The SIXNET Tool Kit is a Windows software utility that makes it easy to design, configure, and maintain your  SIXNET I/O systems. This all-in-one utility supports all the latest SIXNET hardware from SixTRAK (introduced in 1995) to EtherTRAK-2 I/O (new in 2008).

Use the basic (Level 1) SIXNET Tool Kit to create panel layouts, assign tag names and configure modes of operation for all new SIXNET systems. Then add optional feature sets as needed to provide exporting, datalogging and I/O transfers between stations. With IPm based systems you can also add C programming capability. Optional Add-ons for IPm systems provide even more functionality, including extensive IPm communications security and support for SNMP protocol. 

The SIXNET Tool Kit is special software that has been created to make your job easier. It is a completely integrated suite of project-oriented tools that help you quickly and effectively view the "big picture" as you design, install and maintain your important systems.

• Systems can now be designed, installed and maintained with a single easy-to-use toolkit, which can be launched from a single icon. These "mission oriented" tools are logically organized to save you time.

• Projects with hundreds of stations and with tens of thousands of tags may be viewed as a complete entity. Interactions between system elements are organized for you and then documented.

• Project trees enable you to view the system from multiple viewpoints, including by physical location, by logical (communications tree) connections, and by product type. Data can be filtered and sorted to let you focus on any aspect of the system at any time.

• Setup wizards guide you through step-by-step configuration of SIXNET products and software features.

• Advanced real-time error checking alerts you to potential problems as soon as they appear. Yellow and red highlighting alert you to warning and error conditions. Meaningful explanations are provided. An advanced reporting window traces actions and sequential operations and helps you pinpoint the cause of errors.

• The SIXNET I/O Tool Kit is complete Asset Management software. (Comparable software is supplied by other vendors only with large and expensive DCS systems). Even the least expensive SIXNET system has the power of an expensive DCS. The SIXNET I/O Tool Kit elevates the concept of Scalable Control Systems to a new plateau.
  

• Configure your stations and I/O with point and click ease
• Test your I/O using meaningful tag names and scaling parameters that you define
• Import & Export tag names and other parameters to your HMI / SCADA software
• Define datalogging for SIXNET Controllers or RTUs
• Advanced Datalog Server for client initiated transfers and redundant datalogging
• Configure peer-to-peer I/O transfers to map I/O from one station to another
• And much more . . .

SIXNET TOOL KIT REVISION HISTORY

1. Alarm configuration support added for IPm stations (requires firmware 1. v4.2.1004 and up).
2. IPm2m -113 and -213 station types added.
3. Mini-IPm I/O resource limits no longer restricted to 256 registers.
4. Fixed automatic linking errors.
5. Fixed various window redrawing issues.

Version 3.46 (12/08)

The following improvements were made:

1. IPm2m product line added.
2. EtherTRAK2 analog output module configuration/calibration.
3. IEC-60870-5-101/104 configuration utility added.
4. Red and Yellow help fixed.
5. TCP/IP timeout issue fixed.
6. ET-GT-232-1 RS232 locked at 2400 baud fixed.
7. Backup controller ip address issue fixed.
8. IOmap registration timeout fixed.

Version 3.45 (9/08)

The following improvements were made:

1. EtherTRAK2 firmware extraction from .zip files fixed.
2. USB driver now compatible with Windows Vista.
3. Minor Sixlog changes (removed unnecessary message boxes).

New in Version 3.44 (9/08)

New Features:

1. Auto update feature added – This feature will automatically check for updates on the SIXNET website.

The following improvements have been made:

1. Improved interface for E2/EB-32DI24, 16DI24, 16DIAC, 32DO24, 16DO24, 32AI10V, 32AI20M, 16AI20M.
   
2. Improved firmware loading for all EtherTRAK-2 modules.

New in Version 3.43 (6/08)

New Features

1. Added Bluetree Event Protocol - This driver allows IPm stations to gather status/operational data from Bluetree modems.
2. The tag import feature has been improved (improved speed).
3. Fixed DNP3 bug that prevented it from running on serial ports.

