HOW TO BACKUP AN ALLEN-BRADLEY LOGIX CONTROLLER PROGRAM - PART I

Your guide to backup your Logix Controller Program

Today we will cover the first three steps on how to backup your Allen-Bradley Logix Controller
Program to your PC. The detailed steps include:

1. Connecting to a Serial Controller

2. Establishing a RSLinx Connection
3. Launching RSLogix 5000
Stay tuned for Part II where we will connect to Ethernet and USB controllers.
Models Covered Required Materials

Serial Controllers Serial Cables

 Compact Logix 1769: L23, L31, L32,
L35
 Compact Logix 1768: L43, L45
 ControlLogix L5x, L6x
Programing Software
 9-Pin Serial Programming cable, typically 1747-CP3
 If no serial port on PC, USB-Serial Adapter 9300-USBS, Quickstart
Guide

 CompactLogix: RSLogix/Studio 5000 Mini edition or better

 ControlLogix: RSLogix/Studio 5000 Service edition or
 RSLinx Classic Lite or better, included with RSLogix/Studio 5000
 Windows-based PC
1. Connecting to Serial Controller
 Connect the 9-pin serial cable to the 9-pin port on controller, and the 9-pin port on USB-Serial Adapter.
 Insert USB end of the USB-Serial adapter cable into an open USB port on your computer.
 Check COM Port assignment:
  Go to "Device Manager", under your computer's Control Panel.
 Scroll down to the "Ports (COM & LPT)"section.
 Expand the section, note the COM port number after the Serial to USB converter.
 Close Device Manager.

2. Establish RSLinx Connection

 Launch RSLinx Classic, usually Start > All Programs > Rockwell Software > RSLinx > RSLinx
Classic.
 Go to Communications > Configure Drivers.
 Under Available Driver Types, select "RS232 DF1 devices" and click the "add new" button.
 You can give the driver a name, or just select "OK" to use the default name (typically AB_DF1-1).
 The "Configure RS232 DF1 Devices" window will pop up.
 Under the "Comm Port" drop down menu, select the COM port that corresponds to the one assigned to the USB-
Serial Adapter (e.g. COM3).
 Under the "Device" drop down, select the "Logix 5550 / CompactLogix" setting.
 Click the "Auto-Configure" button.
 If successful, close window and minimize RSLinx.
 If unsuccessful, check your serial and USB cable connections, and make sure you are using the correct COM
port number assigned to the USB-Serial adapter.

3. Launch RSLogix 5000

 Go to "Communications" and select "Who Active".
 The RSLinx Who Active browser will pop up.
 Select the DF1 driver you configured earlier (AB_DF1-1).
 Expand the driver by clicking the plus sign to the left of the driver.
 The controller should appear under the DF-1 driver.
 Click once on the controller icon.
 On the right hand side, several grayed-out options should now become available.
 Click on the "Upload" button.
 Important note: In the PLC world, "Upload" means transfer from the controller to the PC, and "Download"
means transfer the program from the PC to the controller. If you ever forget, just remember "Download =
Danger!"meaning, make sure you want to overwrite what is currently in the controller!

 The "Connected to Upload" window will appear. RSLogix will ask you to find the corresponding offline
project file. Let's assume you are backing up the file because you do not have an offline file.
 Click "Select File".
 Type in a file name and select where to save the file.
 RSLogix will respond "Create project file 'xxxxx.ACD' and upload?"
  Click yes.
 Enter a name for the project file, and select where you would like to save it.
 Click Upload.
 The controller will upload the file to the PC, and save it in the directory you selected. You will now be online with
the controller, which means you are looking at what the controller is doing in real time, and you can make on-line
edits, change values, etc.
 The software may ask if you want to change to "Run" mode, which is the mode where the controller is scanning its
I/O, executing the program logic, and then enabling outputs and sending any data or messages. You can change the
mode by clicking the controller mode dropdown in the upper left corner.
 Disconnect the programming cable and exit RSLogix 5000.

HOW TO BACKUP AN ALLEN-BRADLEY LOGIX CONTROLLER PROGRAM - PART

II
Your guide to backing-up your Logix Controller Program
Welcome to Part II of our "How to Backup an Allen-Bradley Logix Controller Program". In Part II, we will
go over backing up your Logix Controller Program for your Ethernet/USB Controllers. If you are
connecting to your device via a serial connection, go ahead and read Part I for detailed instructions
on how to backup your program when connecting to a serial controller.
1. Connecting to Controllers via Ethernet
2. Connecting to Controllers via USB
3. Establishing a RSLinx Connection – Ethernet
4. Establishing a RSLinx Connection – USB
5. Launching Studio 5000 and Backing-up your Logix Controller Program
6. Launching RSLogix 5000 and Backing-up your Logix Controller Program
Models Covered Required Materials

Ethernet/USB Controllers Serial Cables

 Compact Logix 5370 L1, L2, L3; 5380 L3xx  Standard Ethernet patch cable, such as 1585J-M8TBJM-1M9
 Control Logix L7x, L8x  Any standard USB A-B cable (USB Printer Cable)
Programing Software

 CompactLogix: RSLogix/Studio 5000 Mini edition or better

 ControlLogix: RSLogix/Studio 5000 Service edition or
 RSLinx Classic Lite or better, included with RSLogix/Studio 5000
 Windows-based PC
1. Connecting to Controllers via Ethernet

