Page Content

1 Introduction
2 Local Area Network (LAN)
- 2.1 Important Information about LAN
3 Direct Connection and Network Switch Connection
4 Add Your Target in RT-LAB on your Windows PC Host
- 4.1 Using the Discover Targets Command to Add a Target
- 4.2 Adding a Target Manually

Introduction

We used the term “switch” but, depending on your facility network set up, it can take the form of a router (combining a network switch) or a network port on the wall connected to a switch.

The simulator communicates with your Windows host computer via the TCP/IP protocol.

The simulator can be connected to your host computer using three possible configurations:

LAN Connection: In this configuration, the host computer communicates with the OPAL-RT simulator through a Local Area Network (LAN).

Using a LAN connection offers several advantages:

Multi-User Access: Multiple host computers running RT-LAB can access a single simulator, enabling collaborative work and shared use of resources.

Scalability: A LAN setup allows the host computer to connect with multiple real-time simulators simultaneously, facilitating complex simulations involving multiple systems.

Ease of Setup: The LAN connection is simple to set up, requiring no reconfiguration on the host computer, which saves time and minimizes potential configuration issues.

Flexibility: A LAN connection integrates easily with existing network infrastructure, allowing seamless communication between the host and the simulator without disrupting other network functions.

This makes the LAN connection the most practical and versatile method for most scenarios.

Direct Ethernet Connection: Users can connect the host computer directly to the simulator using an Ethernet cable. This setup requires reconfiguring the host computer’s network settings for direct communication with the simulator.

Using a direct Ethernet connection offers several advantages:

Simplified Network Environment: Without relying on a broader network, this method reduces dependencies on IT infrastructure, avoiding potential network-related issues such as DHCP conflicts or firewall restrictions.

Dedicated Connection: A direct connection eliminates any potential network traffic or latency issues caused by other devices, ensuring faster and more reliable communication between the host computer and the simulator.

Network Switch Connection: The simulator and host computer can be connected to the same network switch, without requiring a connection to a broader LAN. Unless the network device has DHCP server capabilities, like a router or a managed switch with built-in DHCP server features, this setup requires reconfiguring the host computer’s network settings for direct communication with the simulator.

Using a network switch connection offers several advantages:

Simplified Network Environment: Without relying on a broader network, this method reduces dependencies on IT infrastructure, avoiding potential network-related issues such as DHCP conflicts or firewall restrictions.

Multi-User Access: Multiple host computers running RT-LAB can access a single simulator, enabling collaborative work and shared use of resources. Note that reconfiguring the host computers' network settings is required.

Local Area Network (LAN)

Note: Switches installed in racks provided by OPAL-RT are unmanaged switches. In other words, they are not capable of automatically assigning IP addresses.

Use the Ethernet cable found in the box to connect your OPAL-RT simulator’s Ethernet port to a network switch port.
Warning: Do not use just any Ethernet port, as they are not all connected or configured. Check your System Description Document or online instructions for HIL2GO bundles to use the correct one.
Typically, on the target, this is the first network port on the left, although your System Description Document or online instructions for HIL2GO bundles, will confirm this.
The Ethernet port location may differ for other simulator models, the above instructions still apply.

The network switch in turn is linked to the host computer or the LAN where the intended host is connected

Important Information about LAN

If you want to use your simulator in a LAN environment, the following requirements must be met:

The Windows host computer is able to ping an IP address of the simulator.
The simulator is able to ping an IP address of the Windows host computer.

In order to do so:

the Windows host computer and the target are either in the same subnet
or
Both systems are configured with a default gateway that allows them to communicate together.

Your IT department should be able to help you meet the above requirements.

Direct Connection and Network Switch Connection

The host computer and the OPAL-RT target can be connected directly via their Ethernet adapters or through an unmanaged network switch.

Use the Ethernet cable found in the box to connect the simulator from its Ethernet port to your computer’s LAN port.

Please click the link below to view the direct connection procedure.

In order to establish communication, you must now modify the IP address of your host computer so that it is in the same subnetwork as the simulator.

Click the network icon in your Windows icon tray. The icon looks different if you are using a cabled network (top icon) or a Wi-Fi network (bottom) icon.
Click on Network & Internet Settings.
Click on Change adapter options.
Right-click on the selected Ethernet adapter you are using and click Properties. In this example, it's a wired network named “Local Network”.
Double-click on the line named “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” to open the Properties window.
Select “Use the following IP address.”
Here, we will assign an IP address to your host, so it will be able to detect your simulator.
- The first three sections of the IP address to be entered must match those of your real time simulator.
  The IP address of your simulator is written on a label in front of the simulator, and in your System Description Document (except for HIL2GO bundles).
- For example, if the IP address of the OPAL-RT simulator is 192.168.12.17, then the first three sections of the host IP address must be 192.168.12.XXX.
  For the last section, XXX is a number ranging from 0 to 255. In this example, the number must be different from 17 since this address is used by the simulator in this example.
- The subnet mask should read “255.255.255.0,” its default IP address.
- Click OK. The host computer is now configured to directly communicate to the RT-LAB software through the Ethernet adapter.

Add Your Target in RT-LAB on your Windows PC Host

Using the Discover Targets Command to Add a Target

In the RT-LAB’s Project Explorer, double-click “Double-click to discover targets…” to discover available simulators on your network.

After a short time, the following window should appear and show your simulator.

Edit the name of your simulator as you wish.

Click Finish.

Your simulator is now available in the RT-LAB interface.

Adding a Target Manually

In the Project Explorer, right-click on Targets then select New > New Target to create a new target.

Name your target and enter its IP address.

Click the Ping button to ensure that the target can be detected by RT-LAB.

If pinging the target was successful, click Finish and your target will appear in the Project Explorer.

RT-LAB Documentation

Connecting your Host Computers to your Real-Time Target