A Sierra Monitor Company

Driver Manual
(Supplement to the FieldServer Instruction Manual)

FS-8700-37 Metasys DX9100

A Sierra Monitor Company

APPLICABILITY & EFFECTIVITY

Effective for all systems manufactured after May 1, 2001

Instruction Manual Part Number FS-8700-37

7/9/2001

FS-8700-37 Metasys DX9100

Driver Manual

Table of Contents
1.

Metasys DX9100 Description............................................................................................................................................... 1

1.1
Hardware/Software ........................................................................................................................................................ 1
2. FieldServer as a Metasys DX9100 Client........................................................................................................................... 2
2.1
Hardware Connections.................................................................................................................................................. 2
2.2
Configuration File Structure......................................................................................................................................... 2
2.2.1
Data Arrays ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
2.2.2
Client Side Connections....................................................................................................................................... 2
2.2.3
Client Side Nodes.................................................................................................................................................. 2
2.2.4
Client Map Descriptors ........................................................................................................................................ 3
3. FieldServer as a Metasys DX9100 Server .......................................................................................................................... 4
3.1
Hardware Connections.................................................................................................................................................. 4
3.2
Configuration File Structure......................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2.1
Data Arrays ............................................................................................................................................................ 4
3.2.2
Server Side Connections...................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2.3
Server Side Nodes................................................................................................................................................. 4
3.2.4
Map Descriptors .................................................................................................................................................... 5

FieldServer Technologies 1991 Tarob Court, Milpitas, California 95035 (408) 262-2299 fax: (408) 262-9042
Visit our website: www.fieldserver.com
E-mail: support@fieldserver.com
Page Index

FS-8700-37 Optomux

Driver Manual

1. Metasys DX9100 Description

The Metasys DX9100 driver allows the FieldServer to transfer data to and from devices over
either RS232 or RS485 using Metasys DX9100 protocol. There are eight RS232 and two RS485
ports standard on the FieldServer. The FieldServer can emulate either a Server or Client.
The information that follows describes how to expand upon the factory defaults provided in the
configuration files included with the FieldServer.
1.1 Hardware/Software
Supplied by FieldServer Technologies
FIELDSERVER
TECHNOLOGIES
PART #
FS-8915-10
FS-8915-10
FS-8917-01
FS-8917-02
FS-59132

DESCRIPTION
UTP cable (7 foot) for RS232 use
UTP cable (7 foot) foe Ethernet connection
RJ45 to DB25M connector adapter
RJ45 to DB9F connector adapter
RS485 connector adapter

Provided by user
PART #

DESCRIPTION
List items to interface to the FieldServer
Metasys DX9100 Client Server, e.g. Wonderware,
Intellution FIX, GE Cimplicity, etc

FieldServer Technologies 1991 Tarob Court, Milpitas, California 95035 (408) 262-2299 fax: (408) 262-9042
Visit our website: www.fieldserver.com
E-mail: support@fieldserver.com
Page 1

FS-8700-37 Optomux

Driver Manual

2. FieldServer as a Metasys DX9100 Client

2.1 Hardware Connections
It is possible to connect a Metasys DX9100 device to any of the eight RS232 ports or two
RS485 ports. These ports just need to be configured for Metasys DX9100 in the
configuration file.
Configure the PLC according to manufacturers instructions
2.2 Configuration File Structure
Note that * indicates an optional parameter, with the bold legal value being the default.
2.2.1 Data Arrays
Section Title
Data_Arrays
Column Title
Data_Array_Name

Function
Provide name for Data Array

Data_Format
Data_Array_Length

Provides data format

Number of Data Objects

Legal Values
Up to 15
alphanumeric
characters
INT16
2384

2.2.2 Client Side Connections

Section Title
Connections
Column Title
Port
Baud *
Parity *
Data_Bits
Stop_Bits
Handshaking

Function
Specify which port the device is
connected to the FieldServer
Specify baud rate
Specify parity
Specify data bits
Specify stop bits
Specify hardware handshaking

Legal Values
P1-P8, R1-R2

Function
Provide name for node

Legal Values
Up to 32
alphanumeric
characters
0-255

9600
None
8
1
RTS, RTS/CTS,
None

2.2.3 Client Side Nodes

Section Title
Nodes
Column Title
Node_Name
Node_ID
Protocol

Node ID of physical server

node
Specify protocol used

Metasys DX9100

FieldServer Technologies 1991 Tarob Court, Milpitas, California 95035 (408) 262-2299 fax: (408) 262-9042
Visit our website: www.fieldserver.com
E-mail: support@fieldserver.com
Page 2

