CP 1623 Compatibility with Windows Server 2016 and SIMATIC NET V14 in SIMATIC PCS 7 Systems

The Siemens CP 1623 communications processor (6GK1162-3AA00) is fully compatible with Windows Server 2016 (64-bit) when paired with SIMATIC NET PC Software V14 SP1 (or higher) and SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0 (or higher). Operating as a PCI Express x1 network coprocessor with onboard microprocessor protocol processing, the CP 1623 offloads ISO and TCP/IP Industrial Ethernet communications from the host CPU. On Windows Server 2016, the driver is deployed automatically during the SIMATIC NET installation; however, appropriate HARDNET-IE S7 communication licenses must be installed via Automation License Manager (ALM).

CP 1623 Hardware Architecture and Coprocessor Processing

The SIMATIC CP 1623 (6GK1162-3AA00) is a high-performance PCI Express (PCIe x1) communications processor designed for demanding industrial automation environments:
* Autonomous Protocol Processing: Features an onboard RISC microprocessor that autonomously executes layer 2 to 4 protocol stacks (ISO on TCP, RFC 1006, and S7 communication), ensuring zero host PC CPU load during intensive cyclic polling.
* Integrated 2-Port Switch: Equipped with two 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports supporting line and ring topologies with Media Redundancy Protocol (MRP).
* Fault-Tolerant Redundancy: Supports fault-tolerant S7 connections (S7-REDCONNECT) to redundant S7-400H / CPU 410-5H controllers across redundant plant bus rings.

Operating System and SIMATIC NET Compatibility Matrix

The CP 1623 hardware requires matching kernel drivers supplied exclusively through the SIMATIC NET PC Software suite:
* Windows Server 2016 Support: Requires SIMATIC NET V14 SP1 or higher. Legacy SIMATIC NET versions (V8.2, V12, V13) do not possess signed 64-bit WDF (Windows Driver Framework) drivers for Windows Server 2016, causing device driver installation failure.
* PCS 7 Version Mapping: PCS 7 V9.0 bundles SIMATIC NET V14 SP1; PCS 7 V9.1 bundles SIMATIC NET V16. Both releases fully support the CP 1623 on Windows Server 2016 Standard and Datacenter editions.

Commissioning CP 1623 on Windows Server 2016

To successfully configure the CP 1623 on Windows Server 2016:

[Phase 1: Hardware Installation]
   │  • Power down server; insert CP 1623 (6GK1162-3AA00) into PCIe x1 (or x4/x8/x16) slot
   │  • Secure bracket; connect plant bus Industrial Ethernet cables to Port 1 / Port 2
   │
[Phase 2: Install SIMATIC NET PC Software V14 SP1+]
   │  • Install SIMATIC NET V14 SP1 (or PCS 7 V9.0 installation media)
   │  • Setup automatically deploys the 64-bit NDIS and HARDNET driver package
   │  • In Windows Device Manager -> Network adapters:
   │      Confirm "SIMATIC CP 1623" is detected without yellow exclamation marks
   │
[Phase 3: Parameterize Communication via Communication Settings]
   │  • Open: "Communication Settings" (or "Set PG/PC Interface")
   │  • Select Access Point: "CP_H1_1:" -> Link to: "CP1623 (ISO)" or "CP1623 (RFC1006)"
   │  • Set Operating Mode to "Configured Mode" if integrating into STEP 7 PC Station
   │
[Phase 4: License Transfer via ALM]
   │  • Open Automation License Manager (ALM)
   │  • Install required runtime licenses:
   │      - HARDNET-IE S7 V14 (6GK1716-1CB14-0AA0)
   │      - HARDNET-IE S7-REDCONNECT V14 (6GK1716-0HB14-0AA0) for S7-400H

Procurement Notice: Validate all final license quantities, media packages, and part numbers against current Siemens Industry Mall catalogs and with an authorized Siemens distributor quotation prior to procurement.

Communication Mode Comparison - HARDNET vs SOFTNET

Understand the operational differences between HARDNET coprocessor cards and standard network adapters:

Architectural FeatureCP 1623 (HARDNET-IE)Standard Network Adapter (SOFTNET-IE)Hardware MLFB6GK1162-3AA00Generic Intel / Broadcom NICProtocol ProcessingOnboard RISC processorHost PC CPU and Windows OS stackS7 Connections MaximumUp to 120 fault-tolerant S7 connectionsLimited (typically 8 to 64 connections)Time SynchronizationHigh-precision hardware timestamping (< 1 ms)Software timestampingFault-Tolerant S7-REDCONNECTFully supported (Native)Supported with SOFTNET-IE S7 REDCONNECTSupported OSWindows Server 2016 / 2012 R2 / Win 10 LTSBWindows Server 2016 / 2012 R2 / Win 10

Verification

To confirm that the CP 1623 operates properly on Windows Server 2016:
1. In Windows Device Manager, expand Network adapters; verify SIMATIC CP 1623 is listed with status 'This device is working properly'.
2. Open Communication Settings; navigate to Modules -> CP 1623 -> General; verify that MAC addresses, link speed (1000 Mbps Full Duplex), and firmware revision display accurately.
3. In WinCC Explorer, open the SIMATIC S7 Protocol Suite; right-click the Industrial Ethernet or Named Connections channel unit -> select System Parameters; confirm connection status is OK.
4. Verify that cyclic tag updates and plant bus alarms communicate without packet drops.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Never install the CP 1623 into a PCIe slot sharing interrupts with high-bandwidth graphic cards or RAID controllers without checking motherboard PCIe lane bifurcation. When using S7-REDCONNECT for redundant controllers, always verify that the redundant license key (HARDNET-IE S7-REDCONNECT) is transferred to the server; a standard HARDNET license will reject redundant connection establishment.

Engineer FAQ

Can CP 1623 be used as a standard Windows office network card?

Yes. During driver installation, an NDIS adapter is created, allowing standard TCP/IP traffic (e.g. browsing, file shares) to coexist with industrial S7 communications.

What is the difference between CP 1613 and CP 1623?

The legacy CP 1613 (6GK1161-3AA01) uses a legacy 32-bit PCI slot. The CP 1623 (6GK1162-3AA00) uses a modern PCI Express x1 interface, offering higher throughput and broad 64-bit server compatibility.

Does CP 1623 support PROFINET IO Controller mode on Windows Server 2016?

Yes, with the appropriate HARDNET-IE PN IO software package and license, CP 1623 can operate as a high-performance PROFINET IO Controller.

Is SIMATIC NET V14 SP1 available as a separate software download?

SIMATIC NET is delivered on the PCS 7 / WinCC installation media and can be updated via official Siemens Service Packs from SIOS.

Technical References

Related Tags

CP 1623
Windows Server 2016
SIMATIC NET V14
HARDNET-IE
S7-REDCONNECT

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CP 1623 Compatibility with Windows Server 2016 and SIMATIC NET V14 in SIMATIC PCS 7 Systems