Distant connection to a PLC through a 3G industrial modem

[mahmoud_ics]

Hi everybody,

I have a "REDLION, IndustrialPro Series Router, RAM-6000 Series Router" and i want to link it on an ethernet switch with an Allen Bradley Controllogix CPU and a PanelView.

I configured the distant link by having a private APN from an internet provider.

To have the possibility to read CPU data from a distant location, how can i proceed to configure it?

Is it necessary to install an HMI software in all distant equipment that will be used to read data?

Thank you in advance

 

[sigmadelta]

If you have a private APN, you can only connect to your Controllogix/PanelView network remotely only if your computer (with HMI software or programming software) is connected to the same private APN on the cellular network. I am not sure if your cellular provider would give you VPN access from the general internet into their private network or not, you have to ask them.

A public APN would give you a public IP address, which would be accessible from any internet connection, but this is usually more expensive from the cellular provider.

 

[mahmoud_ics]

The provider will give a private apn with a private fixed ip address.

The router has its web user interface with the possibility to configure IO by modbus addressing, but, in my architecture i do not have a read write module for modbus transfer data such as MCM module from Prosoft technology.

I want to know how can i proceed?

 

[sigmadelta]

If you only have a private APN, your remote computer must also have a private APN IP address as well.

 

[sigmadelta]

PS: You could get a cellular USB stick for your computer from the same cellular provider, but ask them if you can be on the same APN as your RedLion RAM-6000.

 

[mahmoud_ics]

The link between the distant PC and the 3G modem is OK.

I want to find how to read data from my CPU using modem web page.

 

[sigmadelta]

If your distant PC and 3G modem are on the same private APN, I think you can just open a webpage, and type in the IP address of the 3G modem.

Example: http://192.168.1.1/ (replace this address with your private IP address)

 

[sigmadelta]

Do you just want to view the data, and nothing else? Or do you want to log the data too?

 

[mahmoud_ics]

Just view and if you can tell me how to log, it will be appreciated

 

[sigmadelta]

Well, instead of (or in addition to) the PanelView, it would be better to have a computer-based HMI (like FactoryTalk View, or CitectSCADA). Then you could install something like Teamviewer to remotely access the HMI computer from anywhere.

 

[mahmoud_ics]

I want to give access just to view only to more than 1 user, so i can not give access to a computer connected on the PLC

 

[sigmadelta]

If you have PanelView-Plus-7:

http://ab.rockwellautomation.com/Graphic-Terminals/2711P-PanelView-Plus-7-Terminals

It has:

•Monitors applications from a remote location with VNC connectivity

This would work for remote viewing.