Technical Note

MVI56(E)-MNET Add-On
Instruction Installation
Guide
Modbus TCP/IP Ethernet Communication Module
Document Code: 773144
Author: ProSoft Technical Publications
Date: December 03, 2009

Technical Note
Document Code: 773144

Document Information
Author
Description
Date
Revision
Product Name
Document Code

ProSoft Technical Publications

Modbus TCP/IP Ethernet Communication Module
December 03, 2009
2.04.00
MVI56(E)-MNET
773144

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Copyright ProSoft Technology, Inc. 2009. All Rights Reserved.
December 03, 2009
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MVI56(E)-MNET Add-On Instruction Installation Guide

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Technical Note
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Contents
Document Information ............................................................................................................... 2
ADD MODBUS TCP/IP ETHERNET COMMUNICATION TO CONTROLLOGIX WITH AN ADD-ON
INSTRUCTION FOR RSLOGIX 5000 VERSION 16..................................................................... 4
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 4
Instructions ................................................................................................................................ 5
Benefits.................................................................................................................................... 10

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MVI56(E)-MNET Add-On Instruction Installation Guide

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Technical Note
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Add Modbus TCP/IP Ethernet Communication to

ControlLogix with an Add-On Instruction for RSLogix
5000 Version 16
In This Chapter

Introduction ............................................................................................. 4

Instructions ............................................................................................. 5

Benefits..................................................................................................10

Introduction
Beginning with version 16 of RSLogix 5000 software, Rockwell
Automation added an extremely helpful feature to make it easier that ever
to set up third party modules, custom code, or proprietary code. They
called this new feature an "Add-On Instruction" (AOI). This AOI feature
allows third party vendors, panel builders, and system integrators to create
ladder logic code that can be protected for safety or security reasons and
can be locked to ensure that the code remains unchanged.
ProSoft Technologys inRAx Modbus TCP/IP Ethernet Communication
Module for ControlLogix, the MVI56(E)-MNET, is provided with an AddOn Instruction to allow easy integration of the module into new or existing
RSLogix 5000 Version 16 and newer projects.
ProSoft Technology has enhanced the MVI56(E)-MNET modules AddOn Instruction in a way that will significantly simplify installation.
Now users can integrate the module into a new or existing project by
importing a single ladder logic import file, as opposed to importing multiple
User Defined Data Types and ladder logic rungs, one-by-one.
The entire ladder logic required by the MVI56(E)-MNET is encapsulated in
one, single Add-On Instruction. And, when the ladder logic .L5X file is
imported, it automatically creates all the required User-Defined Data Types,
Controller Tags, and the Add-On Instruction logic, all while adding the
preconfigured AOI instruction to the ladder rung.

This new way of importing an AOI as a completed ladder rung enables quicker and easier integration of the
MVI56(E)-MNET with fewer chances for human typographical errors and ladder coding or setup errors.

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Instructions
1

Open the FILE menu, and then choose NEW

Select your ControlLogix controller model.

Select REVISION 16.

Enter a name for your controller, such as "My_Controller".

Select your ControlLogix chassis type.

Select SLOT 0 for the controller.

Add the MVI56(E)-MNET module to the project.

In the CONTROLLER ORGANIZATION window, select I/O CONFIGURATION and click the right mouse button to open a
shortcut menu. On the shortcut menu, choose NEW MODULE...

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This action opens the SELECT MODULE dialog box.

Select the 1756-MODULE (GENERIC 1756 MODULE) from the list and click OK. This action opens the NEW MODULE
dialog box.

In the NEW MODULE dialog box, enter the following values.

Parameter

Value

NAME

Enter a module identification string. Example: Modbus TCP/IP

Ethernet.

DESCRIPTION

Enter a description for the module. Example: Modbus TCP/IP

Ethernet Communication Module
Select DATA-INT.
Enter the slot number in the rack where the MVI56(E)-MNET
module is located.
1
250
2
248
4
0

COMM FORMAT
SLOT
INPUT ASSEMBLY INSTANCE
INPUT SIZE
OUTPUT ASSEMBLY INSTANCE
OUTPUT SIZE
CONFIGURATION ASSEMBLY INSTANCE
CONFIGURATION SIZE

Important: You must select the COMM FORMAT as DATA - INT in the dialog box, otherwise the module will not communicate over the backplane
of the ControlLogix rack.
10 Click OK to continue.

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11 Edit the Module Properties. Select the REQUESTED PACKET INTERVAl value for scanning the I/O on the module.
This value represents the minimum frequency at which the module will handle scheduled events. This value
should not be set to less than 1 millisecond. The default value is 5 milliseconds. Values between 1 and 10
milliseconds should work with most applications.

12 Save the module.

Click OK to close the dialog box. Notice that the module now appears in the CONTROLLER ORGANIZATION window.

13 In the CONTROLLER ORGANIZATION window, expand the TASKS folder and subfolder until you reach the
MAINPROGRAM folder.
14 In the MAINPROGRAM folder, double-click to open the MAINROUTINE ladder.

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15 Select an empty rung in the new routine, and then click the right mouse button to open a shortcut menu. On the
shortcut menu, choose IMPORT RUNG

16 Navigate to the location on your PC where you saved the Add-On Instruction (for example, "My Documents" or
"Desktop"). Select the MVI56(E)MODBUS TCP/IP ETHERNET_ADDON_RUNG_<VERSION #>.L5X file

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This action opens the IMPORT CONFIGURATION dialog box, showing the controller tags that will be created.

17 If you are using the module in a different slot (or remote rack), select the correct connection input and output
variables that define the path to the module. If your module is located in Slot 1 of the local rack, this step is not
required.
18 Click OK to confirm the import. RSLogix will indicate that the import is in progress:

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When the import is completed, the new rung with the Add-On Instruction will be visible as shown in the following
illustration.

The procedure has also imported new User Defined Data Types, data objects and the Add-On instruction for
your project.

19 Save the application and then download the sample ladder logic into the processor.

Benefits
This process for importing the MVI56(E)-MNET Add-On Instruction into the RSLogix ladder logic file has replaced the
practice of importing User Defined Data Types and multiple rungs of ladder in multiple ladder files.
This enhancement allows you to easily integrate the module into a new or existing RSLogix project without manually
copying over each file. Doing so practically eliminates human typographical errors. Additionally, errors that do occur
are significantly easier to correct.

ProSoft Technology, Inc.

December 3, 2009

MVI56(E)-MNET Add-On Instruction Installation Guide

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