Coupling SIMIT with PLCSIM Advanced via TIA Portal Project Import

To resolve project import failures and greyed-out station dialogues when coupling SIMIT V9.1 with S7-PLCSIM Advanced via TIA Portal, install SIMIT V9.1 Update 2 Patch 1 and verify S7-1500 controller hardware compatibility. The error 'An error occurred during export' stems from an Openness parser defect resolved in Update 2 Patch 1. Furthermore, SIMIT cannot discover PLC stations configured with early-generation S7-1500 hardware such as CPU 1515-2 PN 6ES7515-2AM00-0AB0 (Firmware V1.x); upgrade the hardware configuration to CPU 1515-2 PN 6ES7515-2AM01-0AB0 with Firmware V1.8 or later. Additionally, ensure the Windows user account belongs to the local 'Siemens TIA Openness' group.

Root Causes of SIMIT Openness Export and Station Discovery Failures

When establishing a new coupling in SIMIT Ultimate V9.1 pointing to an S7-PLCSIM Advanced instance, SIMIT utilizes the Siemens TIA Portal Openness API to extract hardware topology, I/O addresses, and symbolic tags directly from the offline .ap14 project file. This automated extraction process does not require PLCSIM Advanced to be online or running, but it relies on strict compatibility across three software layers:

SIMIT Openness Exporter Bug: In base SIMIT V9.1 and Update 1, the internal export engine encounters an unhandled exception during symbolic tag parsing when processing TIA Portal V14 SP1 Update 6 projects, terminating abruptly with the generic error 'Während des Export ist ein Fehler aufgetreten' (An error occurred during export). Siemens resolved this defect in SIMIT V9.1 Update 2 Patch 1.
Unsupported S7-1500 Hardware Revisions: After patching SIMIT, the project analysis completes, but the 'Stations' selection list remains empty and the 'Import' button remains disabled (greyed out). S7-PLCSIM Advanced and the SIMIT coupling interface require modern CPU firmware features that do not exist in first-generation S7-1500 controllers (such as 6ES7515-2AM00-0AB0 running Firmware V1.0 to V1.7). The Openness filter suppresses these legacy CPU types.
Operating System and Openness Security: TIA Portal Openness enforces strict Windows security groups. If the logged-in Windows user is not an explicit member of the local Siemens TIA Openness user group, or if the interactive prompt requesting external API access to the project is blocked or suppressed, SIMIT cannot query station metadata.

Hardware Revision Requirements for S7-1500 Virtual Coupling

First-generation SIMATIC S7-1500 CPUs (designated by AM00 in the middle MLFB segment) only support firmware up to V1.7. PLCSIM Advanced V1.0 SP1 and SIMIT V9.1 coupling require API interfaces introduced in S7-1500 Firmware V1.8. To make the station discoverable in SIMIT:

Open the project in TIA Portal V14 SP1.
Open Device Configuration and navigate to the S7-1500 CPU properties.
Right-click the CPU and select Change device.
Replace 6ES7515-2AM00-0AB0 with 6ES7515-2AM01-0AB0 and select Firmware V1.8 or V2.0+.
In the CPU properties under Protection & Security -> Connection mechanisms, enable Permit access with PUT/GET communication from remote partner.
Under Protection, ensure the project is compiled with Support simulation during block compilation enabled in the project properties.
Save and compile the hardware and software configuration.

Step-by-Step SIMIT and PLCSIM Advanced Coupling Configuration

Follow this sequential workflow to configure and verify the virtual coupling:

Install Software Patches: Install SIMIT V9.1 Update 2 Patch 1 (6DL8913-0AK00-0AB5) on the simulation host.
Configure Windows User Rights:
- Open Windows Computer Management (compmgmt.msc).
- Navigate to Local Users and Groups -> Groups.
- Open Siemens TIA Openness and add the active Windows user account.
- Log off and log back on to Windows for token changes to take effect.
Authorize Openness Access: Open TIA Portal V14 SP1. When SIMIT initiates its export, accept the security dialogue prompt: 'Allow application to access TIA Portal' and check 'Always allow this application'.
Configure SIMIT Coupling:
- In SIMIT, navigate to Couplings -> New coupling.
- Select PLCSIM Advanced and click Next.
- Browse to the modified .ap14 project file containing the 6ES7515-2AM01-0AB0 CPU.
- SIMIT analyzes the project file offline; the S7-1500 station now appears in the Station selection list.
- Select the station and click Import to generate the virtual I/O signal table.

