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How To: Use ControlByWeb’s I/O Controller for Web-Based Logic

How To: Use ControlByWeb’s I/O Controller for Web-Based Logic

Logic is critical for industrial control, and it usually looks like ladders, function blocks, or structured text. I/O controllers are designed to automate simple logic tasks and data functions.


Licensing Your New Software in the Modern Industrial Landscape

Licensing Your New Software in the Modern Industrial Landscape

As commercial and industrial software migrates to ‘cloud-based’ and ‘subscription’ models, what does it mean? How does it affect the usability and security of critical parts of control infrastructure?


Networking Woes | How and Why To Change the IP Address of My Computer?

Networking Woes | How and Why To Change the IP Address of My Computer?

Every method of connecting to an industrial device—USB, serial, or Ethernet—poses challenges. For Ethernet, we often must adjust the IP address of our PC, not only the device itself.


Python Tutorial Part 5 | Data Structures: Tuples

Python Tutorial Part 5 | Data Structures: Tuples

As we approach the conclusion of Python data structures, we’ll examine the tuple. Used less frequently than lists and dictionaries, tuples do serve some handy use cases where immutability is a critical requirement.


Accelerating Pulp and Paper Processing with Advanced Process Control

Accelerating Pulp and Paper Processing with Advanced Process Control

Innovative pulp and paper operators are turning advanced process control, automated testing, and quality control system data into actionable business insights that improve operational efficiency all along the value chain.


DCS vs. SCADA: What’s the Difference?

DCS vs. SCADA: What’s the Difference?

Controlling and optimizing plant processes is the goal of most control systems. It can be a challenge to distinguish between different types of control: a DCS or a high-level SCADA system?


How Is Your Code Backed Up? Maximizing DevOps in Industrial Automation

How Is Your Code Backed Up? Maximizing DevOps in Industrial Automation

Shifting from manual code backup processes to more modern, automated solutions can provide more benefits to manufacturers, far above simply the time saved compared to manual techniques.


Using Virtualization Technology to Enhance Industrial Control System

Using Virtualization Technology to Enhance Industrial Control System

Automated control systems incorporate virtualization technology to reduce physical hardware, automatically minimizing the cost of IT/OT equipment, installations, and maintenance efforts.


STEP RIGHT UP, Get Your IP Address Here! Understanding BOOTP vs. DHCP

STEP RIGHT UP, Get Your IP Address Here! Understanding BOOTP vs. DHCP

When IT and OT converge on the shop floor, it’s important to understand how and when to let a computer control the assignment of network addresses, or when you would rather keep it under control.


Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 4: Connecting MQTT Client to Broker

Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 4: Connecting MQTT Client to Broker

Continuing the real-world IIoT project, learn how to begin integrating the Raspberry Pi with the Mosquitto Broker and understand Docker networks and port binding.


Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 2: Testing The Data Payload

Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 2: Testing The Data Payload

Learn to develop an actual IoT solution end to end. This second article explains configuration files, testing the edge device publisher script, and viewing the payload using a sandbox subscriber script.


Creating and Using a Virtual Environment in Python

Creating and Using a Virtual Environment in Python

An overview of the theory, implementation, and reason to utilize a virtual environment in your Python scripting journey.


Managing Program Versions: Use Git to Commit and Track Files

Managing Program Versions: Use Git to Commit and Track Files

If you’re working collaboratively with teams in a corporate industrial setting and require a version control system for critical software or documents, Git is a must-have in your skillset.


Ethernet Ports on Controllers: How Many, and What do They Do?

Ethernet Ports on Controllers: How Many, and What do They Do?

Some controllers and network devices have one port, while others have two. Why is there a difference, and what advantages does having two network ports actually provide?


How to Design and Deploy a Web-Based HMI Project - Part 1

How to Design and Deploy a Web-Based HMI Project - Part 1

A walkthrough and discussion of a simple web-based HMI solution that could modernize your current HMI technology stack. The first step in the process involves sending data from a device to a server.


How to Design and Deploy a Web-Based HMI Project - Part 4

How to Design and Deploy a Web-Based HMI Project - Part 4

Refining and integrating a front-end HMI application to an API middle layer with real-time data display and historian capabilities for short-term data visualization.


How to Design and Deploy a Web-Based HMI Project - Part 3

How to Design and Deploy a Web-Based HMI Project - Part 3

Learn the first steps in focusing on the integration of a front-end HMI application to an API middle layer.


How to Design and Deploy a Web-Based HMI Project - Part 2

How to Design and Deploy a Web-Based HMI Project - Part 2

The middle layer, or API layer of a custom-built HMI project involves a server that can submit or receive data to and from a device, either to provide the user interface or interact with the machine.


Industrial Wireless Technology: Communication and Programming

Industrial Wireless Technology: Communication and Programming

Wireless technology is typically slower to adoption for industrial automation, but what wireless advancements are shaping the current and future landscape of the automated factory floor?


Virtual LAN for IT/OT Nodes in Industrial Control Systems

Virtual LAN for IT/OT Nodes in Industrial Control Systems

Virtual networks can connect or isolate various local control networks through configuration of a managed switch. Why would we use VLANs, and how can you segment a network switch to create a VLAN?