 Connect RJ45 cable to controller and Ethernet port on PC or Ethernet card in the Rack (ControlLogix,
CompactLogix L4x).
  PC must be on same network (IP Address range) as the controller. For example, if the IP address of the controller
is 192.168.1.1 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, the PC must have an IP address of 192.168.1.x, subnet
mask of 255.255.255.0, where x = 0 to 254, and cannot be the same as the controller.
 To change the IP address on your computer’s Ethernet port, follow this article:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15089/windows-change-tcp-ip-settings
 CAUTION! If you set your IP address to one that is already being used on the network, you will cause IP address
conflicts and may knock devices off the network.
 If you do not know your controller’s IP address, see Step 2: Connecting to Controllers via USBbelow.
 If you are connected via Ethernet, skip to Step 3: Establish RSLinx Connection - Ethernetbelow.

2. Connecting to Controllers via USB

 Connect the square end of the USB A-B cable to the USB port on the controller.
 Insert the flat USB end of the cable into a USB port on your computer.
 You should see a message that your computer is installing USB hardware, followed by a message that the Rockwell
USB CIP device was installed successfully.
 You can now connect to the controller using RSLinx, either to obtain/change the unit’s IP address, or to upload the
program in controller memory.

3. Establish RSLinx Connection - Ethernet

 Launch RSLinx Classic, Start > All Programs > Rockwell Software > RSLinx > RSLinx Classic.
 Go to Communications > Configure Drivers.
 Under Available Driver Types, select "EtherNet/IP Driver" and click the "add new" button.
 Optionally, give the driver a name, or select "OK" to use the default name (typically AB_ETHIP-1).
 The "Configure driver: AB_ETHIP-1" window will pop up.
 Keep the selection "Windows Default", or you can select the description that matches your Ethernet card in your
PC. Click OK.
 In the Configure Drivers window, click the Close button.
 If the RSWho window is not already open, open it by going to Communications > RS Who.
 In RSWho, expand the AB_ETHIP-1 driver by clicking the plus symbol to the left.
 If your settings are correct, the controller should appear in the right-hand side of the RSWho window.
 Minimize RSLinx Classic.

Establish RSLinx Connection - USB

 Launch RSLinx Classic, usually Start > All Programs > Rockwell Software > RSLinx > RSLinx Classic
 If the RSWho (network browser) window is not open, go to Communications > RSWho.
 In RSWho, expand the USB driver by clicking the plus (+) symbol to the left.
 Your Controller should show up under the USB Driver.
 From here, you can directly upload your program (skip to step 5), or find/change your controller’s IP Address.

 To see which version of firmware is in the controller, right click on the controller under the USB driver and
select "Device Properties".
 To see or change the IP address of the controller, right click on the controller and select "Module
Configuration".
 From the "Module Configuration" Screen, select the "Port Configuration" tab. From here you can note down
the IP address.
Launch Studio 5000 – usually in Start Menu (for firmware version 21 and up). If your controller is running
firmware version 20 or below, skip to Step 6: Launch RSLogix 5000.
 The Studio 5000 launcher page will open.
 Under "Open", select "From Upload" – if you’re using version 29, see note.
  NOTE: Version 29 does not have an open "From Upload". You must create a new project, go online with the
controller, and upload the program from the controller.
 The "Upload from Controller or Terminal"window will open.
 Expand the EtherNet/IP driver (usually AB_ETHIP-1, Ethernet) by clicking the plus (+) sign next to it.
 Navigate to the controller you wish to upgrade. If you have a rack or chassis-based network card, you will need to
further expand it by clicking the plus sign next to it, until you can highlight the controller.
 The upload button will become active, click Upload.
 Studio 5000 Logix Designer will launch, and the "Connected to Upload" window will open.
 Click the "Select File" button.
 The "Enter New or Select Existing File" window will open. Browse to where you would like to save the
file, enter a file name, and hit the "Select" button.
 Logix will respond "Create Project File ‘xxxxx.ACD’ and upload?" Select Yes.
 You have now uploaded and saved your controller program, and can safely disconnect from the controller.
Launch RSLogix 5000 - usually Start > All Programs > Rockwell Software > RSLogix 5000
 Go to "Communications" and select "Who Active".
 The RSLinx Who Active browser will pop up.
 Expand the EtherNet/IP driver (usually AB_ETHIP-1, Ethernet) by clicking the plus (+) sign next to it.
 Navigate to the controller you wish to upgrade. If you have a rack or chassis-based network card, you will need to
further expand it by clicking the plus (+) sign next to it, until you can highlight the controller.
 The upload button will become active, click Upload.
 The "Connected to Upload" window will appear. RSLogix will ask you to find the corresponding offline project
file. Let’s assume you are backing up the file because you do not have an offline file.
 Click "Select File".
 Type in a file name and select where to save the file.
 RdSLogix will respond "Create project file ‘xxxxx.ACD’ and upload?".
 Click yes.
 The controller will upload the file to the PC, and save it in the directory you selected. You will now be online with
the controller, which means you are looking at what the controller is doing in real time, and you can make on-line
edits, change values, etc.
 The software may ask if you want to change to "Run" mode, which is the mode where the controller is scanning its
I/O, executing the program logic, and then enabling outputs and sending any data or messages. Otherwise, you can
change the mode by clicking the controller mode dropdown in the upper left corner.
 Disconnect the programming cable and exit RSLogix 5000.