ACCON NetLink PRO Compact - Ethernet adapter for SIMATIC S7-200/ -300/-400

ACCON NetLink PRO Compact is a compact adapter for connecting SIEMENS SIMATIC S7-200 / S7-300 / S7-400 PLCs and SIEMENS HMI panels to an Ethernet network. It enables programming and data acquisition via MPI, PPI, and PROFIBUS protocols and represents a cost-effective alternative to a SIMATIC NET communication processor. It is especially suitable for older control systems without an Ethernet interface that need to be quickly connected to a company network or made accessible to higher-level applications.

Why choose ACCON NetLink PRO Compact?

• Connects older SIMATIC S7-200 / S7-300 / S7-400 PLCs to an Ethernet network without a communication processor
• Does not require changes to the STEP7 / TIA Portal project or modifications to the HW installation
• Connects directly to the MPI interface and keeps access available through the pass-through PG connector
• Enables PLC programming and permanent data acquisition via Ethernet
• Powered directly from the PLC or externally by 24 VDC

Main features

• Support for PPI, MPI, and PROFIBUS communication protocols
• Communication via 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet
• Automatic baud rate detection
• Up to 16 simultaneous TCP/IP connections
• Up to 32 connections on the MPI / PROFIBUS side
• Web interface for basic adapter configuration

Typical applications

• Programming and servicing SIMATIC S7-200 / S7-300 / S7-400 PLCs via Ethernet
• Permanent data acquisition from PLCs to an OPC server or SCADA application
• Connecting older SIMATIC S7 systems without an Ethernet interface to a company network
• Connecting SIEMENS PLCs and HMI panels via Ethernet
• Engineering and communication with HMI panels in WinCC flexible
• Remote access to PLCs via VPN
• Backup of PLC programs in STEP7 / TIA Portal

How the connection works

The adapter connects directly to the MPI / PPI / PROFIBUS interface on a PLC or HMI panel and makes the device accessible via Ethernet. Using PG/PC Interface drivers, it can be configured in STEP7, TIA Portal, WinCC, or ProTool/Pro as a communication interface between the computer and the control system. It is also suitable for local programming interventions when you need to quickly connect to a PLC, make the necessary changes, and disconnect again.

Direct connection to PC:

Connection via Ethernet network:

Programming SIMATIC S7-200, S7-300, and S7-400 PLCs via Ethernet

Simply connect the ACCON NetLink PRO Compact adapter to an available MPI / PPI / PROFIBUS port and it will automatically detect the communication type and baud rate. Then you need to set the IP address in both the adapter and the computer, install and configure the drivers in PG/PC Interface, and the adapter is ready for use. In STEP7 / TIA Portal, just click the “Scan for accessible devices” icon and, if everything is set correctly, you will see the addresses of the MASTER stations in the network and can start working.

Data acquisition from SIMATIC S7-200, S7-300, and S7-400 PLCs via Ethernet

ACCON NetLink PRO Compact is suitable not only for programming, but also for permanent data acquisition from PLCs to applications such as OPC servers. At FOXON, we use it for example together with Kepware Server and its Siemens Suite or Siemens Plus Suite drivers. With older SIEMENS S7 control systems, it is often difficult to add a SIMATIC NET HW card because there may not be enough space in the assembly or it may not be possible to modify the PLC HW project. Instead, simply connect the ACCON NetLink PRO Compact converter to the MPI / PB port of the PLC and the connection is practically ready. There is no need to modify the project or add a communication processor; in most cases, the adapter is powered directly from the PLC port, or it can be powered externally from a 24 VDC source.

Bidirectional communication

The adapter supports bidirectional data transfer, so it enables not only reading values from the PLC, but also writing data back to the control system. It is therefore suitable for applications where the PLC needs not only to be monitored, but also actively written to with values or parameters.

Automatic bus type and baud rate detection

The adapter supports automatic detection of the communication protocol and baud rate (up to 12 Mbit/s on the PROFIBUS side). This makes commissioning easier, especially in older installations where it can be difficult to find the exact communication parameters. If needed, the parameters can also be adjusted manually via the web interface or through PG/PC Interface.

In addition to easy commissioning, it also offers sufficient communication capacity for parallel operation of multiple connections and applications. It supports up to 32 connections on the MPI / PROFIBUS side and up to 16 simultaneous TCP/IP connections via Ethernet, so it can be used at the same time, for example, for an OPC server, STEP7, TIA Portal, or backup software.

Power supply of the converter

ACCON NetLink PRO Compact is usually powered directly from the PLC port to which it is connected (95 % of devices provide this power supply). If the required voltage is not available on the port, it can also be powered externally from a 24 VDC source.

Remote PLC programming via VPN

The adapter can also be used for remote access to PLCs via a VPN router. At FOXON, we often use it with Ewon Cosy+ routers (remote management) or Ewon Flexy 205 routers (remote management, data acquisition, visualization). This combination enables quick access to the MPI / PPI / PROFIBUS serial ports (mostly older SIMATIC S7-300/-400 systems) and also to the Ethernet interfaces of newer SIMATIC S7-1200/-1500 systems. In neither case is it necessary to modify the PLC HW project.

Backup of S7-300 / S7-400 PLCs

The adapter is also suitable for manual and automatic PLC program backups. For older systems, where up-to-date backups are often missing, it provides a simple way to connect the PLC and perform regular program archiving without the need to add additional communication hardware.

Drivers for STEP7, TIA Portal, MicroWIN, ProTool, and WinCC

Drivers are available for the PG/PC Interface of SIEMENS programs. The drivers are freely available in the Downloads tab and allow quick adapter setup for use in standard engineering and visualization tools.

PG/PC Interface setup

After connecting the adapter to the PLC or HMI, open PG/PC Interface and select the appropriate driver according to the interface.

In the next step, search for your adapter and set the adapter IP address according to the IP range of your computer.

Select the configured adapter from the adapter list (you can have multiple configurations saved).

Click the Diagnostics button, check the Read MLFB number option, and click the Read button. If you see the converter address (e.g. 12) and the PLC/HMI address (e.g. 2), the pairing was successful. Otherwise, an error window will appear and you need to correct the configuration.

Example of remote connection to an S7-300 PLC via an Ewon router and ACCON NetLink PRO Compact adapter