Description of the device 
  1.5 C-PLUG and KEY-PLUG 
SCALANCE M874, M876 
Operating Instructions, 06/2015, C79000-G8976-C331-05 
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C-PLUG and KEY-PLUG 
How it works 
The C-PLUG or KEY-PLUG is used to transfer the configuration of the old device to the new 
device when a device is replaced.  
 
Do not remove or insert a C-PLUG / KEY-PLUG during operation! 
A PLUG may only be removed or inserted when the device is turned off. 
The device checks whether or not a PLUG is present at one second intervals. If it is 
detected that the PLUG was removed, there is a restart.  
If a valid KEY-PLUG was inserted in the device, the device changes to a defined error state 
following the restart. 
When the new device starts up with the PLUG, it then continues automatically with exactly 
the same configuration as the old device. One exception to this can be the IP configuration if 
it is set over DHCP and the DHCP server has not been reconfigured accordingly. 
A reconfiguration is necessary if you use functions based on MAC addresses.  
If an incorrect PLUG, for example from another product or a damaged PLUG is inserted, the 
device signals an error with the "F" LED.  
You can either remove the PLUG again or select the option to reformat the PLUG. 
In terms of the PLUG, devices work in two modes: 
●  Without PLUG 
The device stores the configuration in internal memory. This mode is active when no 
PLUG is inserted. 
●  With PLUG 
The configuration stored on the PLUG is displayed in WBM in "Information > PLUG". If 
changes are made to the configuration, the device stores the configuration directly on the 
PLUG and in the internal memory. This mode is active as soon as a PLUG is inserted. As 
soon as the device is started with a PLUG inserted, the device starts up with the 
configuration data on the PLUG. 
License information on the KEY-PLUG 
In addition to the configuration, the KEY-PLUG also contains a license that allows the use of 
Siemens Remote Services.