Creating a backup of a device (S7-1200, S7-1500) - STEP 7

Creating a backup of an S7 CPU
ft:publication_title
Creating a backup of an S7 CPU
Product
STEP 7
Version
V20
Publication date
11/2024
Language
en-US
Creating a backup of a device

Backing up the software and hardware configuration of a CPU

If you have already downloaded a configuration to an S7-1200/S7-1500 CPU, it may be useful to make a backup. You may have modified the configuration and want to test the new configuration. Before you download the new configuration to the CPU, create a backup of the current device version. You can restore the current configuration at a later time.

You can create as many backups as you want and store a variety of configurations for a CPU. The backups are named with the name of the CPU and the time and date of the backup. You can find the backup in the project tree under the CPU in the "Online backups" folder.

The following figure shows an example of an S7 CPU for which two backups were created:

Scope of the backup

The backup includes all data that are needed to restore a particular configuration version of a CPU. The following data is backed up, for example:

  • Contents of the memory card, if present

  • Retentive memory areas for example of data blocks, counters, and bit memory

  • Other retentive memory contents, such as IP address parameters

The backup is performed with the current values of the CPU. Entries in the diagnostics buffer are not included in the backup, and neither is the current time.

The backup does not contain the password to protect confidential PLC configuration data.

Creating a backup using a different method

You can also create a backup using the SIMATIC Automation Tool (SAT) or the standard web page "Online backup" of the web server.

  • If you back up files using STEP 7, STEP 7 saves the files in the STEP 7 project.

  • If you back up files using the web server, your programming device/PC saves the backup files in the standard folder for downloads.

The following rules apply:

  • You cannot restore STEP 7 backups using the web server.

  • You cannot restore web server backups using STEP 7.

However, you can save STEP 7 backups directly in the download folder of your programming device. A backup stored in this way can be restored using the web server. To save the backup on your programming device, follow these steps:

  1. In the project tree, right-click on a file in the "Online backups" folder.

  2. Select "Save as" in the shortcut menu.

  3. Navigate to the folder in which you want to save the file, e.g. the standard folder for downloads on your programming device.

  4. Click "Save".