Data Storage with B&R IO-Link Master X20DS438A

Overview of B&R software architecture:

In the device configuration of the IO-Link master X20DS438A the DS (in B&R world called ‘Parameter server’) feature needs to be activated.

The option ‘Automatic’ should be sufficient for nearly all applications. In this setting the DS feature is working as described above and as specified in the IO-Link specification.

Using the setting ‘Manual’ the behavior the DS algorithm could be manipulated. For example the update of the parameter set in the IO-Link master could be locked and much more.

In Automatic mode there are two more settings which make sense to switch on:

Parameter server control:
Enabling this parameter you have the possibility to manually start an up- or download of the DS parameter set. All options see below:

Parameter server progress:

Enabling this parameter you get a progress information about the upload and download of the DS parameters.
This is very helpful if you have ISDU communication in your PLC program.
The parameter provides a percentage value from 0 to 100%.

Example for I/O Mapping:

It also makes sense to make use of the variable “ChannelStatus0x”.

It provides various information to the IO-Link channel – also about the DS activities:

For the ‘Automatic’ mode of DS the red marked values are interesting.

For the ‘Manual’ mode there are more values needed – marked in blue.

*Screenshots taken from B&R AutomationStudio and it's help system*