Is That a Protocol?
Are these protocols: RS-232, Ethernet, OPC UA, PROFINET, MQTT? What is a protocol, specifically a network protocol? Merriam Webster says “a set of conventions governing the treatment and especially the formatting of data in an electronic communications system <network protocols>” This seems incomplete to me, so here’s Techopedia’s definition: “Network protocols are formal standards and…
Read MoreForecast: Cloudy with a Chance of PROFINET
“Cloud” is one of the current automation buzzwords. It just means that the computer is not here. It’s in an offsite location administered and backed up by specialists. There’s nothing wrong with outsourcing. I outsource driving directions to Google Maps instead of my wife now. But Cloud is not about where the computer is; it’s…
Read MoreWhere PROFINET Has Boldly Gone
September 8 marks the 50th anniversary of Star Trek’s premiere. I admit that I am a complete fan, especially of ST:TOS (or, for the non-cognoscenti – Star Trek: The Original Series). Back then I was a fan of all things science fiction; now I’m just a fan of some things science fiction. (Yes, “some things”…
Read MorePI North America General Assembly Meeting
The 22nd PI North America General Assembly Meeting is coming up at the end of September. I have not been to all of them – I missed one. If you are a PI North America member you should start (or continue) your own attendance streak. When I first attended back in 1994, I wanted more…
Read MoreBack to School (for PROFINET)
School kids have already gone back to school here or are about to. And PROFINET one-day training classes are about to resume after their summer hiatus. Over the next month we’ll be in Montreal, Boston, and Houston. Then four more to finish the calendar year with 17 classes. We hope to see you in one…
Read MorePROFINET Plugfest Report
Ok, I’ll admit it: I was a skeptic about the North American plugfest. Could we get enough devices and controllers? Could we pull together a plugfest having never done one in North America? I now know that the answers to both questions is “Yes!” There were 6 controllers and 30 devices. Enough to keep us…
Read MorePROFINET Network Security
“Plausible deniability is not a security strategy.” This blog post is for users who have not taken any steps towards securing their networks. At some random time in the near future a hacker will shut down your machine, your line, your plant. How will you try to invoke deniability? Production is air-gapped. There is no…
Read MorePROFINET in Process
PROFIBUS PA is for process and PROFINET is for factory automation. That was true once. But not now. PROFINET is now often used in process plants as the main network backbone. And PROFIBUS PA is still used where no Industrial Ethernet can go – into hazardous areas. Hazardous areas have atmospheres that go boom when…
Read MorePROFINET and Big Data
All that big data has to come from somewhere. And PROFINET delivers it. But what is Big Data? Herewith some quotes from the IEEE Computer Society magazine Computing Edge, May issue: “Integrating heterogeneous datasets is essentially what distinguishes big data from traditional data manipulation and analytic tasks.” [Qiang Yang, “Cross-Domain Data Fusion”] “Nonoccurring behaviors (NOBs)…
Read MorePROFINET Plugfest
Plugfests are also called InterOps (for InterOperate). They allow devices from many vendors to be attached to networks of various controllers. We have an upcoming PROFINET Plugfest. But, wait, why is that necessary? All PROFINET products must be certified in a PI-accredited test lab and be granted a certificate from PI. Those test are extensive…
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