New in Version 3.42 (5/30/08)

New Features

1. Improved Interface for ISaGRAF Open Workbench

New in Version 3.41 (5/19/08)

New Features

1. Support for ISaGRAF Open Workbench

New in Version 3.4 (4/08)

New features

1. Support for EtherTRAK 2 modules.
2. Disable input scanning for IPms.
3. Turn off Error checking.
   

Version 3.3 skipped.

New in Version 3.2 (4/07)

1. Converted the help system to compressed html (CHM) format for Vista compatibility.

Service Pack 1 for Version 3.1 (1/07)
No new features were added. This release consists of a new copy of the file ‘sxcal.dll’. The copy of this file on the January 2007 SIXNET CD was corrupt, resulting in the calibration function not working in the version 3.1 SIXNET I/O Tool Kit.

New in Version 3.1 (1/07)

1. Added support for the Mini-IPm Plus models (VT-MIPM-135 and VT-MIPM-245).

2. Added the ability to easily add or remove ISaGRAF, AGA and/or DNP3 runtime drivers from IPm-based controllers.

The following improvements were made:

1. The "Reset System Com Port" command now works more reliably for IPm-based controllers.

2. The DNP3 configuration utility now successfully configures serial ports for DNP3 protocol as appropriate.

3. Serial port settings are now set correctly for legacy VersaTRAK RTUs and SixTRAK gateways.

4. PPP support for IPm-based controllers has been improved.

5. The ISaGRAF export feature now remembers the last ISaGRAF project exported to.

Service Pack 1 for Version 3.0 (9/06)
No new features were added. The following improvements were made:

1. The new user-adjustable Modbus integer, long and floating point register settings in the version 3.0 Tool Kit were affecting Modbus I/O Transfers, making them run improperly in some systems. The "Native Address" display was also affected where it shouldn’t have been. The adjustable Modbus boundaries now affect Modbus slave communications only.

2. The ISaGRAF export in the version 3.0 Tool Kit was including the station prefix when the "tags from one station only" choice was selected. The station prefix is now properly omitted for that choice.

3. The "Export inputs as ISaGRAF outputs" feature was omitted in the version 3.0 Tool Kit. It has now been restored.

4. The version 3.0 Tool Kit was not able to open the File Operations window on a legacy VersaTRAK RTU. The correction has been made.

5. When opening Tool Kit project files containing legacy VersaTRAK RTUs or SixTRAK gateways, the baud rate settings for the Plant Floor port were sometimes incorrect when using the SIXNET I/O Tool Kit version 2.9 or 3.0. The version 3.0 Tool Kit additionally introduced baud rate errors in some of the other serial port configurations. The correction has been made.

6. The version 3.0 Tool Kit had difficulty loading certain Sixlog configurations to RemoteLog RTUs, legacy VersaTRAK RTUs and SixTRAK gateways. Retrieval of datalog records was sometimes affected as well.

 New in Version 3.0 (7/06)

1. Added the ability to change the allocation of Modbus integer, long and floating point registers. Accessed in the Advanced page of the IPm configuration windows of the SIXNET I/O Tool Kit.

2. Added the ability to swap the word order of Modbus floating point values.

3. Added support for tag names up to 64 characters. Click here for more information.

 New in Version 2.9 (12/05)

1. Added the ability to use IPm file system (flash) memory for Sixlog datalogging.

 New in Version 2.8 (6/05)

1. Added the ability to copy Sixlog configurations from one station to another.

2. Added support for the Micro-VersaTRAK µIPm controller.

 New in Version 2.7 (3/05)

1. Added the ability to configure Ring Switch monitoring in IPm-based controllers.

2. Added exporting of I/O Transfers to a .csv file for documentation purposes.

3. Added importing and exporting of registration files to make the software registration process easier.

4. The Load Advanced and Load All Now choices are included in all registration levels

5. Telnet and FTP capabilities can be enabled with the Remote Access feature set, as well as the IPm Advanced feature set.

6. Added a "User Software" configuration page and corresponding "Load User Software" command that let you automate the loading of application-specific software into IPm controllers.

