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Getting info via an Ethernet from PLC to PLC.

Getting info via an Ethernet from PLC to PLC.

Getting info via an Ethernet from PLC to PLC.

(OP)
An equipment manufacturer is going to provide a PLC to operate their equipment. It's about a hundred I/O points or so. We are going to have a remote screen made up like we want on our system that we show the points they have recommended we watch at all times. They said they will provide this via a blue hose connection. Which I assume means an Ethernet connection.

The manufacturer's PLC is an ABB 800PEC and our PLC is Allen Bradley Controllogix. What information does a programmer need in order to create our custom screen and know he is addressing the right point? Is there a common name for this document? I'm  trying to write a scope to get this work done. And I want to request from ABB this info.
 

RE: Getting info via an Ethernet from PLC to PLC.

It is probably not ethernet.  If the original statement had meant ethernet as a transport layer, I suspect the term 'ethernet' would have been used, but it wasn't.

Belden Wire has a trademarked line of cable known as 'Blue Hose'
http://www.belden.com/pdfs/prodbull/NP158.pdf

Allen Bradley/Rockwell popularized the term 'blue hose' for use with their proprietary Data Highway Plus (DH+) protocol some decades ago.  I'm not an A-B guy so for all I know DH+ might have gone to ODVA for gate/tollkeeping.

I think of blue hose as cable/wire.  I've used blue hose for Modbus RTU.  The cable/wire does not necessarily define the protocol (there might be a convention in the ABB world?)

I think you need to inquire as to exactly which protocol runs over Blue Hose.

RE: Getting info via an Ethernet from PLC to PLC.

(OP)
Thanks Dan for your answer. I can use it.

But my question is more of what type info do I need to request of ABB so we can make up our own screens. How does whatever protocol know what I/O is what and what if its a calculated value via their plc? Doesn't there have to be some type of mapping of the points?  

RE: Getting info via an Ethernet from PLC to PLC.

First you need the type of interface on the ABB PLC: ethernet, RS-485, RS-232-C etc. This determines the physical link and the wiring necessary. You will need to have the exact same interface at the other end. Cannot connect ethernet to RS-232-C for example.

Second you will need to know the protocol used. This is the "language" used over the physical link. For example ethernet can talk Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP etc. You will then need to have the software/firmware at the other end to handle the protocol.

Finally you will to know the data point addresses. These can be a number, name or a combination of both.

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