IO-Link Masters Web Server from AutomationDirect

IO-Link Masters are at the heart of any system using IO-Link communication. If you are new to IO-Link Masters or IO-Link in general, take a look at the videos in AutomationDirect’s growing IO-Link playlist, linked in the description. You’ll find a ton of information there, from bedrock basics on up. In this video, we will be looking at two of the IO-Link masters available at AutomationDirect.com – specifically, at accessing these devices for monitoring and configuration through their built-in web server. To access the web interface, open one of the supported web browsers on a computer with a network connection to the IO-Link Master and enter the Master’s IP address. You will land on the Status tab of the IO-Link Master's web page. On the left side of the screen, you’ll find a system tree showing the IO-Link Master and all connected field devices. Below the devices are a few more choices - settings, administration, and sign-in options. Without signing in, you’ll be logged in as a Guest. Connected this way, you’ll be able to monitor status and see a lot of information, but you will not be able to make any configuration changes. To access all the capabilities of the web server, you’ll need to log in. By default, the Username is “admin” and the Password is “private.” Of course, if your IO-Link Master has previously been configured, you’ll need to use the current login info. This will log you in as an administrator, giving you full access to set up new users at different access levels and assign passwords, etc. in the User Administration section. Being logged in, depending on the access level, allows a user to make changes and update certain settings and parameters which a Guest can only view. In the Settings / Maintenance section users signed in with Admin or Maintenance rights can update the IO-Link Master’s IP address – click here for a video explaining that procedure –enter maintenance information or initiate a factory reset. Users signed in as Guest may only view these settings. Selecting the IO-Link Master itself in the system tree opens the IO-Link Master page, with four tabs. Each of these tabs provides access to information and various settings of the Master itself. Under Status, for example, you will find Device Status as well as various categories of information. On the Parameters tab, you’ll be able to view and update the device configuration among other things. There is a lot to see here – for more information on all of these settings and parameters, see the user manual linked in the description below. Note that the 2 models have different capabilities, so be sure to refer to the correct manual for your model. Also in the system tree, you’ll find entries for each of the IO-Link Master’s ports, detailing the connected field devices. Selecting one of these ports opens a page specific to that port, with 5 different tabs. In these tabs, a user can access all of the status and configuration for the port, including device information, port pin configuration, process data, and even advanced features like index service data unit communication information. Again, there is a ton of possibility here. See the appropriate IO-Link Master user manual below for all of the details. As you can see, the IO-Link Masters’ built in web server is a very powerful configuration and monitoring tool for users of these versatile devices. For much more on IO-Link capabilities and products carried by AutomationDirect, be sure to check out our IO-Link videos collection. Click here for the video playlist. Click here for IO-Link products. Click here to subscribe to AutomationDirect’s YouTube channel.