Page History

Devices → Tutorial | Concept | How-to Guide | Reference

Creating Channels

Configuring Device Channels

Device Channels are the pathways for communication between the HMI and the devices in the system. The sections below describe how to create and edit Device Channels on the platform in more detail.

Creating and Editing a Device Channel

To create a new channel, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Devices → Channels
2. Click

1. New Channel or Plus button

Image Removed

To configure or edit an existing channel, follow these steps

1. Access Devices → Channels.
2. Double-click the property you wish to edit on the row corresponding to the channel you want to modify.
3. Edit the property fields.

Image Removed

2. Select protocol from list
3. Configure:
   • Channel Name - Unique identifier
   • Description - Documentation
4. Click OK

Channel Properties

Core Settings

Interface Types

Serial

• RS-232/485 communication
• Single port configuration
• Hardware handshaking options

Multi Serial

• Multiple RS-232 ports
• Port count configuration
• Independent port settings

TCP/IP

• Ethernet/wireless networks
• Connection pooling
• Multiple simultaneous connections

Interface Settings

TCP/IP Settings

Serial Settings

• Baud Rate - Communication speed
• Data Bits - 7 or 8
• Parity - None, Even, Odd
• Stop Bits - 1 or 2
• Handshake - None, RTS/CTS, XON/XOFF

Channel States

emote Channels

Execute Device Module on remote computers for gateway and tunneling applications.

System Requirements

• All computers on same network
• Product installed on all computers
• Firewall ports configured

Configuration

1. Set InitialState to Remote
2. Configure RemoteSettings:

   Primary IP: 192.168.1.100:3100
   Backup IP: 192.168.1.101:3100

Required Ports

Enable in firewall (Inbound/Outbound):

• WebServices: 10108, 80, 3100
• TServer: 3101
• Custom ports as configured

Remote Execution Process

1. TStartup connects to remote TWebServer/IIS
2. TRemoteDevice process launches on both computers
3. Remote computer executes channel operations
4. Data transmitted back to main server

Special Considerations

Runtime Control

Start/Stop Operations

csharp

// Stop channel
@Device.Channel.ChannelName.Stop();

// Start channel
@Device.Channel.ChannelName.Start();

// Stop with timeout
@Device.Channel.ChannelName.Stop(10);

Script Example

csharp

public class ChannelControl 
{
    public void RestartChannel(string channelName)
    {
        // Stop channel
        @Device.Channel[channelName].Stop(5);
        
        // Wait for stop
        Thread.Sleep(1000);
        
        // Start channel
        @Device.Channel[channelName].Start();
    }
}

Common Configurations

Modbus TCP

Protocol: Modbus
Interface: TCP/IP
Port: 502
Node Connection: 1
Timeout: 1000ms

Serial RS-485

Protocol: Modbus RTU
Interface: Serial
Baud: 19200
Data Bits: 8
Parity: Even
Stop Bits: 1

OPC UA

Protocol: OPC UA
Interface: TCP/IP
Port: 4840
Security: Basic256
Max Connections: 5

Best Practices Checklist

•  Name Channels Clearly - Include protocol and purpose
•  Document Settings - Use description field
•  Set Appropriate Timeouts - Match network conditions
•  Configure Connection Limits - Prevent overload
•  Use Remote Channels - For distributed systems
•  Monitor Channel Status - Track communication health
•  Test Before Production - Verify all settings

Troubleshooting

Channel won't start:

• Check InitialState setting
• Verify protocol license
• Review interface configuration
• Check port availability

Communication timeouts:

• Increase timeout value
• Check network latency
• Verify device response time
• Review connection settings

Connection failures:

• Verify IP addresses
• Check firewall rules
• Test network connectivity
• Review security settings

Remote channel issues:

• Verify remote computer online
• Check remote settings
• Test network path
• Review firewall exceptions

Diagnostics

Remote Channel Monitoring

Verification Steps

1. Check TStartup shows "Module Device started remotely"
2. Verify TRemoteDevice process on server
3. Confirm TRemoteDevice on remote computer
4. Monitor command line parameters

Monitor channel performance:

csharp

// Get channel status
bool isConnected = @Device.Channel.ChannelName.IsConnected;

// Check last error
string error = @Device.Channel.ChannelName.LastError;

// Get statistics
int successCount = @Device.Channel.ChannelName.SuccessCount;
int errorCount = @Device.Channel.ChannelName.ErrorCount;

In this section...

Device Channel Properties

The following table describes each available property you can configure when editing a channel:

Field

Description

Protocol Options

Defines the options for this protocol. The options depend on the selected protocol. Check each protocol documentation to guide you.

Interface

Defines the interface type for this channel.

Serial: Use this option to configure the serial parameters for RS232/485 networks.

Multi Serial: Use this for configurations with multiple RS-232 ports.

TCPIP: Use for Ethernet or wireless networks. 

Settings

Defines the settings for this channel. The available values will depend on the interface the channel is using.

For a serial interface, typically keep the defaults.

For a Multi Serial interface, enter the number of RS-232 ports to use in the Ports field.

Node Connection: The number of parallel requests sent to each node (asynchronous communication).  

Accept Unsolicited: Allow to accept unsolicited input from the slave.

Listening Port: The TCP port where the slave device is connected (default is 502). 

Node Connection: The number of parallel requests sent to each node (asynchronous communication). 

Max Simultaneous Connections: The maximum number of concurrent connections. 

Share Node Same IP: Several slaves are connected to a single IP address. For example, RS485/Ethernet Converters. 

Use Single Thread: Use a single thread for the same IP nodes. 

Use Ping To Check Connection: Check for connection before sending a packet.  

Timeout

Defines the timeout options for this channel. Typically, keep the default value.

InitialState

Defines the initial state for this channel, the states can be as follows:

Enabled: The channel is loaded and execution starts when the project starts.

Disabled: The channel is loaded, but does not starts execution going the disabled state.

Remote: The channel is local in a remote Computer defined that the Remote Settings.  See Remote Channels page.

Reserved: The channel is not loaded, it acts as the channel was temporarily deleted from the project.

RemoteSettings

Defines the primary IP and backup IP to configure the remote computer where this channel will run.

DriverVersion

Defines the version of the current driver being used.

Working with Channel

Stop and Start Commands

After creating a solution, you may face issues that compromise the communication with the field device. In such moments, instead of restarting the entire system, you may solve the problem by restarting the channel. You can perform such tasks using scripts, avoiding shutting down the entire system. To do so, follow these steps:

Create a new class using the C# code below, where "XXXX" refers to the name of the channel.

@Device.Channel.XXXX.Stop()
@Device.Channel.XXXX.Start()

You can create a Task or Expression to call this class when needed and do it in other ways that don't use the class.

See the Remote Channels page for more information.

public void Stop()
{
	@Device.Channel.ControlLogix.Stop(10);
}

In this section: