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CREATING A BOSCH CTRLX REXROTH CONNECTION

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​

Connect to the TAO and configure a static IP:

ssh support@<TAO-IP-ADDRESS>
# Password: tao

Follow the guide: ThingPark Static IP Configuration Guide (suplog)

Note

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

3. Enable Port Forwarding on ctrlX Core​

You must enable port forwarding to access the MQTT broker:

  1. Edit your ctrlX Core configuration.
  2. Click the pen icon, go to Extended section.
  3. Enable the Port Forwarding option.
    port forwarding

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:

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.username / mqtt.passwordAuthentication credentials for MQTT broker
mqtt.topicTopic to subscribe to (e.g., # for all topics)
remote.ipIP address of the ctrlX Core
remote.user / remote.passwordLogin credentials for ctrlX Core
remote.sslPortHTTPS port used for communication (default 443)
Important note

All configuration parameters are not shown here. You can check more in the application documentation or support portal.

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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