sometimes I used it to test a
 MSG to determine if a MSG is written correctly also prove the problem is not
due older PLC5 firmware.

If I remove the PLC5 CPU from its rack, keep the I/O on that rack, can I
communicate via the DHRIO from a CLX without any additional comms
modules?

No. MSG is a peer to peer communication. For doing what you want, you
would need the IO on local network with 1756-DHRIO chan configured as RIO
using dials and have Controllogix doing Block Transfer Read or Write
Message s.

Can you send a Write MSG from a SLC to a Control Logix over Ethernet?

Yes. You can substitute the SLC message to a PLC write to a controller on
Ethernet.

When communicating between PLC-5 and 1769-L24 over DH+ is there a limit
to MSG commands to prevent communication overload and timeout? I am
seeing delay in transferring a single bit to look at a real time photoeye status.
One should always examine .DN or .ER bit with older controllers. DH485 is a
slow network, so one may experience delays on MSG response.

Can you modify the Routing Table of a 1756-DHRIO card while the card is
being used to transfer MSG files online?
The answer is YES. But you will experience disruption that is occurring
through 1756-DHRIO or 1756-DH485 while Routing table is being written to
them.

Can you message with a MicroLogix 1400 to a CompactLogix?

Yes. You can do a MultiHop. Rockwell Answer ID 33161 shows how. The
sample used ML1100 and a CompactLogix.