Configuring an SLC 5/05 Controller's Ethernet IP Address with the BootP Utility

Configuring the IP address for an SLC 5/05 controller can be accomplished in one of two ways, with a serial cable or the BOOTP Server Configuration utility in RSLinx software version 2.42 or later. The BOOTP utility is the less common of the two methods, but it is a convenient tool if the serial port or serial cable is not available.
This Tech Tip Provides instructions on configuring the IP address for an SLC 5/05 controller with the BootP utility. The steps include:

• Locating the Media Access Control (MAC) address of your SLC 5/05 controller
• Configuring SLC 5/05 Ethernet communications using the BOOTP Server
• Configuring a static IP address

Keep the following points in mind before performing the steps outlined in this Tech Tip:

• It is assumed you have an SLC 5/05 connected to a hub or switch and the computer's networking has already been configured.
• Use an IP Address of 192.168.2.2 and a Subnet Mask of 255.255.255.0 for the SLC 5/05 controller. Be sure that the IP Address for the computer is on the same subnet as the SLC 5/05 controller (for example, IP: 192.168.2.3 Subnet: 255.255.255.0).
• If you are not familiar with Ethernet networking, refer to the Microsoft Help section titled, "Configuring TCP/IP" for information on configuring a static IP Address.
• Always consult your network administrator before making changes to your networking configuration.

The BOOTP protocol is enabled on SLC 5/05 controllers letting the controller query the network for a BOOTP server. If a BOOTP server is present on the network and has been configured with a MAC and IP address for the SLC 5/05 controller, the BOOTP server assigns the configured IP address to the SLC controller. Rockwell Automation does not assign a default IP address to SLC controllers to avoid conflicting with other network devices and causing communication interruptions.

Locating the MAC address for the SLC 5/05 controller.
The MAC address is the hardware address that uniquely identifies each node on the Ethernet network. It is pre-assigned at the factory and is not configurable. Before configuring the IP address for the SLC 5/05 controller, you need to locate and record the MAC address for your SLC 5/05. To do this, use these steps:

1. Remove power from the SLC 5/05 controller and remove the unit from the rack.
   
2. On the bottom left corner of the SLC 5/05 daughter card, locate the small white label printed with a hexadecimal number. The number begins with 00:00:BC.
   
3. Record the number on a piece of paper. This number is unique to your SLC 5/05 controller.
   
4. Insert the SLC 5/05 controller back into the rack and power it up.

Configuring the IP Address for a SLC 5/05 Controller using the RSLinx software BOOTP Server
Use the following steps to configure the SLC 5/05 controller's IP address using the RSLinx software BOOTP Server:
1. Click on Start > Programs > Rockwell Software> BOOTP-DHCP Server > BOOTP-DHCP Server.

Figure 1. Starting the RSLink BOOTP Server.

 

 If you are using the BOOTP Server for the first time, the system displays the dialog box shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Network Setup Error message for first time setup.

2. Click on the OK button. The system displays the Network Settings dialog box (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Network Settings dialog box

 3. Configure the network settings in the Network Settings dialog box to match the settings of your current Ethernet network. Contact your network administrator if you are unsure of the settings. If you do not have a network administrator and are not connected to the company's network use setting 255.255.255.0. Press the OK button.
The system displays the main BOOTP server window (Figure 4). The window is divided into the two parts:

• Request History - (top-half of the window) lists the devices that are making a BOOTP request (those that need an IP address).
• Relation List - (bottom-half of the window) uses the information configured in the parameters to assign the SLC 5/05 IP Address.

Figure 4. Main BOOTP Dialog Box

4. Click the New button in the Relation List group. This system displays the New Entry dialog box (Figure 5).

Figure 5. New Entry Dialog Box

  
5. Enter the MAC address of your SLC 5/05 controller in the Ethernet Address field.

6. Enter one of the following addresses in the IP Address field and press the OK button.

• the IP address assigned by your network administrator for the SLC 5/05 controller.
• 192.168.2.2, if the SLC 5/05 controller is not on a network and no other devices are connected to the network. Leave the Hostname and Description fields blank.
  

7. The Main BOOTP Server screen displays the time that the request was made from the SLC 5/05 controller in the first column of the Request History portion of the screen (Figure 6). The BOOTP Server assigns an IP address and displays the information in the IP Address column. The SLC 5/05 controller has an IP address until power is cycled. Each time power is cycled to the SLC 5/05 controller, it tries to obtain an IP address from a BOOTP Server.

Figure 6. Main BOOTP Dialog Box with Request.

 Configuring the SLC 5/05 for a Static IP Address

1. Start RSLogix 500 software. Click on Start > Programs > Rockwell Software > RSLogix 500 English > RSLogix English
   
2. Open the Project file that you want to download to the SLC 5/05 controller.
   
3. In the RSLogix software project tree, double-click on the Channel Configuration (Figure 7).



Figure 7. RSLogix 500 Project tree.


4. Click on the Channel 1 System Tab and uncheck the BootP Enable checkbox (Figure 8).

Figure 8. RSLogix 500 software Channel Configuration dialog box.

        5. Enter the IP Address and Subnet Mask for the SLC 5/05 controller. Click the OK button.         
        6. Minimise RSLogix 500 software.
      7. Download the program to the SLC controller using the following steps:

• Click on Start > Programs > Rockwell Software > RSLinx > RSLinx.
• On the Communications Menu, click on Configure Drivers.
• In the Configure Drivers dialog box, click on the Available Driver Types drop-down arrow. Select Ethernet devices from the drop-down menu and click the Add New button.
• The Add New RSLinx Driver dialog box is displayed. AB_ETH-1 appears as the default drive name. It is recommended this name be used to easily identify the driver during any future technical support requests. Click the OK button.
• Enter the IP Address for the SLC 5/05 controller in the Hostname field next to the Station 0 column (Figure 9). Enter 192.168.2.2 if you are using the values provided in this Tech Tip.
• Click on the OK button. The Configure Drivers screen is displayed.
• Click Close and minimise RSLinx software.

Figure 9. Station Mapping tab.

      8. Maximise RSLogix 500 software and click on Comms > System Comms. The Communication screen is displayed.
      9. Click on the plus sign next to AB_ETH-1 Driver to expand the tree.
     10. Select the icon and address for the SLC 5/05 controller in the right-hand window and click the Download button   (Figure 10).

Figure 10. RSLogix 500 software Communications screen

11. Click the Yes button to confirm download the SLC 5/05 program.