Discovering and adding NrioModules

In Nrio architecture, NrioModules act as device-level components. An Nrio16Module represents an I/O processor, servicing up to 16 I/O points, and the Nrio34Module services up to 34 I/O points.

Depending on the JACE platform and installed devices, the number of NrioModules to be discovered varies:

  • An M2mIoNetwork for an M2M JACE’s (onboard) I/O has only a single Nrio16Module.
  • An NrioNetwork for remote I/O module (devices) connected to a specific RS-485 bus should discover the same number of NrioModules as I/O devices on that bus.
     
    NOTE: The limit for remote I/O module (devices) connected to a specific RS-485 bus is 16 modules on the same bus. The IO–R–16 counts as 1 module, and the IO–R–34 counts as 2 modules.
     

The following table lists component and applicable hardware:

NrioModule component Used to model
LocalIo16 16 onboard I/O points of an M2M JACE
Nrio16Module 16 I/O points on a remote RS-485 I/O module (T-IO-16-485) of a JACE-7 series
Nrio16Module 16 I/O points on remote RS-485 I/O module (IO–R–16) of a JACE-8000
Nrio34Module 34 I/O points on remote RS-485 I/O module (IO–R–34) of a JACE-8000


Perform the following steps:
  1. Double-click the NrioNetwork to display the Nrio Device Manager view.

    An alternative method is right-clicking the NrioNetwork and select Views > Nrio Device Manager).

  2. Click the Discover button to launch an Nrio Discovery job.

    A progress bar appears at the top of the view, and updates as the discovery occurs.

  3. When the discovery job completes, discovered NrioModules are listed in the top pane of the view, in the Discovered table. The bottom pane, labeled Database, is a table of Nrio16Modules that are currently mapped into the station. Initially (unless offline programming occurred), this pane will be blank.
     
    NOTE: Discovered NrioModules each have an available right-click Wink action, which if invoked causes the first relay output on that I/O to cycle On and Off for 10 seconds (by default). In cases where multiple NrioModules are discovered, such as with RS-485 connected remote I/O modules, this is available to identify the association of each discovered NrioModule with a specific I/O module device. As you cannot manually edit the NrioModule’s address, even after adding it to the database, using Wink is particularly important if you previously added NrioModules offline (Added Offline Hardware), and are using the Match feature. After adding an NrioModule, note that the Wink action is still available on the component.
     
  4. Click to select all discovered Nrio16Modules, then click the Add button.

    The Add dialog box appears, in which you can enter a Description for each one, or you can enter descriptions at a later time.

  5. Click OK to add the Nrio16Module(s) to your station.
     
    NOTE: If online with the station, but I/O devices are not yet available, you can use the Add Offline Hardware function of the Nrio Device Manager to add Nrio16Modules. You can then do a point discover under each Nrio16Module, and add points offline.
     
Once the discovered modules are added, you can proceed to create Nrio proxy points.