Hi all,
from time to time, we have been asked whether LLDP is supported on X20 CPU / APC. And the good news is, that it is now supported, via the OPC UA FX Technology Package, starting with TP version 6.3 
.
As part of the functions for topology detection and verification of OPC UA FX networks, the Technology Package now allows the configuration and usage of LLDP (according to IEEE-802.1AB) on B&R controllers and industrial PCs. It can be used not only in conjunction with OPC UA FX, but also stand-alone.
In this article, I’ll try to give a brief description how to use LLDP stand-alone, for those who might be interested or could need this.
Requiremets:
Automation Studio 6.0 or newer
Automation Runtime 6.0 or newer
OPC UA FX Technology Package 6.3 or newer
To use LLDP stand-alone on your X20 CPU / APC running AR:
- Activate the OPC UA FX Technology Package via “Project” / “Change Runtime Versions…”
- Select the OpcUaFx package in Configuration View: “” / “Connectivity” / “OpcUaFx”
- From the Toolbox, add a “Topology Configuration” file to the OpcUaFx package you selected before
- Open the added file and set “LLDP Mode” to “all network interfaces”.
This will enable LLDP on all supported interfaces of the X20 CPU / APC.
Note: Supported interfaces include pure (onboard) Ethernet interfaces. For example, POWERLINK interfaces in Ethernet mode are not supported.
- After transferring the project to the target, LLDP is active. The target can then be recognized by other LLDP capable devices. The information can also be seen, when doing a Wireshark trace on one of the target’s interfaces, in “Management Address” information:
This might also be handy in development scenarios, in case IP addresses are provided by DHCP, not knowing the current IP address(es) of a target to connect.
