Memory areas

Basics of a memory reset

A memory reset on the CPU is possible only in "STOP" mode.
When memory is reset, the CPU is changed to an "initial status". This means:
● An existing online connection between the PG/PC and the CPU is disconnected.
● The content of the work memory and the retentive and non-retentive data are deleted.
● The diagnostic buffer, time of day, and IP address are retained.
● The CPU is then initialized with the loaded project data (hardware configuration, code and data blocks, force jobs). These data are copied from the load memory to the work memory.
Result:
– If an IP address was set in the hardware configuration ("Set IP address in the project" option), this IP address is valid after the memory reset.
– Data blocks no longer have current values but rather their configured start values.
– Force jobs remain active

Memory areas

SIMATIC memory card

The SIMATIC memory card for an S7-1500 is an SD memory card, preformatted by Siemens for the CPU user program, that is compatible with the Windows operating system.

NOTICE
You may only delete files and folders. If you format the SIMATIC memory card with Windows tools, for example with a commercially available card reader, you will render the memory card unusable as a storage medium for an S7 CPU.

You can use the SIMATIC memory card as a program card or as a firmware update card.
To set the card type, insert the SIMATIC memory card into the card reader of the programming device and select the "Card reader/USB memory" folder from the project tree. In the properties of the selected memory card, designate the card type:
● Program
You use a program card as an external load memory for the CPU. It contains the entire user program for the CPU. The user program is transferred to the work memory and runs there. If the SIMATIC memory card with the user program is removed, the program is no longer available.
Directory: SIMATIC.S7S
● Firmware card
Firmware for the S7-1500 modules can be stored on a SIMATIC memory card. It is therefore possible to perform a firmware update with the help of a specifically prepared SIMATIC memory card.
Directory: FWUPDATE.S7S

The following folders and files can be found on the SIMATIC memory card:

to be continued...

Memory areas of the S7-1500 CPUs

The following figure shows the CPU memory areas and the load memory on the SIMATIC memory card. In addition to the load memory, the SIMATIC memory card may contain other data, such as recipes, Data Logs, HMI backups.

The load memory is a non-volatile memory for program code, data blocks and hardware configuration. This memory is located on the SIMATIC memory card. A SIMATIC memory card must be inserted in order for the CPU to operate.

The work memory is volatile memory that contains the code and data blocks. The work memory is integrated in the CPU and cannot be extended.

The work memory in the S7-1500 is divided into two areas:
● Code work memory for runtime-relevant parts of the program code.
● Data work memory for runtime-relevant parts of data blocks and technology objects. At the operating mode transitions POWER ON → startup and STOP → startup, tags from global data blocks, instance data blocks, and technology objects are initialized with their start values. Retentive tags retain their actual values that were saved in the retentive memory.

Retentive memory is a non-volatile memory for storing a limited amount of data in the event of a power failure. The tags and operand areas that have been defined as retentive are saved in the retentive memory.
This data is retained after a power-off or power failure. All other tags are lost and are set to their start values during the operating mode transitions startup after POWER ON and startup after STOP.

The contents of the retentive memory are deleted by the following actions:
● Memory reset
● Reset to factory settings

Specific tags of technology objects are also stored in the retentive memory. These tags are not deleted during memory reset.

The CPU has other memory areas in addition to those described for the user program and data.
These areas include the following runtime-relevant areas:
● Bit memory, timers, counters
● Temporary local data
● Process images
The relevant CPU-specific variables can be found in the CPU's technical specifications.

to be continued...