S7+ connection problem

[jaap.blom@croonwolterendros.nl]

We have a redundant WinCC OA 3.16 P13 system. As PLC we use a PLC S7-1516F-3 (6ES7 516-3FN01-0BA0) Firmware version 2.6. For communication we use the S7+ driver.

If we start up the S7+ driver manager on the 2nd server, while the S7+ driver manager is running and connected to the PLC on the 1st server, the S7+ driver manager on the 2nd reaches a running state, but gives of error messages:

WCCOAs7plus (6), 2019.12.13 10:52:26.866, SYS, INFO, 14/s7plus, Active connection for _EefSls_NS_2 (condition 3) switches from -1 to 0
WCCOAs7plus (6), 2019.12.13 10:52:57.008, SYS, SEVERE, 94, Driver communication failure, failure condition on HmiConnection, _EefSls_NS_2


The driver keeps trying to connect on certain intervals. In the S7+ configuration screen State host 2 switches never reaches connected. The point is that the connection state doesn't seem to impact which system is the active redundant system (the driver is running the entire time).

If we start up the driver on the 2nd server, while the driver on the 1st server is not running, the 2nd server is able to connect to the PLC. If the 1st server driver is started if the driver on the 2nd server is connected, the driver is able to connect to the PLC (which brings the situation to normal).

Now my question is how can I get more information on what is going on? The log doesn't show much about what is going on.

[leoknipp]

The connection state for PLC connections is only taken into account for the error state calculation if you have made a configuration for it in the System Overview panel.

To get more detailed information for the PLC connections in the S7+ driver you can use the debug flag "-dbg conn".

For further analysis it is possibly easier to use the Siemens Industry Portal to get in contact with your common WinCC OA support.
With the Siemens Industry Portal sharing data, e.g. log files, is easier then within the WinCC OA Portal.

Best Regards
Leopold Knipp
Senior Support Specialist

[jaap.blom@croonwolterendros.nl]

The connection state for PLC connections is only taken into account for the error state calculation if you have made a configuration for it in the System Overview panel.

To get more detailed information for the PLC connections in the S7+ driver you can use the debug flag "-dbg conn".

For further analysis it is possibly easier to use the Siemens Industry Portal to get in contact with your common WinCC OA support.
With the Siemens Industry Portal sharing data, e.g. log files, is easier then within the WinCC OA Portal.

Best Regards
Leopold Knipp
Senior Support Specialist

Thanks for your reply.

The system overview has a configuration for the S7+ driver. But this only takes into account if the manager is running, not if there is a connection.

In the mean time I tried the various S7+ driver debug flags, but I didn't see anything more in the logs.

I already figured I needed to contact Siemens, but I hoped to get some more information to give them. (not just it isn't working)

[leoknipp]

If you want to add PLC connection to the error state calculation you have to use the tab "Datapoints".
In this tab you can define the datapoint elements which shall be included in the calculation.

Best Regards
Leopold Knipp
Senior Support Specialist

[jaap.blom@croonwolterendros.nl]

Ok, thanks