Chapter 6. Serial I/O, SNP & RTU Protocols
GFK-2222AD
April 2018
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6.4
SNP Slave Protocol
PACSystems CPUs can communicate with Machine Edition software through either COM1 or COM2 using
SNP slave protocol.
CPU COM1 is wired as an RS-232 Data Communications Equipment (DCE) port, and can be connected
directly using straight-through cable to one of the serial ports of a PC running Machine Edition or other
SNP master software.
CPU COM2 is wired for RS-485. If the SNP master does not have an RS-485 port, an RS-485/RS-232
converter is required. The RX3i can use converter IC690ACC901, which uses +5Vdc from the serial port.
The RX7i CPU COM2 does not support IC690ACC901 and requires an externally powered converter.
PACSystems provides the
break free
version of SNP, so that the SNP master does not need to issue a
break signal as part of the SNP attach sequence. However, the CPU responds appropriately if a break
signal is detected, by resetting the protocol to wait for another attach sequence from the master.
PACSystems supports both point-to-point connections (single master/single slave) and multi-drop
connections (single master/multiple slaves).
For details on SNP protocol, refer to the
Series 90 PLC
Serial Communications User’s Manual,
GFK-0582.
CPE400 does not support this protocol.
6.4.1
Permanent Datagrams
Permanent datagrams survive after the SNP session that created them has been terminated. This allows
an SNP master device to periodically retrieve datagram data from many different controllers on a multi-
drop link, without the master having to establish and write the datagram each time it reconnects to the
controller.
The maximum number of permanent datagrams that can be established is 32. When this limit is reached,
additional requests to establish datagrams are denied. One or more of the permanent datagrams will
need to be cancelled before others can be established. Since the permanent datagrams are not
automatically deleted when the SNP session is terminated, this limit prevents an inordinate amount of
these datagrams from being established.
Permanent datagrams do not survive a power-cycle.
6.4.2
Communication Requests (COMMREQs) for SNP
The PACSystems serial ports COM1 and COM2 currently do not provide SNP Master service, nor do they
support COMMREQ functions for SNP commands. However, those COMMREQ functions can be used with
PCM/CMM modules that are configured to provide SNP service. For more information, refer to the
Series
90 PLC Serial Communica
tions User’s Manual
, GFK-0582.