Does the API support Ethernet for Fusion Controllers?

Software
1

I’ve been using fusion controllers with USB daily for about 2 years now and just discovered that when some of the docs floating around say “use the api,” that there is, in fact, a .dll to use. I couldn’t find that .dll years ago and just formatted my messages manually…

Regardless, I’m now looking at migrating to tcp ethernet comms. I tried to use the api, but the only examples I found pop up a box for serial comms on setup. Digging through the available properties and methods, I see nothing that indicates this helps me with ethernet. Does the api have any support for tcp ethernet?

I am brand new to ethernet and was unaware that serial ports were used over it. Am I correct in assuming that there is no difference in protocol from USB vs ethernet and these just imply the mediums used to transport the serial stream?

Any C# examples with ethernet usage?

Thanks, Corey

2

Hi, in most cases when the documentation refers to using the API it is referring to API encoding your command bytes.

This API is the 170 [length] [commandByte1] [commandByte2] [commandByte3] [checksum] format.

Your existing software should only need to change minimally as instead of opening a Serial port and sending the commands you open a TCP socket and send the exact same commands.

I don’t know that we have anything for C# outside of the .dll you’ve already found, but if it will help I wrote a library in Python a while back so you can see how a socket connection works: https://github.com/ncd-io/Industrial-Relay-Control

Under examples there will be a Network-Relay-Example.py file.

3

Thanks for the response, Jacob.

I’ll take a look at the library you referenced and make the necessary changes then. Glad to hear that it’s not a major overhaul.

Thanks!