 Version 2.6 (10/04)

Major New Features

1. Added the optional Citect Datalog Server Add-on.

2. Added the optional DNP3 IPm Add-on.

3. Added a feature for copying I/O Transfers from one station to another.

4. Added the ability to print I/O Transfers.

5. Added support for a "General Passthru" mode for new ET-GT-232 and ET-GT-485 gateways.

6. Added support for the SixTRAK combination I/O module with analog outputs (ST-MIX12884-D).

 Version 2.5 (7/04)

Major New Features

1. Added automatic configuration feature that creates redundant IPm controllers.

2. Added a time-saving Copy Tag Definitions feature.

3. Added support for the Mini-VersaTRAK mIPm and the EtherTRAK combination I/O module (ET-MIX24880-D).

Version 2.4 (3/04)

Major New Features

1. Added automatic linking of SixTRAK I/O modules to IPm, ST-GT-1210 and ET-GT-ST-3 controllers upon configuration load.

2. Added special broadcast commands that allow most SIXNET controllers and I/O modules with serial numbers to be loaded and maintained, even when the serial number in the project file is blank or does not match the serial number written on the station.

3. Added 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 second rates to the discrete input counter feature of the RM-RTU-8440-F.

Version 2.3 (11/03)

Major New Features

1. Added support for the RM-RTU-8440-F RemoteTRAK RTU.

2. Added Ethernet-only loading of IPm firmware, beginning with version 1.6 firmware.

3. Added support for PPP protocol to IPm serial ports. Requires a license for the PPP Add-on.

Version 2.2 (6/03)

Major New Features

1. Added support for the ET-GT-ST-3 Redundant Ethernet gateway, the ST-DI-024-32D I/O module and the ST-MIX-16880-D combination I/O module.

2. IO Transfers have been expanded to include "Block I/O Moves" within an IPm station, and also Modbus Ethernet I/O Transfers. (Note that version 1.7 or newer IPm firmware is required for these new capabilities. This firmware is available for download from www.sixnet.com. The optional SCS feature set of the I/O Tool Kit is also required.)

3. Added a tag name exporting function for the new SIXNET OPC Server (KepServerEx).

4. Control Room IOmap functionality in the I/O Tool Kit is now hidden by default, unless the opened project file already contains IOmap information. The IOmap commands can be turned on if you select the "Show IOmap (Control Room) Features" command from the View menu of the SIXNET I/O Tool Kit. Although IOmap functionality is still supported, it is no longer the driver of choice for new applications. Whenever possible, use the built-in SIXNET driver (if one exists) in your HMI software, use the new SIXNET OPC Server or use a built-in Modbus driver or the Modbus OPC Server.

5. The Tools menu can now be customized to include up to three shortcuts of your choice. These can be other Windows programs, documents or any other program or file that can be run from a command line.

6. The "Files to Load" window for an IPm station now has a Preview button, Up/Down buttons for navigation, and the ability to specify relative paths for files to be included when loading the station.

7. The "Files to Load" window for an IPm station now has a checkbox that allows the I/O Tool Kit to set the I/O register allocation (Resources) in the IPm station when the Operations f14Load f14Load All Now (predefined files) command is used. (Note: either the "SCS" feature set or "Remote Access" feature set is required for this loading feature.).

8. The File Operations window for an IPm station now has a text editor to make it easier to set file permissions and edit text files, such as the startup script file for the station.

9. Zip files can now be specified in the "Files to Load" window, enabling Windows users to build and load configuration "bundles".

10. Two new Security option windows let you configure a unique and advanced level of security for each IPm station in your system. This advanced security feature requires a license for the IPm Security Add-on.

11. Added support for SNMP network management in IPm based products. This feature requires a license for the SNMP Add-on.

12. RemoteLog support has been expanded to include redundant client transfers and customized RemoteLog models.

Version 2.1 (11/02)

Major New Features

1. Added support for new products including the ET-GT-ST-2, and all IPm models including the ST-IPM-6350 (with 128 Meg Flash memory).

2. Added support for the Sixlog server as part of the optional Datalogging feature set. This software receives client initiated data transfers from RemoteLog and IPm RTUs.

