Is there any intelligent ways to install all the PLC software out there?

[Mandel314159]

I just graduated as a mechanical engineering student, and started this new job a controls specialist with a company in my area. My coworker has me starting up by installing all versions of RSLogix 5 through RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000, so far, I have to ask if there's a better way to do this than the method that we're doing. We're taking his installs from his computer and moving them over to mine manually with a 32gb thumb-drive. