Nathan

I'll forgive you for missing FactoryPMI since you left off the industry leader (BobLFoot caught)

Cool app - if you're always going between the same 2 or 3, you could bind multiple addresses to the same adapter. This typically works fine, but has been known to be the culprit of strange networking issues with old industrial equipment. Be ready to bind back a single address to the adapter if you see weirdness...

Used to do discreet manufacturing and pretty much anything that can be controlled with a PLC. Now it's software.

If the project does start again, check out FactorySQL. It's a program that runs as a "communication layer" to coordinate/synchronize data between SQL databases and PLCs. I would highly recommend using the free, MySQL database over Access, but FSQL can work with Access.

I would suggest read/write function calls via OPC. Then your code will work with multiple PLC types. You would need to buy or find an OPC server that works with your hardware. Kepserver EX as mentioned above supports pretty much everything. The OPC Foundation has sample code, but much of it requires that you be a member to download it.

Holy cow! Someone has some serious time on their hands - and talent!

.NET (VB, I think) OPC reference code is available on the OPC web site. You need to be a member to d/l some of the files. I'm not sure about that one. LMK if you're interested.

DOS based - interesting. What kind of power supplies, etc do you use with it. I like the idea of these (PC based PLCs, not specifically Softplc), but like BobLFoot, I'm placed firmly in the PLC camp for critical controls based on the actual, real world implementations that I've had experience with on both sides. Keep the learnin's flowin'... (in response to Ken's early post) - I agree with your comment - I would hardly consider a PLC emulator running on top of Windows to even fit into this category. Using that for industrial control would be begging for chaos. Feel free to prove me wrong if there's a solid product based on this idea for that purpose. I doubt it.

Good call Paul. If you're only dealing with one type of PLC a specific package/project would work fine. All those scripting languages he mentioned are relatively easy to use and very powerful. I haven't dealt with the "on rails" versions with the web APIs. Do they support a lot of AJAX? Maybe I'm "old school"...I'm still a fan of PHP. Waterboy - could you describe what you're trying to accomplish with the project?

The patent is the most ridiculous thing ever! Someone deserves to get smacked for that one! OPC(DA) is already a pretty old tech - based on MS DCOM, but it's the best (most standard) out there now. They're working on OPC-UA, which will use: XML, web services, security models, etc, etc. The lead OPC guy was one of the Rockwell's top programmers. He's in good with both FactoryTalk and Archestra and some of the better features of both with be integrated into OPC-UA - A non-proprietary standard is a win-win for all. I'd play with some of the VB or even VBA scripting with OPC. There's lots of examples out there. If you have specific OPC questions I can run them by our programmers and might be of some assistance. I'm not sure if there are any good OPC forums. I'll have to check...

Yep, does by default. Can change the settings though. Doesn't surprise me much that the Windows Internet sharing prog was vulnerable to attacks. Tough to write software designed to share off network access and still have the other stuff work when dealing with phony/bad packets, spoofing, etc. They're only the biggest software company in the world...

You've disabled any Windows or Norton personal firewalls? With that computer set as the DMZ host try pinging it across the 'net. "ping LINKSYS_WAN_IP". Nothing else comes to mind. I don't mind checking it out over http://www.gotomeeting.com if you'd like.

Good. Make sure that your FTP server on the illegal (non-routable) NAT address (probably 192.168.?.?) has a static address assigned (not DHCP). Then make sure that the port forward is port 21 (FTP) and that it goes to the right internal address, 192.168.?.?. Then, from the outside, make sure you're using ftp://LINKSYS_WAN_IP:21 You shouldn't need DMZ, that's just another step in troubleshooting b/c it'll forward all ports.

