ECN Forum Forums Technical Discussion Re: Computers and the Internet Linux and PLCs

We have several Alien-Bradley PLCs at work and I was wondering if there was a port to Linux for accessing them or not.

I'm not familiar with them, and I don't understand that question perfectly.

But I think Google searching looks promising:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ncherry/ http://marketing.li.org/success/view.php?x=7 http://www.comtime.com/cti_website/products/ab_pccc_protocol.html http://sourceforge.net/projects/abplc5/

The last one looks especially appropriate.

I'm not sure I understand the question either. If I remember correctly, A-B PLC's can be configured with any of several communications protocols (DH2, Modbus+, even ethernet, etc.) Are you just needing PLC software that runs on a Linux operating system? I'm presuming you have a Linux unit you want to utilize, what communication protocols do you have available for your Linux unit? Someone hot on A-B PLC's would know about available software, or maybe an A-B rep.

I know A-B has a website, you might also try AutomationDirect (do a yahoo search for the web address). Sorry if this is simplistic and old information to you.

Radar

I don't know for certain, but I'd be a little surprised if there was a linux port of the RSView software.
You will most likely need to use some cross-platform software such as Wine or VMware.
Wine is GPL software and so is available at zero cost if your linux does not already have it. However, the chances of Wine actually running RSView correctly are, IMHO, slim.
VMWare costs, but is highly likely to allow RSView to run properly.
Good luck with this. I, for one, would be very interested to hear how you get on.

Thanks for the help guys, I talked to one of the contractors the other day and he said that he didn't that AB's RSView would run under anything but Windows either. IF I can find out anything different I will let you know.