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Creating a Bosch Rexroth ctrlX Connection

In this guide, we’ll use the following example network configuration:

DeviceIP AddressDescription
Network Subnet192.168.1.0/24Local /24 network
Bosch Rexroth ctrlX192.168.1.1Default ctrlX IP
TAO192.162.1.2TAO IP address
Workstation192.168.1.3Your PC
Gateway192.168.1.120Required for setup validation (optional)
Subnet Mask255.255.255.0Masks the /24 network

Local subnet configuration (real-world setup with hub and devices)

  1. Bosch Rexroth ctrlx
  2. Tao
  3. Your computer

Collecting Expected Information​

To connect properly to the TAO gateway and configure the Bosch ctrlX environment, ensure you have:

  • The MAC address of the TAO device (aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff)
  • The desired static IP address for the TAO gateway
  • The MQTT broker and ctrlX remote access details to configure the Actility App

Creating a Connection With ctrlX UI​

The creation of a connection establishes a data forwarding link between the TAO MQTT gateway and the ctrlX system via an installed application.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Tao Gateway IP​

You must first retrieve the IP address of the TAO device using its MAC address. Open a terminal

On Linux​

sudo nmap -sn X.X.X.0/X | grep -B 2 -i "aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff"

Example usage:

sudo nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24 | grep -B 2 -i "aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff"

On Windows​

arp -a | findstr aa-bb-cc-dd-ee-ff
Note

Windows displays MAC addresses with - dashes instead of : colons.

2. Set a Static IP on TAO Gateway​

Follow the steps below to set a fixed IP address on your TAO via the web interface.

  1. Open your browser and navigate to: http://<TAO_IP>:1323/login
  2. Log in with your credentials.
  • In the main menu, click on Local Base Station.
  1. Scroll down to the Network Interface Configuration section.
  2. Uncheck the DHCP box to disable automatic addressing.
  3. Fill in the desired network parameters.
Note

The 192.168.1.X network is not imposed—it’s simply the default subnet used when you connect your CTRLX to your PC (default IP 192.168.1.1). You can change this as needed, and we’ll cover configuring the CTRLX IP shortly.

  1. Click on "Change Configuration" and you should not be able to reach your tao from your previous IP address. Network configuration example
  • From your workstation, verify you can reach the new TAO IP (e.g., using ping).
Note

Ensure the static IP address is compatible with your local subnet and does not conflict with your DHCP range.

3. Set a static IP on CtrlX Bosch Rexroth​

Connect to your CtrlX Bosch Rexroth
Bosch configuration example
Go to Settings → Network Interfaces, then select your interface (e.g., XF-50 or XF-51)
In IPv4, uncheck Get IP settings automatically (DHCP)
Add a new IP address along with its subnet mask
Apply the changes, then verify your CtrlX appears under Devices with the assigned IP

Bosch configuration example​

OPTIONAL: Set a static IP on your Windows computer​

Go to Settings → Network → Ethernet
Click Edit under IP assignment, switch from DHCP to Manual, and enter your network parameters

4. Install the Actility App​

App NOT published in ctrlX Store​

Download the appropriate .snap file:

To install:

  1. Go to Settings → Apps.
  2. Click the 3 dots in the top-right corner.
    menu
  3. Click Settings and check Allow installation from unknown source.
    allow-installation
  4. Click Install from file and upload your .snap file.
    install

App published in ctrlX Store​

Go to your ctrlX interface, search for the app in the store and install it directly.

5. Configure the Actility App​

Once the app is installed:

  1. Click to open the configuration section.
    go-to-config-file
  2. In Log Management Settings, click on the house or folder icon.
    home-icon
  3. Navigate to the Actility folder and open config.json.
    actility-folder

Fill in the required configuration parameters:

The application comes fully preconfigured—you only need to set mqtt.host to point at your MQTT broker (TAO).

FieldDescription
mqtt.hostIP address or hostname of the MQTT broker (TAO).
mqtt.portPort of the MQTT broker, usually 1883.
mqtt.clientIDIdentifier used for the MQTT client (e.g., tao).
mqtt.usernameUsername for MQTT authentication (default: tao).
mqtt.passwordPassword for MQTT authentication (default: tao).
mqtt.topicTopic to subscribe to (e.g., # for all topics).
remote.ipIP address of the CtrlX Core (Bosch Rexroth).
remote.userLogin username for CtrlX Core (e.g., boschrexroth).
remote.passwordLogin password for CtrlX Core (e.g., boschrexroth).
remote.sslPortHTTPS port used for communication (default: 443).
resetDatalayerBoolean flag to clear the data layer on startup—set to true if you want to wipe all existing data (this can take some time). It will reset back to false on the next launch.

Displaying Information to Know if It Worked​

After successful configuration, go to:

Settings → DataLayer

actility-data-layer

You should see an actility folder in the list.

Note

If you do not see the folder, it does not necessarily mean the app is not working.
Make sure that the TAO MQTT broker has sent at least one message. The folder only appears when data is received.

Limitations​

  • Ensure the installed app is compatible with your ctrlX Core architecture (ARM64 vs x86_64).
  • DataLayer entries only appear after a first message is received on the MQTT topic.
  • IP conflicts may occur if the static address is not reserved properly.

Troubleshooting​

  • Verify the MAC address and subnet if the TAO gateway is not detected.
  • Ensure MQTT messages are being published by the TAO device.
  • Confirm port forwarding is properly enabled on ctrlX Core.
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