the ESS plug only works on a real machine you can`t sim it. and yes it works fine it`s a pitta to set up you have to set it up in the correct order other wise it`s a killer.
you just make sure before you start that only axis 0, 1 and 2 are ticked or nothing set at all, you set the E STOP first then axis if everything is fine after that you set inputs and outputs you do a restart of mach each it time you do setting changes