Ronan X11CA Software Manual - Manual (Page 12)

Rev 1.3 Series X11CA Computer Annunciators: X11CA Configuration Software User’s Manual
4. X11CA Software Operation
Hardware Control-© 2003 Ronan Engineering 8
4. Configuration Software Operation
The main function of the Configuration Software is easy configuration and testing of the
alarm modules in the X11CA/X16PDM chassis. This function involves two types of
modules: physical module and logical module.
A physical module is an alarm module in the X11CA/X16PDM chassis. Each physical
module has a micro-controller, firmware and a unique system address.
A logical module is a module created dynamically by Configuration Software on the host
computer. Because each logical module is configured for its corresponding physical
module, its address must be same as its physical module. The logical modules and their
properties exist only in the Configuration Software environment where they were created.
Therefore, it is better to save them into a CFG file( *.cfg file) before you exit out of the
Configuration Software environment.
However, logical modules do not have any affect on physical modules until properties of
the logical modules are programmed into their physical modules.
When you request programming a module, the Configuration Software checks your
password. After authentication, it sends the logical module properties to the target physical
module via X11CA-IM. The micro-controller on the target module saves the properties in
its firmware.
When you request retrieving from a physical module, the Configuration Software requests
the target physical module to send its properties. After receiving the address and module
properties from the physical module via X11CA-IM, it places the properties into the logical
module buffer with the matching address.
Once the properties are programmed into the physical module firmware, you can test the
properties of the physical modules by setting the logical module into Run mode, and then
clicking the push buttons on the Main window of the Configuration Software.
To pass control over the physical modules and other devices from Configuration Software
to X11CA-IM, set the switch on X11CA-IM to run mode.