For large plants, you can configure CP cards as routers (e.g., CP 443-1 Advanced). NCM Manager allows you to set static routes, NAT (Network Address Translation), and proxy ARP—features rarely found in standard PLC software.

For these systems:

SIMATIC NCM PC Manager is a specialized version of SIMATIC Manager (STEP 7) designed exclusively for configuring communication services and PC stations. It is often bundled with SIMATIC NET

This is far more powerful than a simple "ping" test. It allows a maintenance technician to pinpoint a faulty cable or port in seconds.

Are you working on a project that requires configuring or third-party TCP communication ?