Owing to the explosion of the Internet of Things, the number of OT/IT applications increases, and so too does network complexity. Having an abstraction interface can go a long way toward reducing this complexity. Our Secure Integration Server (SIS) is one such example that provides a layer that simplifies management between the OT and IT domains based on the OPC UA standard.
For companies with global production sites, centralized secure data integration is the key factor for competitiveness, progress and safeguarding their existence. After all, the operating data from thousands of programmable logic controllers must be integrated, aggregated and securely processed - especially in view of future Industrial IoT applications. Softing offers professional and reliable solutions, as a case study from a customer shows.
tManager acts as a PLC in-chassis transaction manager, moving plant floor data between enterprise systems and PLCs. It also connects PLCs to cloud applications, analytics apps or dashboards in minutes. In a recent Rockwell Automation Webinar, Softing experts answered audience questions about the ins and outs of tManager. We’ve compiled some questions and answers to broaden your understanding of how tManager works.
Intelligent field devices, from valves to temperature transmitters can detect faults, and in many cases, enable you to trend incoming data to avoid faults altogether. The challenge of managing the complexity of many intelligent field devices across different protocols can be overcome by utilizing a handheld, portable interface tool that supports multiple protocols simultaneously.
tManager makes it easy to connect the worlds of OT and IT in your factory. This PLC in-chassis transaction manager moves plant floor data between enterprise systems and PLCs. It also lets you connect PLCs to your favorite Cloud application, analytics app or dashboard — all in 10 minutes.
Along with HART and Foundation Fieldbus, PROFIBUS is one of the most important communication protocols for digital field devices in the process industry. By supporting digital communication and manufacturer-independent device exchange, it offers the best conditions for controlling, monitoring, and streamlining production processes. But to make the communication architecture fit for the requirements of IIoT applications, faster data transmission is needed. For this purpose, modern Ethernet-based PLCs are available, which allow existing PROFIBUS networks in the process industry to be expanded with modern and highly functional segments.
When it comes to field device management, the process industry still seems to overlook the two key aspects of protocols and ‘accessibility’ – at least that’s the impression we get from the tools provided by instrument suppliers. Softing Industrial has filled this application gap with two mobile enterprise solutions, which are the first in the world to support the three major protocols of HART, FOUNDATION Fieldbus, and PROFIBUS PA in a single device for connection to intelligent field devices while also offering an interface for integration and data provisioning.
A conventional approach to diagnosing network problems is to use network monitoring tools and frame analyzers. However, in a lot of cases, these tools don't reveal the problem. For a complete picture of the health of your PROFIBUS network, it’s important to evaluate everything: the cables, connectors, topology, packets — and the signal itself.
Container applications open up new possibilities for use in automation technology with many advantages. edgeConnector products from Softing’s dataFEED family offer state-of-the-art access to process data in SIMATIC S7, SINUMERIK 840D and Modbus TCP controllers. They are using a Docker container technology, enabling customers to choose between a conventional hardware gateway, middleware or a Docker container application when implementing their Industry 4.0 and IIoT applications.
This blog post explores how Softing's tManager bridged the gap between the enterprise and controller levels in a robotic welding application.
