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I need to access multiple GE Fanuc EGD devices that are using the same producing exchange #.

I have multiple GE Fanuc devices using the Ethernet Global Data protocol.  I want to use the TOP Server GE Fanuc Suite to communicate but I don't see a way to address tags to multiple devices using the same exchange number. 

TOP Server gives me a message saying that my exchange is already configured.  Since I can only configure one channel per network card with this driver and only one device per channel, I have to configure multiple exchanges.  How do I handle the addressing?

Due to some miswording in the TOP Server GE EGD Driver help file, the addressing necessary here is a bit unclear.

The formatting of tag addresses for this driver is as follows.

Producer Exchanges configured in TOP Server

PX:Y:Zz where the following is true:

  • P represents the fact that this tag belongs to a Producer exchange, where TOP Server is the producer
  • X represents the producer exchange ID that is configured in the Producer Exchange Properties (Field "ID")
  • Y represents the range number for the desired range configured for the producer exchange specified by X.
  • Zz represents the actual address you want to access, with Z being the address reference type and z being the offset number.
Example:  P2:3:R7 equates to Producer ID 2 containing Range No. 3 containing R7

Consumer Exchanges configured in TOP Server:

CX:Y:Zz where the following is true:

  • C represents the fact that this tag belongs to a Consumer exchange, where TOP Server is the consumer
  • X represents the consumer exchange ID that is configured in the Consumer Exchange Properties (Field "ID")
  • Y represents the range number for the desired range configured for the consumer exchange specified by X.
  • Zz represents the actual address you want to access, with Z being the address reference type and z being the offset number.
Example:  C6:4:AI2 equates to Consumer ID 6 containing Range No. 4 containing AI2

Considering the above, to address multiple producing devices using the same exchange number from TOP Server, you would need the following:

  1. One channel configured in TOP Server to use your NIC card
  2. One device configured with the following:
    1. You will need one unique consumer exchange for each producing device you will be communicating with
    2. Each consumer exchange will be configured as such:
      • Unique ID from every other consumer exchange you will configure
      • Exchange number will match the exchange number of your producing device
      • Producer ID will be the unique IP address of your producing device that will correspond to the specific consumer exchange
      • Consumed Period must equal the data rate defined for the corresponding producer exchange in the producing device
      • Update Timeout must be the Consumed Period + 10 ms.