Determine AB firmware

[the_msp]

I don't use AB much these days, and any installs I've done in years past have been setup by myself from scratch, so I've always known what firmware was used.

Heading down to a site soon that has a CPX. I think from memory if you browse the subnet with RsLinx it can tell you? Can someone confirm, or advise another way.

There is a SCADA PC (not sure what SCADA), so hoping to get the subnet from that and IP scan to get the PLC IP.

 

[MikeyN]

It looks like if you browse to the device in RSLinx, right click on the device icon, and then choose Device Properties, it does tell you the firmware version.

 

[Yacineg]

The firmware version can also be checked from the upload window. After selecting the PLC, the firmware version will be shown in the bottom left corner of the upload window.

 

[the_msp]

Thanks. I have V30 installed. If it turns out to be e.g. V28, can I upload into V30? Just won't be able to download again without flashing the PLC then to V30.

 

[dmroeder]

Thanks. I have V30 installed. If it turns out to be e.g. V28, can I upload into V30? Just won't be able to download again without flashing the PLC then to V30.

Unfortunately no. Rockwell has never heard of backwards compatibility. You must install v28. The "good news" is that you can install multiple major revisions simultaneously. Hopefully installing an older version after installing a newer one won't give you fits.

If v28 is an obstacle for you, we can go into your options. I'll leave them out for now.

 

[plvlce]

Pretty sure it will usually let you upload but it will automatically convert it to whatever (later) version you have if you don't have the exact match.

You won't be able to go online though, and as you note you can't download without updating the firmware. So really all you gain from it is an offline copy with whatever tag values the machine had at time of upload.

 

[the_msp]

Yep that's grand, I'm quoting to upgrade it so an offline copy is fine on the day.

 

[OkiePC]

I always love it when I encounter a version not installed and I only have a mobile hotspot for internet. Try downloading a 5gb package from RA that way.

 

[dmroeder]

I always love it when I encounter a version not installed and I only have a mobile hotspot for internet. Try downloading a 5gb package from RA that way.

I downloaded/installed v34 last week. It's an absolute pig. Unpacked it's ~9GB. Needed ~15GB to install.