Industrial

Software module to connect controllers and machines to IIoT applications

Container technology with access to controller’s data via OPC UA and MQTT with flexible deployment options for higher-level applications

edgeConnector connects to Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Modbus TCP, FANUC CNC, and Sinumerik 840D controllers and provides access to data via an OPC UA server interface. In addition, the data can also be transmitted to MQTT brokers using MQTT. As a docker container, it offers flexible cloud connectivity options, for example on devices running Azure IoT Edge or AWS IoT Greengrass.

The application is easy to configure locally via a built-in Web interface. It can also be managed remotely via its REST API. Configuration is flexible and includes fine-tuned security settings (e.g. role-based access rights for OPC UA client applications).

As a first strategic extension of Softing’s dataFEED product family into virtualization- and container technology, the new product leverages Softing deep experience with brownfield connectivity with MQTT and OPC UA technology and makes it available for new and highly efficient IoT solution architectures.

Software module to connect controllers and machines to IIoT applications | edgeConnector

Overview

Access to existing PLC and CNC controller data

  • Access to machine data from different controllers, such as SIMATIC Siemens PLCs, Allen-Bradley PLCs, Modbus TCP PLCs, SINUMERIK 840D CNCs, FANUC CNCs
  • Connection of up to 20 Controllers with one container runtime
  • Solution for retrofit IIoT integration of existing controllers, thus protecting previous investments

Standardize and simplify the machine data integration

  • Integration of higher-level management systems like ERP, MES, or SCADA using integrated OPC UA Server providing open, platformindependent, and market-proven communication
  • Simple data transmission to an MQTT broker using the MQTT publisher functionality for local or cloud-based solutions
  • Protect investment through simple retrofit upgrades, as well as for modern controllers’ integration, without require modifying the running configuration in them

Lightweight flexible container solution

  • Container image stored in the online repository Docker Hub
  • Less resources plus increased scalability and flexibility
  • Highly flexible state-of-the-art application to be deployed, adjusted, started, and, if needed, stopped immediately
  • Deployment and configuration also via management systems such as Portainer, Kubernetes, Azure IoT Edge, or AWS IoT Greengrass

Secure communication

  • Support of all security functions of OPC UA and MQTT
  • Supporting security standards such as SSL/TLS and X.509 certificates, authentication, and data encryption.
  • Filtered access depending on IP address (Whitelist / Blacklist for OPC UA endpoints)
  • Detection of DoS (Denial of Service) attacks on OPC UA authentication

PLC with OPC UA Server

PLC with OPC UA Server | edgeConnector

Data aggregation and interface abstraction

  • Aggregation of data from multiple sources in a server (aggregation of the namespace)
  • Application access to aggregation servers, avoid many individual data sources
  • Extensive and flexible OPC UA Service-based address space filtering, down to OPC UA Item level
  • Reduced configuration effort (Configuration not required individually for each OPC UA data source and each OPC UA Client)

Siemens SIMATIC controllers

Siemens SIMATIC controllers | edgeConnector

Access to Siemens SIMATIC PLC data

  • Read and write data access from SIMATIC S7-300, S7-400, S7-1200, S7-1500 controllers
  • Support of optimized data blocks in SIMATIC S7-1200/1500 controllers
  • Namespace configuration by importing SIMATIC STEP7 or TIA Portal project files or by direct browsing the variables in S7-1200/1500 controllers
  • Support of structures and arrays. Possibility to expand arrays into their individual children’s elements

Allen-Bradley controllers

Allen-Bradley controllers | edgeConnector

Access to Allen-Bradley controller’s data

  • Read and write data access from ControlLogix (CLX) and CompactLogix controller through EtherNet/IP CIP.
  • Connection to PLCs is possible through routing functionality.
  • Support for all atomic data types referred as Elementary Data Types
  • Support for structures and arrays. Arrays can be accessed through their individual children’s elements.

