For Ethernet-ready Siemens PLCs, follow these steps: Gather Components: Ensure you have a standard Ethernet cable. Connect to PLC: Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the PLC and the other end into your PC or network switch. There are 4 steps you need to take to get your Windows computer talking to an A-B PLC. That could be a serial cable or a USB cable with some of the more modern controllers, or it could be ethernet or. Connecting to an Allen Bradley PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) via Ethernet can be a straightforward process but its important to ensure that you are following proper procedures to avoid any potential connectivity issues. In this example, we will go over the steps you need to take to connect to. I can do a direct connection via ethernet with either controller with a cable from my laptop with no problem. I've transferred that to the controller while directly connected, then tried going online again but get a communications error. This software facilitates. How do I use the onboard Ethernet port of a S7-1200 CPU for direct PLC-to-PLC communication? To use the onboard Ethernet port of a Siemens S7-1200 CPU for direct PLC-to-PLC communication, follow these steps: 1.