Device Manufacturers

can offer images / configurations for CODESYS Virtual Control SL on their computers and industrial devices. This gives their customers, the users of automation systems, maximum freedom in the development of control applications which they can then, for example, organize in separate "micro-services".

CODESYS Users

can choose any computer architecture, such as industrial devices, servers, or cloud platforms to deploy or orchestrate CODESYS Virtual Control SL. In this way, they can implement exactly those virtual controllers they need for their application. The performance can also be scaled precisely. All control instances can be orchestrated via Linux commands or scripts, with appropriate tools (e.g. Kubernetes, Open Shift) or directly from the CODESYS Automation Server (in preparation). Access to field level is provided by high-performance virtual LAN, which is also available in all industrial devices.

Advantages of virtual control systems compared to classic PLCs:

• Enormous cost savings in hardware procurement, wiring, operation, and maintenance
• Machine and plant operators can provide and manage hardware platform themselves.
• Independence from hardware and hardware manufacturers
• Easy scaling through dynamic creation of control instances and the ability to expand hardware independently from software
• Security by design by distributing tasks to several independent control instances with powerful intercommunication
• Interoperability with other services ("micro services")
• Simplified rollout of security updates
• Central maintenance and care of virtual controls with the technologies and convenience of IT systems, including application updates

Curious?

Soon you will be able to test the Virtual Control yourself!