Anybus X-gateway – EtherNet/IP Adapter (AB7668-F)

Felipe

• May 20, 2025 16:53

Hi everyone,

I’m working with the Anybus X-Gateway AB7668-F (EtherNet/IP Adapter ↔ EtherNet/IP Scanner) and had a few questions based on my setup.

I’ll be using the Scanner side to communicate with multiple EtherNet/IP devices (like E300 motor protection relays and SMC-Flex soft starters), all connected through a switch.

Here’s what I’d like to confirm:

1. If a device on the Scanner side loses communication or is powered off, how does the gateway handle this? Does it zero out the bytes, freeze the last value, or signal a fault to the PLC?

2. Can the gateway map multiple input/output assemblies from a single device? (e.g., E300: Assembly 100 and 101)

3. Is there a way to diagnose or simulate the data exchanged between the gateway and Scanner-side devices, before going online with the PLC?

4. When connecting multiple devices through a switch to the Scanner port, does the gateway automatically detect them? Or do I need to manually define each IP and I/O assembly?

Any insights or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Best Regards.

0

• Official comment

  

  Siobhan Chapman

  • June 03, 2025 09:44

  This was answered in a support ticket so to complete this post I am copying the answers here:
  
  1. If a device on the Scanner side loses communication or is powered off, how does the gateway handle this? Does it zero out the bytes, freeze the last value, or signal a fault to the PLC?

  • In Anybus Configuration Manager - X-gateway, you can configure the behaviour with the "Offline option" setting for the scanner interface. You can either clear the data (setting all values to 0) or freeze it (retaining until connection is reestablished). If you have the statistics list enabled, the first 8 bytes of input data re reserved, with each bit indicating whether that device is online.

  2. Can the gateway map multiple input/output assemblies from a single device? (e.g., E300: Assembly 100 and 101)

  • No - it is only possible to configure one Assembly in each direction for each Adapter, one Input and one Output.

  3. Is there a way to diagnose or simulate the data exchanged between the gateway and Scanner-side devices, before going online with the PLC?

  • Only by using a simulator on a PC, there is not a tool built into the gateway or Configuration Manager. We offer simulators for several protocols:
    https://www.hms-networks.com/p/024830-b-ethernet-ip-master-simulator-plus-license 

  4. When connecting multiple devices through a switch to the Scanner port, does the gateway automatically detect them? Or do I need to manually define each IP and I/O assembly?

  • You'll need to manually define the IP address and connection points for each device. As long as the devices are in the same subnet and there's a path between them, it won't matter if they need to route through a switch, or if there is other traffic on that network segment.

  Hope that helps someone else as well.

  Siobhan

   

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