Quick Start Guide CloudRail.Box

Thanks a lot for choosing the CloudRail.Box. This guide will help you to get started with the solution.

1. Connecting the CloudRail.Box

In the first step connect the CloudRail.Box to a suitable 12-24V power supply.

IFM Starter Set

If you bought the IFM Starter Set, a suitable power supply is already included. Use the power cable with the two loose ends and strip the brown and blue wires.

Connect the brown cable to the +24V terminal and the blue cable to the 0V terminal. Use suitable ferrules if necessary.

Make sure to NOT remove the black wire between 0V and WD.

Use the Y-cable to connect both the CloudRail.Box as well as the IO-Link master to the power supply.

Other

Make sure to NOT remove the black wire between 0V and WD.

Now connect the Box to the internet using the left ethernet port. If the CloudRail.Box is able to establish a connection to the Management Cloud, the “ONL” LED will turn green. This might take up to two minutes.

If the “ONL” LED doesn’t turn green there might be a problem with the internet connection. By default the CloudRail.Box uses DHCP to get an IP address. If DHCP is not available in your network, please add the Box to the Device Management Cloud (Step 2) anyways, select it and click on “Advanced Network Settings” to get instruction how to set the network configuration manually.

The Box uses MQTTs and https for the communication to the Device Management Cloud as well as the Cloud Platforms. Make sure that your firewall allows communication through the ports 443 and 8883.

2. Linking the CloudRail.Box to the Device Management Cloud

In the next step you need to add the CloudRail.Box to the CloudRail Device Management Cloud. This is the place where you configure and manage all your devices.

Create an Account
Please visit https://devices.cloudrail.com/signup to create a new account. After you filled out all necessary fields, an email will be send to you, which you need to confirm.

Link Your CloudRail.Box
Please log in to your account on https://devices.cloudrail.com, click on “Connect New Box” and enter the serial number of your CloudRail.Box. You’ll find this number on a label located on the right side of the CloudRail.Box. Moreover give the Box a name and short description to identify it later.
Alternatively you can just scan the QR-code with a suitable QR-code reader.

3. Update the Firmware (Important)

In case there is a firmware update available for your box, it will be displayed now. Just click on “Update Now” to install it. This can take several minutes and the Box might restart multiple times.
Firmware updates ensure that your Box is always working properly and is secure.

4. Connect your IO-Link Master

Now connect your IO-modules to the right ethernet port. A list of compatible IO-modules can be found here. Make sure to reset the IO-module to factory settings if it was connected to another system before.

Please select your IO-Link Master:

IFM Starter Set

Connect the IoT port of the IO-module to the right ethernet port of your CloudRail.Box. If you want to use multiple IO-modules, just use a standard ethernet switch in between.

In case the Box doesn’t find the IO-Link master automatically, please restart the master by unplugging it from the power supply while letting the CloudRail.Box being connected to power.

IFM

The CloudRail.Box supports all IO-Link Masters of the DataLine Edition by IFM. A full list can be found here. Devices of the DataLine Edition have a separate network interface called “IoT”. This allows to establish a Y-path, so a parallel connection to a PLC and the CloudRail.Box.

(Optional) IFM Step 1: Reset and Update Firmware

If the IO-Link master has been used in a different environment before, it might be necessary to reset it to factory settings first. If the CloudRail.Box still can’t find the master, please also update the firmware to its latest version.

IFM Step 2: Connect Power and Network

Connect the IO-Link Master to a suitable power supply (for most cables: brown=+, blue=-, please double check with the respective manual). In the next step connect the IoT port of the IO-Link master to the right ethernet port of your CloudRail.Box. If you want to use multiple IO-Link masters, just use a standard ethernet switch in between.

OPTIONAL IFM Step 3: Connect to a PLC

Due to the Y-path of the IFM devices, it is possible to connect the master to a PLC in parallel via the fieldbus ports. This is optional and has no impact on the CloudRail setup.

Turck

The CloudRail.Box supports selected IO-Link Masters by Turck. A full list can be found here.

Turck Step 0: Important: Update CloudRail.Box Firmware

Please Update the CloudRail.Box firmware before connecting the IO-Link master to your Box.

Turck Step 1: Reset and Update Firmware

If the IO-Link master has been used in a different environment before, make sure to reset it on factory settings first! If the CloudRail.Box still can’t find the master, please also update the firmware to its latest version.

Turck Step 2: Connect Power and Network

Connect the IO-Link Master to a suitable power supply (for most cables: brown&white=+, blue&black=-, please double check with the respective manual). In the next step connect the “ETH 1” network port to the right ethernet port of your CloudRail.Box. If you want to use multiple IO-Link masters, just use a standard ethernet switch in between.

Comtrol

The CloudRail.Box supports selected IO-Link Masters by Comtrol. A full list can be found here.

Comtrol Step 1: Reset and Update Firmware

If the IO-Link master has been used in a different environment before, make sure to reset it on factory settings first! If the CloudRail.Box still can’t find the master, please also update the firmware to its latest version.

Comtrol Step 2: Connect Power and Network

Connect the IO-Link Master to a suitable power supply (for most cables: brown&black=+, blue&white=-, please double check with the respective manual). In the next step connect the “ETH 1” network port to the right ethernet port of your CloudRail.Box. If you want to use multiple IO-Link masters, just use a standard ethernet switch in between.

others

The CloudRail.Box supports just selected IO-Link Masters of different vendors. A full list of supported devices can be found here. Contact us if we missed a crucial device.

5. Link Your Cloud Platform to the Device Management Cloud

By giving the Device Management Cloud Access to your Cloud Platform via the API, you will be able to provision new devices (sensors) automatically. In case you prefer to add each device manually to your cloud platform, you can skip this step.

Tutorials of how to connect your Cloud Platform to the Device Management Cloud, can be found at https://devices.cloudrail.com/documentation.

6. Your First Connection

To connect a sensor with your cloud platform, go to the overview screen, select the respective CloudRail.Box and click on “New Connection”. Just follow the steps afterwards.

Any questions?

Feel free to contact us at support@cloudrail.com