Configuring CP 1623 and CP 1628 Communications Processors on Windows Server 2012 R2

In SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.2, both the CP 1623 (6GK1162-3AA00) and the security-enhanced CP 1628 (6GK1162-8AA00) PCI Express communications processors are fully supported on Windows Server 2012 R2 (64-bit). The required 64-bit NDIS kernel drivers and communication stacks are provided on SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.2 DVD 2 (SIMATIC NET PC Software V13 / V14). To configure them, install the hardware into a PCIe x1 (or greater) slot, verify driver status in Device Manager, assign the card in the Station Configuration Editor, and configure the plant bus interface in NetPro.

Hardware Overview of PCI Express Processors CP 1623 and CP 1628

High-availability SIMATIC PCS 7 OS Servers and Engineering Stations require high-throughput, deterministic connections to the Industrial Ethernet plant bus. To deliver this performance without burdening the server's host processor, Siemens developed the CP 1623 and CP 1628 PCI Express communication cards:
* SIMATIC NET CP 1623 (6GK1162-3AA00):
- Bus interface: PCI Express x1 (compatible with PCIe x1, x4, x8, x16 slots).
- Network interfaces: 2x RJ45 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit ports with integrated 2-port switch.
- Onboard processing: Dedicated ARM microprocessor executing ISO Transport protocol and S7 communication stacks independently from the Windows host OS.
* SIMATIC NET CP 1628 (6GK1162-8AA00):
- Incorporates all capabilities of the CP 1623 while integrating advanced hardware-based cybersecurity.
- Features an onboard Stateful Inspection Firewall, VPN tunnel encryption (IPsec), and protection against spoofing, denial-of-service, and unauthorized plant bus traffic.

Operating System Compatibility: Windows Server 2012 R2 Support Matrix

With the release of SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.2, Siemens officially introduced 64-bit support for Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard Edition (64-bit) as the operating platform for redundant OS Servers, Maintenance Stations, Process Historian, and Web Servers.

According to the official SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.2 Readme:
* CP 1623 and CP 1628 are fully released and certified for Windows Server 2012 R2.
* Older legacy PCI cards (such as the CP 1613 A2 6GK1161-3AA01) are strictly not supported on Server 2012 R2 due to the absence of 64-bit kernel drivers and modern motherboard hardware constraints.
* The driver package is integrated directly into the SIMATIC NET PC Software V13 / V14 distribution bundled with PCS 7 V8.2 DVD 2.

SIMATIC NET Driver Architecture on 64-Bit Server Platforms

On Windows Server 2012 R2, Microsoft enforces strict 64-bit kernel driver signing:
* Kernel Driver (cp1623.sys / cp1628.sys): Digitally signed by Siemens and Microsoft Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). It binds directly to the Windows NDIS 6.x networking architecture.
* Station Configuration Editor: Communicates with the kernel driver via the Siemens Simatic Device Loader service.
* Protocol Stacks: Supports both ISO Transport (Layer 4 MAC addressing) and ISO-on-TCP (RFC 1006 / TCP/IP Layer 4), enabling S7-RedConnect redundant connections to S7-400H and CPU 410-5H controllers.

CP 1623 vs. CP 1628 Feature and Security Matrix

The following matrix contrasts the CP 1623 and CP 1628 communications processors:

Feature / SpecificationSIMATIC NET CP 1623SIMATIC NET CP 1628Order Number (MLFB)6GK1162-3AA006GK1162-8AA00Bus SlotPCIe x1 Rev 1.1PCIe x1 Rev 1.1Ports & Speed2x RJ45 (10/100/1000 Mbps)2x RJ45 (10/100/1000 Mbps)Integrated SwitchYes (Autonegotiation/Autocrossover)Yes (Autonegotiation/Autocrossover)Integrated FirewallNoYes (Stateful Inspection Firewall)VPN Tunnel EncryptionNoYes (Hardware-accelerated IPsec)Windows Server 2012 R2Fully CertifiedFully CertifiedPCS 7 V8.2 SupportNativeNativePrimary ApplicationStandard OS Server Plant BusHigh-Security / DMZ Boundary Server

Step-by-Step Installation and Configuration Workflow

To install and configure CP 1623 / CP 1628 on Windows Server 2012 R2:
1. Physical Hardware Installation:
- Power down the Industrial PC (e.g. SIMATIC IPC647D or IPC847D).
- Insert the card firmly into an available PCI Express slot (PCIe x1 or greater).
- Secure the mounting bracket with the retention screw to ensure earth grounding.
2. Install SIMATIC NET Software from PCS 7 V8.2 DVD 2:
- Boot Windows Server 2012 R2.
- Insert PCS 7 V8.2 DVD 2. Launch Setup.exe.
- Select SIMATIC NET PC Software. Complete the installation and reboot when prompted.
3. Verify Device Manager Recognition:
- Open Windows Device Manager (devmgmt.msc).
- Expand SIMATIC NET: Confirm SIMATIC NET CP 1623 (or CP 1628) is present with status This device is working properly and zero error bangs.
4. Configure Station Configuration Editor:
- Open the Station Configuration Editor from the Windows notification area.
- Click Add: Insert the CP 1623 into the designated virtual rack slot (typically Slot 1 or Slot 2).
- Assign the exact station name matching the OS Server name defined in SIMATIC Manager.
5. Assign Plant Bus IP / MAC in NetPro:
- In SIMATIC Manager on the ES, open the OS Server configuration in HW Config / NetPro.
- Assign the physical MAC address and static IP address.
- Execute Download to Selected Station over the terminal bus to synchronize the configuration.

Verification

Verify communications processor operation and network throughput:
1. Connect Ethernet cables from the plant bus switch to Ports 1 and 2 of the CP 1623: Confirm the link LEDs turn solid green and activity LEDs flash yellow.
2. Open Station Configuration Editor: Verify the CP 1623 displays a green running circle with status Ready.
3. Open Set PG/PC Interface: Select CP1623(RFC1006) -> Diagnostics. Execute an online test: Confirm active communication to the S7-400H / CPU 410-5H controllers.
4. In WinCC Explorer, activate WinCC Runtime: Confirm all Named Connections establish immediately and tags update in real-time.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Operating the CP 1628 firewall requires parameterizing security rules in the Security Configuration Tool (SCT); incorrect rule sets will block S7 communication or WinCC Server-Client sync.
Do not disable the onboard 2-port switch unless specific network security policies prohibit daisy-chaining.
Validate license requirements for S7-RedConnect or SIMATIC NET communication with an authorized Siemens distributor before system procurement.

Engineer FAQ

Can I use standard Intel server NICs instead of a CP 1623 on Windows Server 2012 R2?

Yes, standard network adapters (BCE - Basic Communication Ethernet) are supported for small systems using Softnet S7. However, high-availability plants with S7-400H and extensive tag counts require CP 1623 / CP 1628 to offload protocol communication and ensure sub-100 ms failover.

Does the CP 1623 support Gigabit speed on the PCS 7 plant bus?

Yes. Both RJ45 ports on the CP 1623 and CP 1628 support 10/100/1000 Mbps Full Duplex Gigabit Ethernet.

Where can I find the exact driver compatibility matrix for PCS 7 releases?

Consult the official SIMATIC PCS 7 Readme document corresponding to your specific version (e.g. PCS 7 V8.2 Readme, page 17, Table 'Hardware Requirements - Communications Processors').