3. Added utilities for the convenience of IPm users, including:

• Loading and enabling user web pages

• Loading and unpacking .tar files

• Format (erase) the battery-backed RAM

• Clear user configuration files

4. Added DHCP support to IPm stations. Requires IPm firmware build 1.2 or higher.

Version 2.01 (9/02)

Major New Features

1. Full support for configuring, loading and maintaining IPm LINUX-based controllers and RTUs.

2. A new "Convert Station Type" feature lets you easily change an existing station configuration to use an IPm station instead of a legacy SixTRAK gateway or VersaTRAK RTU.

 Version 2.0 (6/02)

Major New Features

1. Configuration support for the new IPm LINUX-based controllers and RTUs.

Note: This initial version 2 release will enable you to add IPm products to panel layouts and Bills of Materials and pre-configure your IPm stations. Free Tool Kit updates will be shipped with IPm products to support the additional new features and certain other functionality.

2. New flexible software registration options. You can now select which advanced capabilities you wish to use, including:

3. SCS system integration features (tag exporting, ISaGRAF, …)

4. Sixlog datalogging, including the new client data transfer

5. IPm advanced features – including adding your own LINUX programs

6. Access the LINUX web server inside an IPm controller or RTU

7. Support for the power saver features for the new low power RemoteLog RTU.

8. A new I/O Transfer Wizard makes it even easier to configure I/O Transfers between SIXNET stations.

9. Multiple "Connected To: paths can now be defined.

 Version 1.20 (1/25/02)

Major new features:

1. Added a new "Auto Detect Ethernet Stations" feature. This feature detects previously-configured SIXNET Ethernet stations and I/O modules on your Ethernet Network. Configuration readback, Ethernet address information and maintenance functions can then be performed.

2. Added a DHCP Status window for RemoteLog RTUs. This window shows DHCP details for current RemoteLog RTUs, which now support DHCP.

3. Added support for new RemoteLog alarming and expansion I/O port features

 Version 1.11 (11/12/01)

Major new features:

Added new Industrial Ethernet Switches and a fiber optic converter to the Panel Layouts feature.

Version 1.10 (10/31/01)

Major new features:

1. Complete support for RemoteLog, including the new Ethernet version. (I/O Tags can now be imported to and exported from RemoteLog stations.)

2. Station configurations can now be copied between projects. (Projects can be merged and different versions of project files can be reconciled.)

3. I/O gateways and RTUs now display an I/O Address map that shows the details of I/O register assignments.

4. When configuring an I/O gateway or RTU to read or write Modbus I/O, the user now has the option of specifying a Modbus address or a SIXNET equivalent address.

Version 1.02 (9/10/01)

Initial Release

To purchase optional feature sets, simply choose the SXTOOLS part number (see below) that includes the number of optional feature sets that you wish to purchase. When you register your software, you will be prompted to choose which feature sets you wish to activate.

To purchase IPm Add-ons, refer to the IPm Add-on Applications Ordering Information below.

SXTOOL-P  - use with IPM plus.  

1. When you register your copy of the SXTOOL  Kit, you will be prompted to select the optional feature set(s) and/or IPm Add-ons that you will be using. Although your selections may not be altered once registered, you may purchase and register additional feature sets and/or IPm Add-ons at a later time, as needed.
2. The SXTOOL Tool Kit and optional feature sets are site licensed. IPm Add-ons are site licensed, unless otherwise noted in their ordering information. SIXNET site licensed software may be installed on multiple computers for use on the same project or at the same location.
3. You may try out the software in demo mode prior to receiving a registration. Please be aware that there are certain restrictions in the feature sets when used in demo (unlicensed) mode. These restrictions will be documented as you demo the unregistered software.

Purchasing additional Feature Set and/or IPm Add-on Licenses
Additional feature set and/or IPm Add-on licenses may be purchased as needed and at any time.
Note: When ordering additional feature sets, be sure to email a registration request to SIXNET. The ordering pages have instructions for doing this.
Note: The SXTOOL  Kit is "site" licensed. This means that only one license is needed per site or facility. It can be installed on as many computers as necessary within the site.