How Can I Setup the FieldPoint Watchdog When Connected With a Serial Cable?
Hardware: Compact FieldPoint>>Controllers>>cFP-1808
Problem: I have a FieldPoint network module, and I can setup and use the FieldPoint Watchdog timer when using TCP/IP. However, when I connect to the FieldPoint network module with a serial cable, the watchdog timer continues to fire even though the cable is still connected. Why?
Solution: When connected to a FieldPoint network module with a serial cable, data needs to be either written to or read from the FieldPoint before the watchdog timer fires. Once a piece of data is written or read, the watchdog timer resets itself, and the timer begins to count up to the timeout value again.
Below are the steps describing how to set up the watchdog timer for a serial connection to a FieldPoint network module.
- Connect normally to the FieldPoint with a TCP/IP cable.
- Give the FieldPoint a static IP address and Subnet mask, and apply the changes.
Note: Do not enable the factory configuration checkbox.
- Create a configuration file (IAK file) for your FieldPoint.
Right-click on the FieldPoint under Remote Systems and select Find Devices.
- Enable watchdog functionality for the bank, specify the Timeout (ms) value, and apply the changes.
- Enable watchdog functionality for the device, and apply the changes.
- Enable watchdog functionality and value for each channel, and apply the changes.
- Disconnect the Ethernet cable, and plug in the serial cable to the FieldPoint and your development computer.
- Connect to the FieldPoint through the serial connection.
Right-click on Devices and Interfaces under My System and select Create New.
Select FieldPoint Serial.
Select Finish.
Select OK.
- Save the FieldPoint IAK file to your computer.
Right-click on the FieldPoint Items under Data Neighborhood, and select Save.
- Close the Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX).
Note: If you don't close MAX, the serial port will not be free such that your LabVIEW VI can access the FieldPoint.
- Open your Project Explorer Window and import the FieldPoint Configuration file.
Right-click on the Project name, and select Import » FieldPoint Configuration.
- Deploy settings to the FieldPoint network module.
Right-click on the FieldPoint Bank, and select Deploy.
- As needed, alter watchdog functionality and values from the Project Explorer Window (without going through MAX).
Right-click on the FieldPoint Bank, and select Configure Watchdog.
Click on the different values in order to change their functionality.
Related Links: Developer Zone: Troubleshooting Communication Problems with the FieldPoint Ethernet Network ModulesKnowledgeBase 4CDENRCY: How to Network FieldPoint to a Host Computer with Ethernet
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Report Date: 06/16/2009
Last Updated: 06/16/2009
Document ID: 4YFAH6XY