RSLinx Classic Vs.

RSLinx Enterprise
For Internal Use Only

RSLinx Classic and RSLinx Enterprise

• Presentation will discuss differences between the two products

• At the end of presentation hopefully
– You’ll understand strengths of each respective product and when to use what
solution
– don’t forget using hybrid solutions (classic and enterprise)

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For Internal Use Only

RSLinx Classic (2.x)

• Name changed for documentation purposes

• Built in the SLC and PLC5 era, it is the one you use with RSLogix programming packages
including RSLogix 5000
• Strengths
– sheer number of drivers
– full feature-set
– ~ ½ a million registrations
– thousands of hours of test time
– open connectivity via OPC and C-SDK
• Weaknesses
– supports darn near all routes, all bridges, all drivers
– GUI and service tied too tightly together
– 16 bit areas of code & blocking calls
– doesn’t handle CLX online tag modifications

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For Internal Use Only

RSLinx Enterprise

• New flagship data server

• Built with Logix processors in mind, it is embedded in RSView SE and ME, you CAN’T use
it with RSLogix packages.
• Strengths
– see second bullet above
– handles offline controllers better
– new architecture with lessons learned
– less routes, easier to test
– handles CLX online tag modifications
– stronger development process
• Weaknesses
– not as many drivers as Classic
– debugging & productivity tools still rough
– connectivity to non-Rockwell products

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For Internal Use Only

When to Use Which?

• Decision Tree located in a few slides

• Using ControlLogix take a good look at what RSLinx Enterprise
can do for you
– watch out for
• CLX Ethernet Redundancy & Alias topics
• OPC / DDE / C-SDK
• Unsolicited Messaging
• RSLinx Classic is still a great choice for
– issues caused from above
– SLC & PLC5 applications

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For Internal Use Only

Hybrid Solution – Using Both

• Both products co-exist on the same computer easily

– handy if ME/SE development box is also what you use to for Logix
5000
– be careful not to bury box trying to use 2 data servers on the same
computer
• For serial or PKTX please review
– Online help found in RSView Studio’s release notes for RSLinx
Enterprise
– also in technote: “ID 25029 - RSLinx Enterprise and RSLinx 2.x side-
by-side operation”
http://rockwellautomation.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/rockwellautomation.cfg/
php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=25029

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For Internal Use Only

Feature Matrix

Product/Feature RSLinx Classic RSLinx Enterprise

Micro/Control/Soft/Compact Logix & PLC5/SLCs data access Yes Yes
Remote Configuration Capability No Yes
Alias Topics Yes No
CLX Redundancy Support Yes Yes
Offline CLX tag access Yes Yes
Offline PLC5/SLCs tag access Yes No
New Engine for Logix Processors No Yes
DDE Yes No (DDE never)
C-SDK Yes No
Logix Packages use for Editing Yes No
Supports RSBatch Servers (requires OPC) Yes No
PIC driver/Polling Master/PCMK Yes No
Can be a target of an unsolicited messages Yes No
FactoryTalk Redundancy Yes Yes
Supports Complex Routes (Ethernet->CLX Chassis->DH+) Yes No

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For Internal Use Only

Specific Driver Differences

RSLinx RSLinx
Driver Classic Enterprise
Ethernet to PLC-5 / SLC-5 / 1756-ENB / 1756-ENET / NetENI X X
Ethernet/IP X X
Serial DF1 (Point to point) X X
Serial DF1 to KF2 bridge (DH+) X
Serial DF1 to KF3 bridge (DH485) X
Serial DF1 to KFD bridge (Devicenet) X
Serial DF1 to KFC bridge (ControlNet) X
Serial DF1 to 1747-UIC (USB to DH485) X ?
1747-PIC / AIC+ X n/a
1747-UIC (USB to DH485) X
1784-KTX(D) to DH+ / DH485 X n/a
1784-PKTX(D) to DH+ / DH485 X X
1784-PCMK to DH+ / DH485 X
1784-PCC to Controlnet X
1784-PCD to Devicenet X
1784-PCID(S) to Devicenet X X
1784-PCIC(S) to Controlnet X X
1784-KTCX to Controlnet X n/a
DF1 Polling Master X
SoftLogix5 Driver X
Virtual Backplane (SoftLogix5000) X X
PLC-5 Emulator X
SLC-5 Emulator X
Logix Emulator X X

