PLC Tools SIM-IPE Ethernet IP Address Explorer DHCP and BOOTP Server

Tired of fighting PC software just to change a basic IP address on the plant floor?

Commissioning or troubleshooting an industrial network shouldn’t mean lugging a laptop, searching for crossover cables, or battling corporate firewall settings just to communicate with a node. The PLC Tools SIM-IPE is a pocket-sized, handheld solution designed specifically to eliminate that friction.

This standalone unit replaces traditional, PC-based BOOTP/DHCP server utilities. It allows you to plug directly into any industrial network or device to instantly resolve network connection roadblocks, keep your commissioning schedules moving, and minimize machine downtime.

Core Field Capabilities Built for the Wire

Designed for rapid action on the factory floor, this handheld device packs essential industrial networking utilities into a single tool:

• Smart Network Discovery: Unlike aggressive port scanners that can flood or freeze sensitive control hardware, the SIM-IPE actively listens to existing passive network traffic. It catches packets from EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, GigE Vision, and ARP to identify silent nodes safely.

• Instant BOOTP & DHCP Assignment: When you install a brand-new, out-of-the-box drive, PLC, communication card, or I/O block, simply plug the SIM-IPE directly into it. The tool serves the address request instantly, allowing you to lock it to static right from the screen.

• Batch Configuration for Fast Rollouts: Commissioning a large network drop? The automated sequential address feature lets you increase or decrease your target IP with a press of a button. Plug into the first module, assign it, hit next, swap the cable to the next device, and repeat—saving hours of manual configuration.

• Direct Static IP Changes: If your equipment is EtherNet/IP compliant, you can completely bypass the manual transition steps. The tool automates the process of resetting the module to dynamic, reassigning the new chosen destination, and flipping it back to static instantly.

Live Network Audits into Excel

Need to document a system or find a rogue node? Plug the device into an active network switch to run a comprehensive device discovery. Hardware versions (Series G and newer) feature terminal compatibility over Port 23 (Telnet). You can connect your PC, pull a comma-separated list of every active device, PLC, or HMI on the line along with firmware revisions, and instantly copy-paste that data directly into spreadsheets for clean network mapping.

Built for a Technician's Tool Bag

Running on standard, readily available AA batteries with built-in power-saving auto-shutdown, the SIM-IPE features automatic straight/crossover cable negotiation at 10/100 Mbps. It provides a simple, menu-driven interface to manage up to 8 independent network configuration profiles, giving your instrumentation, electrical, and automation crews complete control over their hardware environments.