FS-8700-37 Optomux

Driver Manual

2.2.4 Client Map Descriptors

Section Title
Map_Descriptors
Column Title
Map_Descriptor_Name

Data_Array_Name
Data_Array_Offset
Function
Node_Name

Function
Name of this Map Descriptor

Name of Data Array where

data is to be stored in the
FieldServer
Starting location in Data Array
Function of Client Map
Descriptor
Name of Node to fetch data
from

Address

Starting address of read block

Length
Data_Array_Low_Scale
*
Data_Array_High_Scale
*
Node_Low_Scale*

Consecutive Items
Scaling zero in Data Array

Node_High_Scale*

Scaling max in Data Array

Scaling zero in Connected
Node
Scaling max in Connected
Node

Legal Values
Up to 32
alphanumeric
characters
One of the Data Array
names from Data
Array section above
0 to maximum
specified in Data
Array section above
RDBC, WRBC,
WRBX
One of the node
names specified in
Client Node
Descriptor above
0-2384 See All Item
List in Metasys
DX9100 Protocol
Specification Rev 2.0.
See All Item List
-32767 to 32767,
default 0
-32767 to 32767,
default 100
-32767 to 32767,
default 0
-32767 to 32767,
default 100

FieldServer Technologies 1991 Tarob Court, Milpitas, California 95035 (408) 262-2299 fax: (408) 262-9042
Visit our website: www.fieldserver.com
E-mail: support@fieldserver.com
Page 3

FS-8700-37 Optomux

Driver Manual

3. FieldServer as a Metasys DX9100 Server

3.1 Hardware Connections
It is possible to connect a Metasys DX9100 device to any of the eight RS232 ports or two
RS485 ports. These ports just need to be configured for Metasys DX9100 in the
configuration file.
Configure the PLC according to manufacturers instructions
3.2 Configuration File Structure
3.2.1 Data Arrays
Section Title
Data_Arrays
Column Title
Data_Array_Name

Function
Provide name for Data Array

Data_Format
Data_Array_Length

Provides data format

Number of Data Objects

Legal Values
Up to 15
alphanumeric
characters
INT16
2384

3.2.2 Server Side Connections

Section Title
Connections
Column Title
Port
Baud*
Parity*
Data_Bits*
Handshaking*

Function
Specify which port the device is
connected to the FieldServer
Specify baud rate
Specify parity
Specify data bits
Specify hardware handshaking

Legal Values
P1-P8, R1-R2

Function
Provide name for node

Legal Values
Up to 32
alphanumeric
characters
1-255

9600
None
8
None

3.2.3 Server Side Nodes

Section Title
Nodes
Column Title
Node_Name
Node_ID
Protocol

Node ID of physical server

node
Specify protocol used

Metasys DX9100

FieldServer Technologies 1991 Tarob Court, Milpitas, California 95035 (408) 262-2299 fax: (408) 262-9042
Visit our website: www.fieldserver.com
E-mail: support@fieldserver.com
Page 4

FS-8700-37 Optomux

Driver Manual

3.2.4 Map Descriptors

Section Title
Map_Descriptors
Column Title
Map_Descriptor_Name

Data_Array_Name
Data_Array_Offset
Function
Node_Name

Address
Data_Array_Low_Scale
*
Data_Array_High_Scale
*
Node_Low_Scale*
Node_High_Scale*

Function
Name of this Map Descriptor

Name of Data Array where

data is to be stored in the
FieldServer
Starting location in Data Array
Function of Client Map
Descriptor
Name of Node to fetch data
from
Starting address of read block
Scaling zero in Data Array
Scaling max in Data Array
Scaling zero in Connected
Node
Scaling max in Connected
Node

Legal Values
Up to 32
alphanumeric
characters
One of the Data Array
names from Data
Array section above
Server
One of the node
names specified in
Client Node
Descriptor above
0
-32767 to 32767,
default 0
-32767 to 32767,
default 100
-32767 to 32767,
default 0
-32767 to 32767,
default 100

FieldServer Technologies 1991 Tarob Court, Milpitas, California 95035 (408) 262-2299 fax: (408) 262-9042
Visit our website: www.fieldserver.com
E-mail: support@fieldserver.com
Page 5