New Product - Windows/Linux ControlLogix .NET Library

[6D Systems LLC 0]

I'm new around here (posting wise, I frequent the forum for reading quite often), so I hope I'm not pushing a rule of any sort. First, a little about me and 6D Systems LLC... I'm the owner of 6D Systems LLC, a small automation consulting firm and software developer. I've been in the automation world for about 10 years, mostly working in the marine environment. I have software running on some very mission critical systems like U.S. Navy ships, ballast control/monitoring for oil rigs and dry dock barges, the U.S. Coast Guard, and others. I've written a lot of HMI's in .NET (even after reading how negative a lot of people are about it), because of it's rapid development time and stability (some of my HMI's have been running for 3 years non-stop). A couple months ago I decided to take the plunge and start 6DS with the idea of doing consulting, but primarily writing better automation software. I already have a full HMI designer suite in beta test (an add-on to Visual Studio), but it's using a third-party driver for talking with ControlLogix PLC's (until ControlLogixNET exits the beta period, read on...). I noticed there was a big disconnect in the Linux world. There used to be TuxPLC (you can still find the source if you are really crafty), ABEL/ has gone from free to $875 and still doesn't get you to the data you need. Even the Windows platform doesn't have a lot of .NET ControlLogix/PLC5/PLC2/SLC drivers out there. A lot of people were stuck buying expensive OPC drivers and muddling through the wonderful world of DCOM, and still stuck with Windows. So 6DS has developed a ControlLogix driver that is compatible with both Windows and Linux (on Mono) that does not require any AB software. We also have a generic Ethernet/IP / CIP messaging library that works on both Windows and Linux, but the stack requires a lot of knowledge of the Ethernet/IP / CIP protocol to implement (you have to know how to stick an MR Request in a Connected Data Item, in a Common Packet Format, into an RR Data Request, and then into the Encapsulation Header for example). What we need are 4 beta testers, 2 for Linux, and 2 for Windows. ------ What you will get ------ Beta participants will get a full developers seat copy of the ControlLogix and Ethernet/IP library for free. ------------------------------------ ------ Requirements ------ 1. Beta participants need to be proficient in the C# or VB .NET languages. 2. Linux participants need to have a working knowledge of how to run MONO applications. 3. No GUI experience required, you can beta test using only console applications if desired. 4. Must have access to a ControlLogix processor (L55, L61, L63, L35, etc) 5. Must be willing to sign an NDA. 6. Must be willing to agree to the license terms (available by email, standard terms though). ---------------------------------- ------ How to Apply ------ 1. Meet the requirements :) 2. Send an email to beta (at-) 6dsystems (dot.) com 3. In the email, please state the following: - Your name (don't have to give the full name, just would like to know what to call you) - Your experience level with ControlLogix processors. - Your experience level with C# or VB.NET - If you want to be a Windows or Linux (or both) tester. - Type of processor you have access to. - Information about your computer (Ghz, Memory, Operating System, etc). - Company you work for, and years in the industry you are in. ------------------------------- Any questions or concerns are greatly appreciated and I will do my best to answer them here or by email. You can email me anytime at ron (-at) 6dsystems (-dot.) com. If you have any protocols you would like to be added to a .NET Linux/Windows library let me know, currently in the pipeline are the DH+ PLC's, Omron FINS, and Siemens. -Ron B.

[6D Systems LLC 0]

Hey guys... We now have the first version out. There are tons of features that a lot of other libraries don't support, such as enumerating the tags on the processor, custom defined types by extending a LogixUDT data type, implicit conversions to native types, events on processor state change (key switch, fault state, OK LED state), and more. Using an optimization method on the processor by reading arrays instead of individual tags, we are reading up to 15,000 data points per second. Feel free to check out the product page: http://eshop.6dsystems.com/?product=controllogixnet (downloadable 15 minute demo on that page for Windows, Mono coming soon) You can also check out our knowledgebase (growing every day): http://kb.6dsystems.com And lastly, you can browse our online help for the library to get a feel for using the library here: http://help.6dsystems.com/ControlLogixNet/ (will be updated almost daily until we are happy with it). Any questions please feel free to contact out development team, devteam (-at ) 6dsystems (.) com Thank you!