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For Internal Use Only

Feature Differences

RSLinx RSLinx
Feature Classic Enterprise
Backup / Restore Configuration Utility X
Support for DDE Clients (CFText, XLTable, AdvancedDDE,
FastDDE) X n/a
Support for OPC Clients (OPC custom, OPC Automation, .NET) X
Support for FT Live Data clients X X
Support for custom C/C++ client applications X
Communications engine for RSLogix 5/500/500 & RSNetworx X
Copy DDE/OPC Link to Clipboard X
DDE HotLink into Excel X n/a
DDE / OPC Communication Event log X n/a
FT Diagnostics for all errors No X
Configurable CIP options X
CIP packet / connection diagnostic X
PLC / SLC Station Diagnositcs X
PLC / SLC / ControlLogix Data Monitor X
OPC / DDE Diagnostics X
Alias Topics X
Programmatic interface to switch Alias Topics X
Support for ControlLogix Ethernet Redundancy X
Unsolicited Messaging support for PLC-5 / SLC-5 (PCCC) X
Unsolicited Messaging support for ControlLogix (CIP) X
Configurable DDE/OPC Topic paramters (e.g. timeout) X
OPC Diagnostic Pre-defined items X
Offline PLC-5 / SLC-5 symbol reference X
Offline ControlLogix tag reference X X
Configuration of remote data server No X
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For Internal Use Only

Data Comms Differences

RSLinx RSLinx
Data Communications Classic Enteprise
Optimized PLC / SLC Data Table Reads X X
Optimized PLC / SLC Data Table Writes X X
Optimized ControlLogix Tag Array Reads X X
Optimized ControlLogix Tag Array Writes X X
ControlLogix Scattered Read X X
ControlLogix Scattered Write X X
ControlLogix UDT Read optimization* X
Detect and recover after program download X X
Handle online tag creation (CLX) X X
Handle online tag deletion (CLX) X X
Handle offline tag creation and download (CLX) X X
Handle offline tag deletion or modification and download
(CLX) No X

*UDT Optimization is not in RSLinx Enterprise, however in RSLinx Classic the upload of the
UDT definition is a “blocking call” and therefore can slow down RSLinx Classic processing,
RSLinx Enterprise is not affected the same way.

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For Internal Use Only

RSLinx Enterprise CIP Routing

• Can do multi-hops on CIP based routes

– All Ethernet Hops
– All ControlNet Hops
– Mixes of ControlNet to Ethernet
– or Ethernet to ControlNet
Ethernet

ControlNet

ControlNet

Ethernet

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For Internal Use Only

RSLinx Enterprise DH Routing

• Cannot switch network protocols

– Cannot go Ethernet or CNet to DHRIO
– Preferred route is DH+/RIO from PC to end device (no hops)

Ethernet

ControlNet
DH+/RIO

DH+/RIO

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For Internal Use Only

RSLinx Decision Tree

Need OPC
Server to non- Yes
FactoryTalk
Serve to Yes RSLinx
App?
Remote PC? Gateway

No
No
Yes
Need Complex
Routes?

RSLinx Pro
No

Need Alias Yes

Topic
Switching?

No

Need Unsolicited Yes

Messaging from the
PLC? RSLinx
Enterprise

No
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For Internal Use Only

When to Use Enterprise?

• When communicating to Logix processors

• ControlLogix Redundancy in ControlNet
• Serving data to RSView Supervisory Edition, Machine Edition, or
RSSql, Historian, PlantMetrics
– DDE / OPC not available
• Windows XP or Windows 2000 computer is used
• Using a simple route to the processor
– something like all Ethernet, all ControlNet, direct hop to device on DH+

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For Internal Use Only

Packaging

• Stand Alone product

– 9355-RSLETENE
– if you want to add additional RSLinx Enterprise Servers
• New Bundles with RSView SE (see price sheets)
– Has the RSLinx (2.x) for RSView AND RSLinx Enterprise
– 9701-VWSS025LENE RSView SE Server 25 display with RSLinx Enterprise
– 9701-VWSS100LENE RSView SE Server 100 display with RSLinx Enterprise
– 9701-VWSS250LENE RSView SE Server 250 display with RSLinx Enterprise
– 9701-VWSS000LENE RSView SE Server Unlimited display with RSLinx Enterprise
• Bundle comes with RSLinx Enterprise activation so you can put it on a
different computer from the HMI server
• Commercial program for existing RSView SE customers to upgrade to
these catalog numbers (next slide)
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