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foreword
The last article introduced the cloud visualization operation of FlexCloud devices, I believe everyone has read it. At the beginning of this article, the specific deployment and implementation methods of devices into the cloud will be introduced one by one. Of course, you must have a basic grasp of equipment flow charts and some related knowledge of PLC automation. If you are interested, you can go to the column of my PLC programming learning materials to learn a wave, and I will not focus on it here. This article focuses on the specific deployment operations of the FlexManager data channel for devices into the cloud.
提示：以下是本篇文章正文内容，下面案例可供参考
1. What is FlexManager?
FlexManager system introduction:
The FlexManager system, also known as Fanyiyun, transmits the data or programs of a large number of industrial equipment in different areas on site to the remote cloud data center through the Internet (Ethernet, GPRS, 2G/4G, WiFi, etc.) to realize remote data The functions of monitoring, equipment diagnosis, program maintenance and fault alarm provide users with a simple and reliable industrial Internet data remote transmission scheme.
In the FlexManager system, the cloud server is used to connect a large number of FBox devices on site to realize the connection management, data collection, storage and transmission of a large number of remote devices, and is the center of the FlexManager system.
The FBox device is an intelligent transmission terminal in the connection bridge between the field device and the user client, and is responsible for connecting the industrial field device to the cloud server.
Second, the composition of the FlexManager system
Component description
FBox on the device side and the connected device controller, HMI and instrument, etc.
Fanyi cloud server group on the server side or user-built private cloud server.
Client PC client/WEB client, mobile APP, and OPC/SDK, etc.
1. FlexManager composition structure
The relationship between the various components of the FlexManager system is shown in the figure:
2. FlexManager features
Support network cable, WiFi, GPRS and 4G connection, no complicated configuration is required, and the application is simple and convenient;
Support most PLC remote program download and monitoring, reduce user travel;
Support VPN, one-click connection, simple and convenient;
Support remote data monitoring through computer client, mobile APP and web page;
Support data alarm, mobile APP can push alarm information, and can also configure SMS push and WeChat push;
Support historical data recording, collect and record data of registered monitoring points, and support data display of list curves and common statistical analysis;
Support the remote shutdown function, bind the connection between the box and the PLC, and remotely control the shutdown, which is convenient for remote equipment management such as rental equipment;
Open interface, support OPC interface, users can configure by themselves; also open HTTP interface and SDK interface, users can program by themselves;
It supports permission classification, and can assign account information with different permissions according to the actual situation, which is convenient for equipment manufacturers and end customers to use.
3. Application of FBox device
1. Introduction to FBOX
FBox device is a remote communication device in FlexManager's latest IoT platform, which can easily realize remote interconnection, remote download and remote maintenance of field devices.
There are six types of FBox devices: FBox, FBox-VPN, FBox-2G, FBox-4G, FBox-2G-lite, FBox-WiFi. The FBox Ethernet version does not have an antenna socket.
In the FlexManager system, the cloud server closely links the remote client with the industrial field equipment through the FBox device. The FBox device is based on the ARM CORTEX A8 processor core, with 3 Ethernet ports, 3 serial communication ports, and the ability to interconnect various wireless devices such as WIFI/GPRS/4G. In practical applications, the FBox product is installed in the field cabinet, and connected to different types of PLCs, smart meters or frequency converters through serial ports or Ethernet ports. FBox products publish the data in these PLCs or instruments to the Internet cloud server through the Internet. All can view equipment data distributed in various places at any time, understand equipment operating status and alarms, remotely debug PLC, camera monitoring and other functions.
Through FBox and remote client software, users can easily remotely update PLC and man-machine interface programs through the Internet, query and analyze on-site data, obtain on-site data analysis problems, and remotely maintain configuration; they can view real-time images through the camera, which can be collected more easily On-site operation data, fault alarms, maintenance warnings, and improvement feedback based on collected data to better optimize products.
FBox equipment can be widely used in air conditioning, water supply, buildings, heating, cold storage, experimental equipment, air compressors, packaging, printing, textiles, rental equipment, environmental protection equipment and unmanned pumping stations and other industries.
2. Features of FBox device
(except FBox-2G-lite version)
ARM CORTEX A8 high-speed CPU;
Built-in network switch, support 3 Ethernet interfaces, convenient for on-site networking;
A variety of wireless interconnection methods: optional WIFI/GPRS/4G support;
Three serial communication ports: COM1 (RS232/RS485/RS422), COM2 (RS485) and COM3 (RS232);
2-way photoelectric isolation digital input, 2-way relay output;
SD card, USB HOST supports 16G external storage SD card or U disk;
USB SLAVE download configuration, debug program.
