These release notes are for Modbus TCP/IP VIM Firmware v3.9.0.

These release notes are for the ModbusTCP VIM firmware v3.9.0. The previous released firmware version is v3.8.8. The flash procedure is documented in the product manual. This version of the firmware is identical to the released firmware v3.8.8, with functionality enhancements and corrected defects as noted below.

Recommended upgrade for

• Modbus TCP Redundant VIM applications using firmware versions at or prior to v3.8.8.
• Modbus TCP Simplex VIM applications using firmware versions at or prior to v3.8.8.

New Features

• Support for DeltaV v11.3 using the Virtual IO Module or Emerson Ethernet IO Card.  VIMNet Explorer v9.1.2.23 or later must be used when configuring this driver for use with DeltaV v11.3.

• On Demand Scan and Extended Timeout Time

  By default, the VIM performs dataset scans as fast as the network request/response allows. All datasets of each device are continuously scanned in a cycle. All devices are scanned simultaneously.

  The port level Message Timeout value, in milliseconds, is configured to discard outstanding data requests to non-response devices. However, the maximum time value can be 25500ms. In some cases, this time value is insufficient. Consequently, an extended timeout time is required.

  A new scan control mechanism has been implemented to allow a DeltaV Control Module to perform dataset scans, on demand, by writing to a special scan control dataset. The scan control dataset is not part of the VIM scan. It affects Input and Output with Readback datasets only. That is, only the reading of field data is controlled by this dataset. If not configured, all VIM scans work by default, as described above. If the dataset is configured, then field reads are controlled.

  Write requests from DeltaV to the field devices are always handled by exception, and are not a part of the above scan mechanism. Writes have priority over reads. For Output with Readback datasets, only the field read part is controlled by the above mechanism.

  The scan control dataset is configured as follows:

  Any dataset out of the 128 available may be configured to be the scan control dataset. The dataset is configured as follows:

  Field	Configuration Setting
  Data Direction	Output with Readback
  DeltaV Data Type	16-Bit Unsigned Integer
  Device Data Type	8
  Start Address	0
  Number of Values	24
  Special Data Values (1 to 5)	0, 0, 0, 0, 0

  Registers 1-8 are designated for scan control trigger bits; registers 9-16 are designated to specify if a dataset is to be scanned based on scan control; and registers 17-24 are designated to hold the extended timeout value.

  R1-R8 are used as a bit mask. A bit set to 1 by the DeltaV Control Module triggers scan of the corresponding dataset. On normal scan completion or a timeout, the bit is reset to 0. Bit 1 of the register corresponds to Dataset 1, and bit 16 corresponds to Dataset 16. Bits corresponding to unconfigured datasets are ignored.

  Excluding the scan control dataset, all remaining 127 datasets are controlled.

  Register	Use
  R1	Controls all 16 datasets in Simplex C57 Port 1 or C61 Port 1, and Redundant C57/58 Port 1.
  R2	Controls all 16 datasets in Simplex C57 Port 2 or C61 Port 2, and Redundant C57/58 Port 2.
  R3	Controls all 16 datasets in Simplex C58 Port1 or C62 Port 1, and Redundant C59/60 Port 1.
  R4	Controls all 16 datasets in Simplex C58 Port 2 or C62 Port 2, and Redundant C59/60 Port 2.
  R5	Controls all 16 datasets in Simplex C59 Port 1 or C63 Port 1, and Redundant C61/62 Port 1.
  R6	Controls all 16 datasets in Simplex C59 Port 2 or C63 Port 2, and Redundant C61/62 Port 2.
  R7	Controls all 16 datasets in Simplex C60 Port 1 or C64 Port 1, and Redundant C63/64 Port 1.
  R8	Controls all 16 datasets in Simplex C60 Port 2 or C64 Port 2, and Redundant C63/64 Port 2.

  R9-R16 are a bit mask specifying if a dataset is part of the scan control mechanism. A bit value of 0 implies that the corresponding dataset is not part of scan control. Such a dataset will be scanned continuously. If a bit is set to 1, then the dataset will be scanned only if the corresponding bit in registers R1-8 is also set. The VIM does not change the value of registers R9-R16.

  Register	Use
  R9	Enables/Disables scan control of all 16 datasets in Simplex C57 Port 1 or C61 Port 1, and Redundant C57/58 Port 1.
  R10	Enables/Disables scan control of all 16 datasets in Simplex C57 Port 2 or C61 Port 2, and Redundant C57/58 Port 2.
  R11	Enables/Disables scan control of all 16 datasets in Simplex C58 Port1 or C62 Port 1, and Redundant C59/60 Port 1.
  R12	Enables/Disables scan control of all 16 datasets in Simplex C58 Port 2 or C62 Port 2, and Redundant C59/60 Port 2.
  R13	Enables/Disables scan control of all 16 datasets in Simplex C59 Port 1 or C63 Port 1, and Redundant C61/62 Port 1.
  R14	Enables/Disables scan control of all 16 datasets in Simplex C59 Port 2 or C63 Port 2, and Redundant C61/62 Port 2.
  R15	Enables/Disables scan control of all 16 datasets in Simplex C60 Port 1 or C64 Port 1, and Redundant C63/64 Port 1.
  R16	Enables/Disables scan control of all 16 datasets in Simplex C60 Port 2 or C64 Port 2, and Redundant C63/64 Port 2.

  For R17-R24, a non-zero number specifies the message timeout time value to be used, instead of the default port level timeout. The time units are 5 seconds per count. If the register contains a 2, then all datasets under the corresponding port will timeout after 10 seconds. The maximum value can be 65535, which amounts to a timeout of 91 hours.

  Register	Use
  R17	Timeout value for Simplex C57 Port 1 or C61 Port 1, and Redundant C57/58 Port 1.
  R18	Timeout value for Simplex C57 Port 2 or C61 Port 2, and Redundant C57/58 Port 2.
  R19	Timeout value for Simplex C58 Port1 or C62 Port 1, and Redundant C59/60 Port 1.
  R20	Timeout value for Simplex C58 Port 2 or C62 Port 2, and Redundant C59/60 Port 2.
  R21	Timeout value for Simplex C59 Port 1 or C63 Port 1, and Redundant C61/62 Port 1.
  R22	Timeout value for Simplex C59 Port 2 or C63 Port 2, and Redundant C61/62 Port 2.
  R23	Timeout value for Simplex C60 Port 1 or C64 Port 1, and Redundant C63/64 Port 1.
  R24	Timeout value for Simplex C60 Port 2 or C64 Port 2, and Redundant C63/64 Port 2.

Corrections

• None