C-Plug (Configuration Plug) - Siemens SCALANCE X-300 Manual

4.4

C-PLUG (configuration plug)

CAUTION
DO NOT REMOVE C-PLUG WHILE POWER IS ON
The C-PLUG may only be removed or inserted when the power supply to the device is
turned off.
In a device with a varnished printed circuit board, you may only use a C-PLUG with a
varnished board.
Area of application
The C-PLUG is an exchangeable medium for storage of the configuration data of the IE
Switch and ships with the product. This means that the configuration data remains available
if the IE Switch is replaced.
How it works
Power is supplied by the IE Switch. The C-PLUG retains all data permanently when the
power is turned off.
If an empty C-PLUG (factory settings or deleted with the Clean function) is inserted, all the
configuration data of the IE Switch is saved to it automatically when the device starts up.
Changes to the configuration during operation without operator intervention are saved on the
C-PLUG if this is in the "ACCEPTED" status.
An IE Switch with an accepted C-PLUG inserted uses the configuration data of the C-PLUG
automatically when it starts up. Acceptance is possible only when the data was written by a
compatible device type.
This allows an IE Switch to be replaced quickly and simply. The C-PLUG is taken from the
failed component and inserted in the replacement. The first time it is started up, the
replacement device has the same configuration as the failed device except for the MAC
address set by the vendor.
Diagnostics
Inserting a C-PLUG that does not contain the configuration of a compatible device type,
accidentally removing the C-PLUG or general malfunctions of the C-PLUG are signaled by
the diagnostics mechanisms of the IE Switch (LEDs, WEB-based management, SNMP, CLI
and PROFINET diagnostics).
SCALANCE X-300
Operating Instructions, 10/2010, A5E01113043-10
Description of the device
4.4 C-PLUG (configuration plug)
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