Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2021 - 42

Software
Industrial Software Integrates With IT
Modern PLCs now include IT-capable software and communications protocols, empowering
users to easily access edge-sourced data and integrate it with the enterprise.
AutomationDirect, Cumming, Georgia
ndustrial programmable logic controllers
(PLCs) and their associated
operations technology (OT) software
and communication protocols have traditionally
been best suited for localized
installations. They lacked the computing
performance, connectivity options, and
security needed to easily integrate them
with higher-level information technology
(IT) resources.
I
Mobile
ERP LAN
Fire Wall
Remote PC
Enterprise
Desktops
Users are looking for better ways of
connecting with the data available from
smart sensors and intelligent systems in
the field as they create Internet of
Things (IoT) solutions. Fortunately,
some newer PLCs are leveraging software
advances so users can easily extract
manufacturing system data and transmit
it to business systems.
Due to the nature of field signals and
conditions, it makes a lot of sense to
install robust and reliable PLCs near the
data sources. Traditional PLC limitations
in years past made it necessary to create
and manage a relatively complex architecture
of PCs and gateways above these
PLCs, to concentrate and route the data
(Figure 1). Custom code was often re -
quired and users spent a lot of effort
adding contextual information such as
engineering units and tag descriptions.
Cybersecurity provisions were lacking at
best and non-existent at worst.
Most PLCs today include OT protocols
like ASCII, Modbus RTU, K-Seq, Modbus
TCP, and EtherNet/IP. However, only
the most modern models incorporate ITcapable
software and protocols such as
SNTP DNS, MQTT, SMTP, SSL, and web
services (Figure 2). With the right IT
software running on an OT PLC platform,
users can choose one or more ways
to connect their data directly to the
cloud, all without needing intermediate
computing (Figure 3).
For bulk data transactions that do not
need to be near-real-time, the PLC can
aggregate data and periodically transmit
it as a file using FTP.
* Web Server: If users only need to visualize
data using a web browser, a PLC
42
Cov
Figure 2. Modern PLCs combine robust OT form factors with IT-capable software and protocols, so
users can seamlessly transmit valuable data from edge-located sources up to enterprise and cloud
systems. (Courtesy of AutomationDirect)
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ToC
Tech Briefs, October 2021
Web Server
Fire Wall
Corporate
Database
Corporate
Servers
PLANT DMZ
(Reverse Web Proxy)
Patch Server
OPERATIONS LAN
Jump Server
Fire Wall
Logistics
CONTROL LAN
Local
HMI
Local
HMI
Management
Project
Manager
Ethernet
Switch
Scheduling
Factory
Floor
Plant Floor
Manager
PLC
Figure 1. Accessing valuable plant data from field PLCs has traditionally required significant amounts
of hardware, software, networking, and expertise. (Courtesy of AutomationDirect)
Ethernet

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Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2021

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