Modbus TCP controllers

Modbus TCP controllers | edgeConnector

Access to data in Modbus TCP controllers

  • Read and write access to Modbus TCP controls, e.g. from Schneider Electric, Wago, Siemens PAC, Beckhoff, Phoenix Contact, etc.
  • Namespace configuration using a text file created by the user with standard Modbus TCP syntax

SINUMERIK CNC controllers

SINUMERIK CNC controllers | edgeConnector

Accessing tooling machine data

  • Access data SINUMERIK 840D Solution Line and Power Line CNCs
  • Pre-defined namespace, customizable for special machine data sets
  • Automatic tool recognition and listing of all available magazines and tools
  • Reading of CNC/PLC alarms, as well as GUD variables and R parameters

FANUC CNC controllers

FANUC CNC controllers | edgeConnector

Accessing tooling machine data

  • Access data from FANUC series:
    • 30i, 31i, 31i-B, 31i-B5, 32i-B, 35i-B
    • 0i-D, 0i-F, 0i-F Plus
    • Power Motion i – A (PM-i)
    • FANUC NCGuide (Simulator)
  • Pre-defined namespace, customizable for user defined PMC areas
  • No change at the CNC program is needed

Technical Data

edgeConnector    
Supported Protocols Northbound
  • MQTT V3.1, V3.1.1 & V5
  • OPC UA Server
  Southbound
  • OPC UA Client
  • Modbus TCP
  • SIMATIC S7, RFC1006, S7+: S7-300, S7-400, S7-1200, S7-1500 PLCs
  • Ethernet/IP CIP: Allen-Bradley ControlLogix (CLX) and CompactLogix PLCs
  • SINUMERIK (RFC1006): SINUMERIK 840D PL & SL CNCs
  • FOCAS (Ethernet): FANUC CNCs
Supported MQTT Specifications   V3.1, V3.1.1 & V5
Supported MQTT Features  
  • MQTT Publisher & Subscriber
  • TCP, TLS/SSL, WS, WSS (including certificates)
  • QoS, Retain, Last Will & Testament
  • Store & Forward
Supported OPC Specifications   OPC Unified Architecture V1.04
OPC UA Roles   OPC UA Server
OPC UA Profiles   Data Access
OPC UA Security Security Methods
  • Aes256Sha256-RsaPss
  • Aes128SHA256-RsaOaep
  • Basic256Sha256
  • Basic256
  • Basic128Rsa15
  • None
  Authentication
  • Anonymous
  • Username and Password
  • Certificate
OPC Compliance   Test based on compliance test tools of OPC Foundation
Configuration Interface  
  • Username / Password
  • LDAP / LDAPS
Logging, Diagnostics  
  • Built-in trace and audit logging facilities, configurable and accessible through the web interface Docker integrated trace logging,
  • Prometheus Metrics Information
Supported Operating Systems   Linux (Docker Engine), Windows 10 and Windows 11 (Docker Desktop and Docker Engine through WSL2)
Supported Architectures   AMD64, ARM64, ARM32
Supported Container Orchestration Systems   Kubernetes (K8s), Amazon ECS
Minimum Hardware Requirements   320 MB free disk space
2 GB RAM
Licensing   Licensed via Softing Floating License Server
Demo Version   20 PLC connections timed at 72 hours
REST-API   Access using the edgeConfigurator, download via Docker Hub

Order Information

Scope of Delivery  
Software dataFEED edgeConnector, Download via Docker Hub or Softing Webpage
License Key E-mail delivery
Documentation Online help (German / English) and Github
Order Numbers  
LRL-XX-161001 edgeConnection – Perpetual License*
LMA-XX-161001 edgeConnection – Software Upgrade License
* edgeConnection License already include 1 Year Software Upgrade license (LMA-XX-161001)
Additional Products and Services  
  edgeAggregator
GPA-CS-041000 NETLink S7-Compact (for S7-300/S7-400 without CP or Ethernet connection)
GAA-YY-051000 edgeGate