Hardware Compatibility Matrix for Virtual Simulation

The following table details compatibility across S7-1500 hardware revisions, firmware baselines, and SIMIT / PLCSIM Advanced coupling engines:

Controller ModelManufacturer MLFBFirmware BaselineS7-PLCSIM Advanced V1.0 SP1SIMIT V9.1 Offline ImportRequired ActionCPU 1515-2 PN (Legacy)6ES7515-2AM00-0AB0FW V1.0 – V1.7Supported (Download Only)Not Supported (Greyed Out)Replace hardware in TIA Portal with AM01CPU 1515-2 PN (Standard)6ES7515-2AM01-0AB0FW V1.8 – V2.5Fully SupportedFully SupportedNone; native compatibilityCPU 1516-3 PN/DP (Legacy)6ES7516-3AN00-0AB0FW V1.0 – V1.7Supported (Download Only)Not Supported (Greyed Out)Replace hardware in TIA Portal with AN01CPU 1516-3 PN/DP (Standard)6ES7516-3AN01-0AB0FW V1.8 – V2.5Fully SupportedFully SupportedNone; native compatibilityCPU 1518-4 PN/DP6ES7518-4AP00-0AB0FW V1.8 – V2.5Fully SupportedFully SupportedEnsure Firmware V1.8+ configured in TIA

[!NOTE]
Commercial Accuracy Notice: Hardware replacement inside the TIA Portal hardware configurator for virtual simulation > testing does not mandate immediate physical hardware procurement if physical plant controllers are maintained under separate > operational contracts. When planning physical hardware modernizations, always verify active MLFB lifecycles and order > quantities with an authorized Siemens distributor.

Verification

Validate the resolved SIMIT-to-PLCSIM Advanced coupling using the following diagnostic checks:

Successful Station Import: In SIMIT, create a new PLCSIM Advanced coupling and select the updated .ap14 file. Confirm that the analysis progress bar completes without error popups and displays the target PLC station under Stations.
Active Import Button: Verify that the Import button transitions from greyed-out to active immediately upon highlighting the S7-1500 station.
Signal Exchange Validation: Start the virtual controller instance in PLCSIM Advanced V1.0 SP1 (6ES7823-1FA00-0YA5). Start simulation in SIMIT. Force a simulated digital input in SIMIT and verify that the corresponding %I address updates instantaneously inside the PLCSIM Advanced watch table.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Observe the following operational constraints when operating SIMIT with virtual controllers:

Offline Project Extraction: SIMIT imports signal structures directly from the offline TIA Portal project file. Any subsequent changes to hardware I/O addresses, module additions, or symbol names in TIA Portal require re-importing the project into SIMIT.
Virtual Ethernet vs Local Communication: SIMIT communicates with PLCSIM Advanced via internal shared memory (Softbus) when running on the same host operating system. Network adapter IP configurations (e.g., virtual adapter 192.168.0.1) only govern external network traffic and have no bearing on the SIMIT project import dialogue.
Openness Service Pack Alignment: The installed TIA Portal Openness version must match the exact service pack and update level of TIA Portal (e.g., TIA Portal V14 SP1 Update 6 requires Openness V14 SP1 Update 6).

Engineer FAQ

Does SIMIT require PLCSIM Advanced to be running during the project import?

No. SIMIT extracts stations and I/O addresses purely offline from the TIA Portal project file using TIA Portal Openness. PLCSIM Advanced only needs to be running when you transition SIMIT into RUN mode to execute the dynamic process simulation.

Why did SIMIT import succeed on a Windows 7 VM but fail on Windows 10?

The failure was not caused by the Windows operating system release, but by the absence of SIMIT V9.1 Update 2 Patch 1 and an unsupported CPU hardware MLFB (6ES7515-2AM00-0AB0). Once patched and configured with 6ES7515-2AM01-0AB0, coupling functions identically across Windows 7 SP1 x64 and Windows 10 Enterprise.

Can I simulate fail-safe F-I/O signals through this SIMIT coupling?

Yes, provided S7-PLCSIM Advanced has safety simulation enabled and the F-execution license is present. SIMIT maps standard and safety I/O areas identically via the process image partition.

Where can I find the SIMIT V9.1 Update 2 Patch 1 installation file?

SIMIT updates and patches are published through Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS) entry ID 109755509. Administrative privileges are required to apply the patch.