FactorySQL is $1895, not $4000 and the free trial will run for 2 hours at a time. Topserver is a rebranded Kepware OPC Server - basically performing the same functionality as RSLinx, which you already have. Kepware makes a good product. RSLinx is a good product. They're pretty similar as far as this application goes. Ken's suggestion with Excel via a DDE connection to Linx would work for a small, non-critical application. It is not terribly difficult to do. You should know that there is a (stupid) US patent protecting that (#5,038,318). Doing projects like this via Excel is pretty clunky. Think: computer must autologin, macros enabled, spreadsheet autoopen, no user touches the thing. Not exactly the pinnacle of reliability. DDE is old and clunky these days too. An MS service pack among many other things could mess up your app. If you're familiar with VB programming you can do this for free. The OPC foundation has free sample code to make OPC requests that would work via RSLinx (you said you have a copy of pro). Also look at OPC toolboxes, etc. You might check Sourceforge...I would highly recommend going OPC since you already have RSLinx versus any native AB driver projects you might stumble upon there. You'd really strike it if you can find an LGPL OPC datalogger project. I'll take a look.

Try FactorySQL. It'll synch your PLC to an SQL database enabling status indication or control via a web page. Your web page need only communicate with the database. I don't mind helping you get started if you'd like.

This is the most relevant forum section I could find. Should have said help finding valves... I'm looking for cheap (OEM) NC solenoid pinch valves for silicon tubing of about any (smaller) size for a personnal project. I've spent quite a bit of time looking on the 'net and almost everything I find is designed for medical or scientific research = big money :(. Need minimally 16 - don't need anything to handle extreme pressures, temperatures, etc. Seems like they should be cheap! Typical best deal on 3/8" valves that I find are > $50 each. They don't appear to be more than a $1 solenoid, a spring, and a piece of plastic. I'd be super-duper-duper excited to find some at around the $15 price range. Any ideas? TIA

(two) processors or dual core CPUs shouldn't matter. Are you running the 64 bit version of XP - that can hose your software bigtime (needs to be recompiled in order to run). Please describe your system with more detail including: OS and service pack and the version of the software you're trying to install.

jstolaruk, This is for an appliance project similar to what your friend was doing. Does anyone have OEM/Distributer contacts who might know who to get these things from a little cheaper - I'd probably be in for 100 or so. The silly things should be so cheap...

David, Can you access the FTP server from the same machine or another on the same side of the network (subnet)? Try ftp://127.0.0.1/folder. This step is KEY! If you can the next easy reality check is to set up that machine as the DMZ host in your router under the "advanced" tab. This will forward ALL incoming requests. Keep in mind that from the outside you will be addressing the WAN address of the Linksys router. Port forwarding should specify the port and (internal) IP address that it's going to. I can help you troubleshoot it over the Internet (gotomeeting) if you still can't get it to work.

I'm not surprised that you guys had never heard of solenoid pinch valves - I hadn't either until recently. They are an incredibly simple device. A spring forces the tube closed via a little plastic piece. The solenoid opens the valve. That's it! I can buy the same solenoids for $1. Not much use for them in manufacturing. They seem to be used in research labs and for medical apparatus. The point is that you can have a sterile liquid never touch anything but the tubing. When I said $50, that's the very cheapest that I can find any in bulk. Makes sense if you have pressure requirements, but this is a VERY SIMPLE device and I will probably need a whole slew of 'em. This link is a "nicer" one... http://www.clarksol.com/html/prodspecsPK_Valve.htm No luck on ebay. Only solenoid pinch valves are larger than I need and designed for NOS system. Thanks for the input.

Paul, I doubt that you're running into limits of what SQL Server can handle - and that's a great thing for you! There are many things that you can do to help performance. For example, SQL server has transaction logging set by default. This is an intensive setting for un-doing operations - totally irrelevant for data logging. When querying the data what is the search/filter/sort criteria...(proabably the date field)? Is this set as an index/primary key? If not, your queries are going to run MUCH slower. Other questions: How large is your database (in gigs)? What are the specs of your server (RAM, CPU)? How frequently do you log? How much data do you pull up at once? It may make sense to archive your data periodically. A lot of system performance depends on your database configuration. I have no problem helping you with your database.

Lol, must have been daydreaming ... I really did totally miss it

Cool. What's the ballpark price on these Ken?

Alarc found exactly the device he was looking for. Awesome! OP, you should really specify what your purpose is. Do you simply need a device that plays an audio file at the push of a button? Are you trying to implement this as a learning project?

How long has Firefox 2 been in its production version? What about IE7?