Release Notes - v1.3.1

To enable easy firmware updates, the new firmware version will be available via the Balluff Update Platform. To do this, use either the Balluff Engineering Tool (BET) or the integrated WebUI of your network block.

• GSDML update not possible for XG5 variants
  Due to a newly introduced function (configurable UA behavior for BNI XG5-538 network modules) in this version, the GSDML file cannot be seamlessly updated in PLC engineering environments (e.g., Siemens TIA Portal). The previous GSDML remains compatible with this firmware. If the new functions are not required, the existing GSDML can continue to be used.

• None

• None

• Module diagnostic registers (address 3000..3005)
  The layout of the module diagnostic registers has been redesigned. For more information, see the "Bug Fixes" section.

• JSON for IO-Link user rights
  To increase security, the IO-Link REST API has been reviewed and updated with new user rights for specific endpoints. Detailed information is available in the Swagger file included in this update package.

• None

• Note on version 1.3.0
  This firmware version also includes all features introduced in version 1.3.0 for all other variants of the product family.
  For more information, see the section on version 1.3.0.
  
  
• Support for new variant
  The BNI XG5-508-0B5-P067 (BNI00L9) network module is now supported by the product family.
  This variant will be updated regularly in line with the other products in the family.
  
  
• 
  recovery mode supportAll network modules now support a special recovery mode that allows the device to be reset to factory settings. This feature can be activated using a procedure described in the user manual.
  
  
• Automatic shutdown of pin 1 when the port is deactivated
  If aport is configured as deactivated (both pin 2 and pin 4 unused), pin 1 is now also switched off. If either pin 2 or pin 4 is configured for a mode other than "deactivated," pin 1 remains switched on.

• None

• Configurable UA behavior for BNI XG5-538 network modules
  It is now possible to define the "behavior in case of output power loss" for XG5-538 variants in the event of a UA power supply failure.
  Available options:

  • US outputs are shut down when the UA power supply fails:
    When the UA power supply fails, the outputs powered by US are also shut down. This behavior is implemented via software, allowing the XG5-538 module to mimic the behavior of the XG5-508 module.

  • Hardware-defined:
    No special software behavior is applied. If the UA power supply fails, only the outputs powered by the UA (pin 2 outputs of the Class B ports) are turned off. The outputs powered by the US remain active.

• Advanced status monitoring for BNI XG5-5x8-xB5-x067
  Additional module status values are included in the "Status Monitoring" section of the advanced variants (XG5 family) and are displayed in the WebUI:

  • System uptime (since startup)

  • Boot cycle counter

  • Total operating hours of the network block
    These values are also accessible via the REST API.

• Error indication for process data length
  Some fieldbuses allow fixed input/output process data lengths for IO-Link ports.
  If the configured length is too small for the connected IO-Link device, the WebUI now displays a clear error message.

• Enhanced IODD parser to support the deprecated DirectParameterOverlay function
  IODDs that used the deprecated "DirectParameterOverlay" function were previously not supported and could not be uploaded or parsed. The parser has now been improved to correctly process IODDs that contain this function, ensuring full compatibility during upload and parsing.

• New Profinet module: Module settings
  It is now possible to define the "Behavior in case of output power loss" for XG5-538 variants in the event of a UA power supply failure.
  Available options:

  • US outputs are switched off when the UA power supply fails:
    When the UA power supply fails, the outputs supplied by US are also switched off. This behavior is implemented via the software so that the XG5-538 module can mimic the behavior of the XG5-508 module.

  • Hardware-defined:
    No special software behavior is applied. If the UA power supply fails, only the outputs supplied by the UA (pin 2 outputs of the Class B ports) are switched off. The outputs supplied by the US remain active.

• New Ethernet/IP object: Module settings
  It is now possible to define the "Behavior on output power failure" for XG5-538 variants in the event of a UA power supply failure.
  Available options:

  • US outputs are turned off when the UA power supply fails:
    When the UA power supply fails, the outputs powered by US are also turned off. This behavior is implemented via software so that the XG5-538 module mimics the behavior of the XG5-508 module.

  • Hardware-defined:
    No special software behavior is applied. If the UA power supply fails, only the outputs supplied by the UA (pin 2 outputs of the Class B ports) are turned off. The outputs supplied by the US remain active.

• Incorrect process data length bit
  A new diagnostic bit has been added to the Ethernet/IP process data.
  It indicates whether the configured connection provides sufficient process data bytes for each connected device.

• New CoE object: Module settings
  It is now possible to define the "Behavior on loss of output power" for XG5-538 variants in the event of a UA power supply failure.
  Available options:

  • US outputs are switched off when the UA power supply fails:
    When the UA power supply fails, the outputs powered by US are also switched off. This behavior is implemented via software so that the XG5-538 module can mimic the behavior of the XG5-508 module.

  • Hardware-defined:
    No special software behavior is applied. If the UA power supply fails, only the outputs powered by the UA (pin 2 outputs of the Class B ports) are turned off. The outputs powered by the US remain active.

• New tab: Module Settings
  It is now possible to define the "Behavior on Output Power Loss" for XG5-538 variants in the event of a UA power supply failure.
  Available options:

  • Disable US outputs when UA power supply fails:
    Whenthe UA power supply fails, the outputs powered by US are also disabled. This behavior is implemented via software so that the XG5-538 module can mimic the behavior of the XG5-508 module.

  • Hardware-defined:
    No special software behavior is applied. If the UA power supply fails, only the outputs supplied by the UA (pin 2 outputs of the Class B ports) are turned off. The outputs supplied by the US remain active.

• New register: Variable process data
  A new register has been introduced to support variable-length process data per port. Unlike the existing register for fixed-length process data (address range 1100..1800), which always provides 32 words per port, the new register dynamically adjusts its size to the lengths of the input and output process data configured in the port configuration.
  This register chains the process data of all ports into a contiguous address space and contains only the number of words defined in the configuration, enabling more efficient data processing.

• *Port configuration: Configurable process data length
  The port configuration register has been extended to allow the input and output process data lengths per port to be set. Two new words have been added:

  • Input process data length:
    Defines the number of words used for input data.

  • Output process data length:
    Defines the number of bytes used for output data. These values are used by the new variable process data register to dynamically allocate memory for each port.

• Mirrored digital I/O registers
  For compatibility reasons, the existing input and output registers (addresses 2000 and 2001) have been duplicated at addresses 2047 and 2048. Both sets of registers function identically.

• Reset factory settings for port configuration
  Previously, when resetting to factory settings, the IOLink port configurations were not reset to their default settings. This issue has been resolved. When resetting to factory settings, all ports are now correctly reset to their default configuration.

• Numerous minor bug fixes and stability improvements

• Numerous minor bug fixes and stability improvements

• Reading ISDU via IOL_CALL – Error code handling
  When executing an ISDU read operationviathe IOL_CALL function block, theerrorcode and additional error code bytes were previously returned in the wrong order if the requested index was not available. This problem has been fixed. The function block now responds with the correct error codes.

• Numerous minor bug fixes and stability improvements

• Numerous minor bug fixes and stability improvements

• Numerous minor bug fixes and stability improvements

• Device ID register
  Thedevice IDregister (MSB) was previously not writable. This problem has been fixed.

• Module Diagnostic Register (Address 3000..3005)
  The registers were previously incomplete and not fully functional. They have been thoroughly revised to improve user-friendliness. New diagnostic bits have been added, including monitoring of supply voltages.

• Numerous minor bug fixes and stability improvements