Network Connection
Step 1: Identify the Controller's Ethernet Ports
How you connect depends on how many Ethernet ports the controller has and whether a second port is switched or individually addressable. Check the catalog number on the controller — the Compatibility Chart lists the Ethernet capability of every supported model.
| Controller | Ethernet Ports | Port Behavior | Second Port Can Have Its Own IP? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CompactLogix 1769-L32E, L35E | 1 | Single port | N/A |
| CompactLogix 5370 (1769-L1x, L2x, L3xER) | 2 | Embedded switch, one shared IP | No |
| CompactLogix 5380 (5069-L3xxER) | 2 (A1, A2) | Configurable: Dual-IP or Linear/DLR | Yes, only in Dual-IP mode |
| CompactLogix 5480 (5069-L4xxER) | 3 (A1, A2, B1) | A1/A2 configurable, B1 always separate | Yes |
| ControlLogix 5580 (1756-L8xE) | 1 | Single port | N/A |
| ControlLogix 1756-ENBT, EN2T | 1 per module | Single port | N/A |
| ControlLogix 1756-EN2TR, EN3TR | 2 | Embedded switch, one shared IP | No |
Step 2: Choose a Connection Method
Option A: Controller is already on the plant network
The simplest case. Put the Edge on the same network and connect to the controller's existing IP. No PLC changes needed.
Option B: Only one port, and it is used by the machine network
Do not unplug it. The machine network usually carries HMI, drive, and I/O traffic. Choose one of:
- Plug the Edge into an existing switch in the cabinet that is on the machine network, and give the Edge's machine-side interface an unused IP on the PLC's subnet.
- Use a dedicated (1:1) Edge with its machine-side interface set to the PLC's subnet.
- Use NAT (for example a Stratix switch or the customer's NAT device) to map a plant network IP to the PLC.
Option C: Spare port that is switched
Applies to CompactLogix 5370, 1756-EN2TR/EN3TR, and CompactLogix 5380 in Linear/DLR mode. The spare port behaves like a switch port on the PLC's existing subnet. Plug the Edge in, give the Edge an unused IP on that subnet, and connect to the PLC's existing IP. No PLC changes needed.
- Confirm the IP you assign to the Edge is not already in use on the machine network.
- If both ports are already connected, the controller may be part of a Device Level Ring (DLR). Do not disconnect either port.
- Never connect both ports of the controller to the same switch. This creates a network loop.
Option D: Spare port that is individually addressable
Applies to CompactLogix 5380 in Dual-IP mode and the CompactLogix 5480 B1 port. The spare port has its own IP address on a different subnet from the other port. If it has already been configured, connect the Edge to that IP. If it has not, see Step 4. This is the cleanest option because it keeps MachineMetrics traffic off the machine network.
Step 3: Confirm Switched vs. Addressable
If you are unsure how a spare port behaves, connect a laptop to the spare port, set a static IP on the PLC's subnet, and ping the PLC's known IP.
- Reply: the port is switched. Use Option C.
- No reply: the port is either individually addressable or not configured. Ask the customer which it is (see Step 4).
Step 4: If the PLC Needs Configuration Changes
MachineMetrics does not change PLC configuration. If a port needs an IP address assigned, or a CompactLogix 5380 needs to be switched to Dual-IP mode, this must be done by the customer's controls engineer or the machine tool integrator.
Changing the IP address or Ethernet mode on a running controller can break communication with the HMI, drives, and I/O. Recommend that the customer back up the PLC project and plan downtime before making changes.
When requesting the change, ask the customer or integrator to provide:
- Which port should be used for MachineMetrics
- The IP address, subnet mask, and gateway assigned to that port
- Confirmation that the port's subnet does not overlap with the other port's subnet (CompactLogix 5380 Dual-IP mode requires separate subnets)
- Confirmation that the IP is set as static, so it is retained after a power cycle
Step 5: Verify the Connection
- Ping the controller IP from the Edge.
- Confirm TCP port 44818 is not blocked by a firewall.
Optional: before configuring MachineMetrics, browse the controller's tags with Rockwell Automation's RSLinx or a similar EtherNet/IP scanner tool. If the tags are readable there, the path and the slot number are correct.