Merging

Depending on the policy model and the devices available in the network, the merging process can be automatic or manual.

Automatic merging

The merging process is automatic if the onboarding device has the same IP address as the matching device in the policy model.
The onboarding device does not need to be identical with the matching device in the policy model. During the merging process, the newer device properties overwrite the older device properties.
TIP:
The following properties are never overwritten by the automatic merging process:
  • IP address
  • Device name
  • Device description
The following tables illustrate the examples on how the automatic merging process operates in different scenarios.
Scenario 1 - Device replacement (policy erased)
Onboarding device
Device in the policy model (Zone 1)
Merged device (Zone 1)
Description
IP Address: 192.168.1.68
Name: 1756-L81E
Description: 1756-L81E
Product type: 14
Product code: 164
Firmware major revision: 34
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN12345
IP Address: 192.168.1.68
Name: Line Controller
Description: Main controller for assembly line
Product type: 14
Product code: 164
Firmware major revision: 34
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN12345
IP Address: 192.168.1.68
Name: Line Controller
Description: Main controller for assembly line
Product type: 14
Product code: 164
Firmware major revision: 34
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN12345
All device parameters match:
  • Device name (retained)
  • Device description (retained)
The device malfunctioned and was reset to factory defaults.
Scenario 2 - Device replacement (serial number mismatch)
Onboarding device
Device in the policy model (Zone 1)
Merged device (Zone 1)
Description
IP Address: 192.168.1.68
Name: 1756-L81E
Description: 1756-L81E
Product type: 14
Product code: 164
Firmware major revision: 34
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN12345
IP Address: 192.168.1.68
Name: Line Controller
Description: Main controller for assembly line
Product type: 14
Product code: 164
Firmware major revision: 34
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN54321
IP Address: 192.168.1.68
Name: Line Controller
Description: Main controller for assembly line
Product type: 14
Product code: 164
Firmware major revision: 34
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN1234
All device parameters match except for:
  • Serial numbers (overwritten)
  • Device name (retained)
  • Device description (retained)
The device malfunctioned and was replaced with a new device.
Scenario 3 - Device replacement (serial number and firmware revision mismatch)
Onboarding device
Device in the policy model (Zone 2)
Merged device (Zone 2)
Description
IP Address: 192.168.1.73
Name: 1756-L83E
Description: 1756-L83E
Product type: 14
Product code: 166
Firmware major revision: 34
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN111213
IP Address: 192.168.1.73
Name: Machine Controller
Description: Packaging machine controller
Product type: 14
Product code: 166
Firmware major revision: 33
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN313211
IP Address: 192.168.1.73
Name: Machine Controller
Description: Packaging machine controller
Product type: 14
Product code: 166
Firmware major revision: 34
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN111213
All device parameters match except for:
  • Serial numbers (overwritten)
  • Firmware major revision (overwritten)
  • Device name (retained)
  • Device description (retained)
The device malfunctioned and was replaced with a new device.
Scenario 4 - Device replacement (several properties mismatch)
Onboarding device
Device in the policy model (Zone 3)
Merged device (Zone 3)
Description
IP Address: 192.168.1.82
Name: 1756-EN4TR
Description: 1756-EN4TR
Product type: 12
Product code: 258
Firmware major revision: 4
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN223344
IP Address: 192.168.1.82
Name: Conveyor PF755T #12
Description: Conveyor drive #12
Product type: 45
Product code: 7
Firmware major revision: 10
Firmware minor revision: 00
Serial number: SN556677
IP Address: 192.168.1.82
Name: Conveyor PF755T #12
Description: Conveyor drive #12
Product type: 12
Product code: 258
Firmware major revision: 4
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN223344
A non-typical scenario with device mismatch. The existing device is treated as obsolete and overwritten.
The device parameters are merged:
  • Serial numbers (overwritten)
  • Device name (retained)
  • Device description (retained)
  • Product type (overwritten)
  • Product code (overwritten)
  • Firmware major revision (overwritten)
  • Firmware minor revision (overwritten)

Manual merging

The merging process is manual if the onboarding device cannot be associated with any device in the policy model.
An administrator can manually move the discovered device from the Onboarding Area to the policy model.
The following table illustrates an example of the manual merging process.
Onboarding device
Device in the policy model
Merged device
Description
IP address: 192.168.1.68
Name: 1756-L81E
Description: 1756-L81E
Product type: 14
Product code: 164
Firmware major revision: 34
Firmware minor revision: 001
Serial number: SN12345
No match
N/A
No matching device found in the policy model.
Device added to the Onboarding Area.
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