An industrial control computer (ICC) is a computer control device specifically designed for industrial production automation. In the process of industrial automated production, the ICC plays the role of a command center, performing operations such as equipment control, data acquisition and processing, and system integration. Network communication is also a crucial component of an ICC, enabling data exchange and control signal transmission between industrial control devices. A primary requirement for ICC network communication is ensuring that each device has a unique IP address. Today, we'll explain how to check the IP address of an ICC.
Check via motherboard BIOS
The IP address information of an industrial control computer is stored in the computer's hardware, specifically in the CMOS chip within the motherboard BIOS. You can view the industrial control computer's IP address by entering the motherboard BIOS. Pressing DEL or F2 during startup will enter the motherboard BIOS interface. In the BIOS settings interface, you can find the "System Information" menu. Clicking it will reveal "LAN MAC Address" and "IP Address." In practical applications, in environments where connecting a mouse and keyboard is inconvenient, you can use the BIOS to determine the IP address information of each device.
View via Control Panel
Industrial control computers have a control panel, which acts as the system's management center. We can access various information about the computer here. Opening the control panel and selecting "Network and Sharing Center" and then "Change adapter settings" will display local connection information, including the network adapter's name, status, IP address, subnet mask, etc. If you want to modify the IP address, you can do so here. Viewing the IP address through the control panel is a common method because it allows for convenient management of various network settings and parameters.
View via command line
The command line is a crucial tool in Windows operating systems, and it's no exception in industrial control computers (ICS). The IP address of an ICS can also be viewed via the command line. Using the command "ipconfig /all" will display information such as the current computer's IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS server. Entering commands in the window will output the corresponding IP address and other information. This method is particularly important in the maintenance and troubleshooting of industrial control computers.
View using third-party tools
Besides the built-in tools and commands mentioned above, there are other software programs that can help us view the IP address of an industrial control computer. These include network operation and control tools, network viewers, and network monitoring tools. These tools can automatically obtain network adapter information, IP address, MAC address, subnet mask, gateway, and other parameters, and quickly present them graphically.
Summarize
Industrial control computers (ICCs) are crucial automated production control devices with a wealth of production control functions. Network communication is a core component of these ICCs. This article introduces four methods for viewing the IP address of an ICC, each with its own characteristics and widely used in practical industrial control systems. In practical applications, different methods can be selected based on the specific scenario to meet various needs and ensure the smooth operation of the production line.