3. The use of FBox
The product is shown in the picture:
There are seven types of FBox series devices: FBox, FBox-2G, FBox-4G, FBox-VPN, FBox-WiFi, FBox-2G-lite and
FBox-4G-lite. The hardware parameters are shown in the table: 
The electrical specifications of the FBox device are shown in the table:
4. FBox client
To access or operate the FBox device, you need to use the FBox client.
FBox client is divided into PC client, WEB client and mobile client (Android App and IOS App). PC client can realize remote monitoring and downloading, data reading and writing, fault alarm, video monitoring and historical data
According to records, etc.; the WEB client can be accessed directly or cross-platform through the browser, but does not support remote download; the mobile client supports Android (Android) or IOS system, which can realize alarm push, but does not support remote download.
In the FBox client, you need to install the corresponding software to access the FBox device.
FBox client software (FlexManager) is divided into PC client software and mobile client software (FBox mobile APP). The PC client software is used on the PC side to realize remote monitoring, downloading and data reading of the equipment.
writing, fault alarm, video surveillance and historical data recording, etc. The mobile client software is installed on the mobile terminal of mobile phones and other devices, and can realize functions such as data reading and writing, fault alarm and historical data recording.
4. The specific operation of FlexManager for devices into the cloud
Step 1 Add FBox
To operate a box device, it needs to be added to the client software first.
In the device management area, click to add a box group, select "Add box", as shown in the following figure
Step 2 View basic information
"Basic Configuration" -> "Basic Information" can check the networking mode, online status and device source of the box. As shown below:
Step 3 Download the driver
"Remote Download" -> "Device Management", you can manage the devices connected to the box, including adding devices, deleting devices, configuring the communication parameters of the connected devices, etc. The PLCs supported by the box are AB, ABB, Siemens, Panasonic, Mitsubishi , Yonghong, Hollyshi, Delta, Kewei, Buke, Hechuan, Yaskawa, Omron, Inovance, Hitachi, Xinjie, Schneider and more than 100 PLC models, taking Modbuls_TCP as an example. As shown in the figure below :
Step 4 Add address label
"Address Label" -> "New Label", you can add a label. The added label can be referenced in monitoring data, alarm records, historical records, and edge computing. The following figure refers to the address label with monitoring data.
Step 5 Add monitoring points
In data monitoring, it is possible to view the data of field devices. You can monitor PLC, instrument and other data by "adding monitoring points" or "adding in batches", and the names of monitoring points can be freely defined.
"Data Monitoring" -> "New Monitoring", according to the device driver, data type, register type, address, configure the monitoring point information. As shown in the figure below.
Step 6 Add alarm entry
The alarm record is used to detect and record the data of the alarm point
"Alarm Record" -> "Alarm Registration", "New Alarm". Configure the alarm entry information according to the device driver, data type, register type, address, and alarm condition. As shown in the figure below.
Step 7 Add history entry
Historical entries can realize the functions of setting and viewing historical data, displaying trend graphs, and performing statistical analysis on historical data.
Sampling method:
1. Periodic: collect and record data with the fixed period set.
2. Trigger type: There is no fixed period, and data is collected once when the set trigger conditions are met.
Enable setting: Use a bit-type data point as the enable parameter. After the conditions are met, the set sampling period will be used to collect historical data.
"Historical Data" -> "History Registration", "New History". Configure the sampling method and collection period. "Add channel". According to the device driver, data type, register type, address, configuration history entry information. As shown below.
V. Overview of the effect after practical application
According to the above method and steps, combined with the example project, the actual effect of the deployment is as follows:
1. Basic configuration
The basic configuration includes seven items, including basic information, system settings, data limit, location information, video list, IoT card information, and debug logs.
Basic Information:
System Settings: 
Data Limits:
2. Data monitoring
Monitoring settings:
Group settings:
Data overview of each group:
3. Alarm record
4. Historical data
5. Remote download
6. Data forwarding
Summarize
The above is what I will talk about today. This article only briefly introduces the combined use of FBox and FlexManager, and FlexManager provides a lot of specific deployment and methods that enable us to quickly process devices into the cloud. Students can learn more about FlexManager. The next article will describe the details of the actual visualization of FlexCloud based on FlexManager. Students are welcome to learn more.