IBHNet:RFC1006 Communication IBH Link S7/S7Plus

In order to communicate via RFC1006 with the IBH Link S7 or IBH Link S7 Plus like with a Siemens CP343/443, the "RFC1006 to IBH Link" converter service can be started on the local PC or on a PC in the network. Visualizations (HMI) or other applications, that would normally communicate via RFC1006 with a Siemens CP343/443 can talk to the IBH Link S7 or IBH Link S7 Plus this way. The connection will be established from the HMI to the PC with the "RFC1006 to IBH Link" converter service. The converter translates the requests into the IBH Link S7 or IBH Link S7 Plus protocol and routes them to the PLC.

The RFC1006 service is not needed for the IBH Link IBH Link S7++ and IBH Link S7++ HS. The RFC1006 functionality is implemented in the firmware of this IBH Link types.

The RFC communication takes place via the TCP Port 102. The Siemens "SIMATIC IEPG Help Service (s7oiehsx.exe)" or the CP emulation of the IBHsoftec S7-SoftPLC may have already occupied this port. Make sure the port is free.

Starting the RFC to IBH Link converter via the start menu enables configuration. Clicking the icon left to the clock in the taskbar opens the configuration dialogs. If configuration is finished, the startup of the service can be set to "Automatic" with the Windows service control manager "Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services". If started as service, only status dialogs can be opened. To go back to configuration, the Service must be stopped and the converter must be started via the Windows Start menu.

To create a connection, click "Create/Edit conection". Connections can be exported and also be imported. The dialog below is used to Create/Edit connections:

The RFC1006 communication defines TSAPs to identify connection definitions. Normally those are set up as a combination of Rack/Slot number of the PLC and the HMI. User defined TSAPs are also possible. The assignement between the TSAPs to the connected IBHNet station and its relative PLC must be unique. If unsure which TSAPs are sent by the Visualization/HMI, the user can try to establish a connection from the HMI to the "RFC1006 to IBH Link converter" service. It shows the last requested TSAPS from the HMI in the configuration dialog. Accepting these TSAPs into the current configuration is also possible. The "RFC1006 to IBH Link converter" is ready, as soon as all configuration dialogs were exited with "OK".

The status dialog shows the currently established connections and a telegram counter.