LinuxPLC, what is it?

  • Thread starter Hendri du Preez
  • Start date
H

Thread Starter

Hendri du Preez

Hi!

Could someone explain to me what exactly is LinuxPLC. How does it communicate with instruments in the field and how does it all fit
together? Even if you could refer me to readings where I can find out more about it.

Secondly, does anyone know if there is programming software that runs on linux to program a siemens S5 and S7 PLC's.

Thanx
Hendri

 
Hendri:
> Could someone explain to me what exactly is LinuxPLC.

It is a soft-PLC package - a suite of programs that run on a PC to control (or merely monitor) an industrial process or similar.

> How does it communicate with instruments in the field

The PC can have I/O cards itself, or it can use a bus (such as Modbus) to communicate with instruments.

> and how does it all fit together?

At this stage, the project is under development. It is far enough that it can up and run, but not far enough that anyone's actually used it.

The software itself is structured as several modules (programs) that work together. Each module has a dedicated function - one might handle I/O, another logic, a third yet the interaction with the operator.

> Even if you cuold refer me to readings where I can find out more about
> it.

There's some information on our web page, and in the intro to our manual.

http://mat.sf.nethttp://mat.sf.net/manual/intro.html

> Secondly, does anyone know if there is programming software that runs on
> linux to program a siemens S5 and S7 PLC's.

No idea, I'm afraid.

Jiri
--
Jiri Baum <[email protected]> http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jirib
MAT LinuxPLC project --- http://mat.sf.net --- Machine Automation Tools
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