FTP ALTERNATIVE TO PROGRAM TRANSFER TOOL

#11 · January 14, 2025, 11:20 am

Hi folks,

I know this is an old thread, but I'm finding myself in a similar boat and was hoping to get some direction.

In essence, I just want to verify that I can connect to and "browse" the CNC memory via an http://FTP. In my case, I'm using FileZilla.

When I use the Fanuc communication software (not the transfer tool) it shows up just fine. However, I think the comm software is talking via the FOCAS2 interface (embedded card, port 8193). Whereas FileZilla wants to talk over port 21 (standard FTP).

Picture attached shows the response from each piece of software. Comm tool can connect and browse. FZ connects but times out on welcome message.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Paycheck

P.S. For my own understanding...does the CNC FTP function as an FTP server or client?

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#12 · January 14, 2025, 12:46 pm

Hi Mark,

So looking at the screenshot you sent, I can see at the bottom in FileZilla, it shows that FileZilla is attempting to communicate on port 8193 which is the Focas port. This is why it connects and then disconnects. port 8193 has a legitimate service running on it, but it isn't the correct protocol. So when it inevitably fails to get the FTP welcome message before the timetout, it disconnects itself.

If you go into the FileZilla connection properties for that connection and change the port from 8193 to 21, then it should connect. Now... you need to keep in mind that your Fanuc machine may not have an FTP server. The only Fanuc machines that I have personally seen that have an FTP server are Fanuc machines that have a Data Server card. This enabled Fast Ethernet and FTP access. The way that I check this is by going to the Fanuc screen and pressing the "System" button. Then press next page until you see "Embed Port", you should also see "PCMCIA". If you have a Data Server installed you should also see "Ethernet" right beside the other two. If you do not see Ethernet listed there, then you don't have a Data Server. Maybe someone else knows better than me, as my exposure to Fanuc is limited to one CNC manufacturer. There are probably systems out there that function completely differently.

#13 · January 14, 2025, 1:55 pm

Ahhh, I see. Thanks a bunch, that helped tremendously.

The instructions I received from the machine OEM had me using the embedded port, which was my first mistake.

I have 2 option boards on the back of the panel each with a RJ45 port. One is for fieldbus comms and the other was unused. I moved my ethernet cable to the unused port, set up the data server and I can now move files to / from the CNC via FileZilla. Thanks!

My next obstacle is calling programs remotely via fieldbus directly from the Data Server portion of the CNC. I'm not optimistic, but I'm a lot further along than I was yesterday, so thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Mark

Versex has reacted to this post.

#14 · January 14, 2025, 3:22 pm

My regular job is software for my company's industrial automation product but I also do the IT which means I maintain the machinists' PCs and connect RS232 and Ethernet to their CNC machines.

What I learned is that machines with Ethernet supply an FTP client that can connect to an external FTP server, so I run FileZilla Server on each machinist's PC to replace the old RS232 link. Very recent Fanucs do have the FTP server feature, but it's to a different file space on the CNC control, and it looks like it doesn't have access to the files that the client on the control has access to. This is frustrating, as our hope had been to set up a nightly backup job on each PC to slurp the entire contents of the CNC into a PC directory for backup to the company file server. Instead, we have to rely on the machinists to manually do this whenever they change things. With regular PC backups, we can keep a machine under revision control so that it's easy to return to any previous setup.

#15 · January 14, 2025, 4:37 pm

Quote from Versex on January 14, 2025, 4:37 pm
Hi Kenneth,

That is correct. The Data Server and the internal CNC memory reside in different places and do not share program storage. In the situation where everything is being loaded on to the machine by the operators, I would create a simple Windows service or desktop application that puts a FileSystem Watcher on the shared directory (where your programmers put the programs for the operators to upload them to the machine, I am assuming you are utilizing some sort of network drive or shared folder). Then anytime you get a FileSystem Watcher alert, you could automatically backup that file. If you are using a USB to move the programs, then maybe have the "backup program" reside on the programmer's PC. Just some thoughts. These are some options that I would consider in the event that I couldn't access the programs via FTP.

However, I think the real question, is why are you using the internal CNC memory if your machine has a Data Server? The Data Server has significantly faster read/write speed, and a lot more space to store those programs. I believe the standard Fanuc CNC Memory has like 8 mb of program storage, where the Data Server has 256 mb I believe. Unless there is some legitimate reason to use the internal CNC memory (And no.... Not wanting to train the operator on using a new feature is not a legitimate reason. This is the type of attitude that keeps this industry from coming into the 21st century), there is really no advantage to using it. Especially when you consider you gain FTP access by just using the Data Server.

The only thing you need to do is reserve an IP address on your network for the Data Server, run an Ethernet cable to the Fast Ethernet card in the Fanuc controller, and configure the IP address options (Default Gateway, IPv4 Address, Subnet Address, etc) inside the Fanuc controller screen. On the Fanuc screens, the operator just has to choose the correct place to put the programs. Other than that there isn't really anything that should be a show stopper for your operators.

Hi Kenneth,

That is correct. The Data Server and the internal CNC memory reside in different places and do not share program storage. In the situation where everything is being loaded on to the machine by the operators, I would create a simple Windows service or desktop application that puts a FileSystem Watcher on the shared directory (where your programmers put the programs for the operators to upload them to the machine, I am assuming you are utilizing some sort of network drive or shared folder). Then anytime you get a FileSystem Watcher alert, you could automatically backup that file. If you are using a USB to move the programs, then maybe have the "backup program" reside on the programmer's PC. Just some thoughts. These are some options that I would consider in the event that I couldn't access the programs via FTP.

However, I think the real question, is why are you using the internal CNC memory if your machine has a Data Server? The Data Server has significantly faster read/write speed, and a lot more space to store those programs. I believe the standard Fanuc CNC Memory has like 8 mb of program storage, where the Data Server has 256 mb I believe. Unless there is some legitimate reason to use the internal CNC memory (And no.... Not wanting to train the operator on using a new feature is not a legitimate reason. This is the type of attitude that keeps this industry from coming into the 21st century), there is really no advantage to using it. Especially when you consider you gain FTP access by just using the Data Server.

The only thing you need to do is reserve an IP address on your network for the Data Server, run an Ethernet cable to the Fast Ethernet card in the Fanuc controller, and configure the IP address options (Default Gateway, IPv4 Address, Subnet Address, etc) inside the Fanuc controller screen. On the Fanuc screens, the operator just has to choose the correct place to put the programs. Other than that there isn't really anything that should be a show stopper for your operators.