The data collector for a PLC 5 or SLC and how to connect them to modern equipment

Ever try to connect FactoryTalk Linx to an old Rockwell PLC through Ethernet. I still have several in my plant and we were trying to implement a historian with a data collector. I thought it would be a simple conversion through a serial to Ethernet converter from the DF1 port, no…not so easy. Our setup was the new FT Linx on a Windows 10 workstation connected to all the plant PLCs on the same subnet. All the 1756 PLCs and CompactLogix PLCs connected without issue (after naming and setup which I think will be another post). So to start this….if you have old Allen Bradley stuff and haven’t purchased a communications software just pause before you purchase FT Linx. I was told it would work on all our Allen Bradley PLCs but after hours of Allen Bradley tech assistance we could not consistently pull any data from the tags in our equipment. We were told the 1761 Net-ENI would allow communications to the PLC – 5s with FT View but were not successful. The way we ended up connecting to the legacy hardware was with RSLogix Classic OPC server which we added to the FT Linx box (which is not supposed to work according to AB). We also had to use a 1756-DHRIO card in one of our ControlLogix PLCs and connect it to the DH+ line running through one of the cabinets (serious undertaking if the old PLCs are a long ways out). When we installed the card you could see the Control Logic network card in RS Linx, just hit the plus by the card just the same as if you where looking for the Controller under that card. The navigation tree reveals all the contents of the back pane the network card is installed in. Find the DH+ card in the tree then expand it by clicking the plus. Now you should see channel A and channel B. If you put the DH+ line in the right place, numbered it correctly, and have your resistance set up right (whew…) you should see your ancient PLCs under the channel you connected them to. From here…Right click them and Select Create Topic. This will take you to the Topic Configuration screen. Name your PLC something you will remember and click the Apply button. Accept your changes then click Done. Hopefully this helps someone out there…if you have any questions submit a comment and I will answer the best to my knowledge. Thank you for reading, Luke.