The Second step in Cloud Notify is setting up a data source. This is done by selecting a communication protocol and defining the variables. This article shows you how to do this for communication via the LoggerAPI protocol.

• Select a communication protocol
• Add variable
• Connect to the StrideLinx router and send data
• Test variables
• Manage variables

Select a communication protocol

You first have to select a communication protocol. This is the protocol that the StrideLinx router will use to communicate with the PLC.

• Go to the StrideLinx Cloud Fleet Manager app, which is accessible from the Apps menu in the top right corner if you are currently in a different StrideLinx Cloud app.
• Open the Main menu , go to Devices , and select the concerning device.
• Click on the Add a serviceicon in the left menu, select [Data source], and then select [LoggerAPI].
• Enter the requested information (details below) and click on [Add].

Add variables

Once you've added a data source and selected a communication protocol, you can start adding variables. You can do this by following the steps below:

• Expand the Data source service and go to [Variables].
• You can now choose to:
  • Manually add new variables
  • Import variables from a file (or device)

Manually add new variables

• Click on [Add variable] in the bottom right corner.
• Enter the requested information (details below) and click on [Add].

You have now made the changes in the StrideLinx Cloud, but these are not yet active in your device. You will need to push your changes to your device for them to take effect. During this next step, your device may temporarily disconnect and LAN communication may be temporarily interrupted . This may take a minute.

• Click [Push config to device] in the top right corner.

Import variables from a file (or device)

You can easily and effortlessly copy variables from one device to another by exporting the concerning variables (view the "Manage variables" part of this article) and then importing them in your new device. Alternatively, you can manually prepare your variables in the required CSV format to load them all at once into your configurator. The CSV file structure is explained in our Import variables article.

• Click on [Import from CSV-file] in the top right corner of the screen.
• Select a CSV file to import and click on [Open].

You have now made the changes in the StrideLinx Cloud, but these are not yet active in your device. You will need to push your changes to your device for them to take effect. During this next step, your device may temporarily disconnect and LAN communication may be temporarily interrupted . This may take a minute.

• Click [Push config to device] in the top right corner.

Connect to the StrideLinx router and send data

The StrideLinx router is now listening and waiting for data. From the connected PLC you'll now need to connect to the StrideLinx router and then send the data at the moments you want to.

LoggerAPI is a line based protocol where each line is terminated by a newline (\n), carriage
return (\r), or a combination. Newlines are not allowed in arguments unless escaped. Arguments may be separated by several spaces, though recommended is the absolute minimum; no spaces if another separator was used, or one space if the space is the separator.

• Connect to the StrideLinx router
• Send data to the StrideLinx router
• Close the connection

We also have a brief overview of possible errors you may encounter:

• Common errors

Connect to the StrideLinx router

The StrideLinx router is listening on port 9230 for a TCP connection. The exact steps on how to establish a TCP connection from your PLC may differ per manufacturer. If you're unsure whether your PLC support this, or how you can do this, please contact your manufacturer.

• Establish a TCP connection from your PLC to the StrideLinx router's LAN IP address on port 9230. For example, using netcat:
  

  netcat 192.168.140.1 9230

If all went well, you should see the StrideLinx router's reply "HELO".

Now that you have a TCP connection, you need to connect to the data source that you created. To do so you'll need to know the IP address and password you entered when you created the data source.

• Establish a connection to the data source, using the IP address and password you entered for the data source earlier, using the following syntax:
  

  DEVC <data source IP addres> <data source password>

  For example:
  

  DEVC 192.168.140.10 1234

If all went well, you should see the StrideLinx router's reply "DEVC OK".

Send data to the StrideLinx router

Now that you're connected, you can start sending data. To do so, you'll need to know the variable's address that you chose when you created the variable in the StrideLinx Cloud.

• Send data to the StrideLinx router using syntax:
  

  @<address>=<value>

The syntax of <value> differs per data type. An overview including examples is shown below.

@bool=f

@int=153

@float=152.7

@string=6,Halted

Close the connection

To close the connection you can use the EXIT command:

EXIT

Common errors

Below is an overview of common errors that you may encounter accompanied by a description.

Test variables

The test utility is used to check if all the added variables are set correctly. It displays each variable's current value if everything is configured correctly and the PLC sends data to the StrideLinx router. If not, the values will stay empty. The test utility will attempt to update values every 0.5 seconds. Please follow the steps below to test your variables.

• Expand the Data source service, go to [Variables], and click on [Run test] at the top.

A connection will now be set up to stream the data directly to your computer, using:

You will see live values of all variables, if the configuration is set up correctly and the PLC sends data to the StrideLinx router, otherwise the values will stay empty.

Manage variables

You can view all defined variables on the variables page:

• Expand the Data source service and go to [Variables].

You can [Edit] individual variables, [Remove] individual or a selection of variables, and export all or a selection of variables.

Variables can be selected by clicking the checkbox on the left, or you can select them all by clicking the checkbox at the top.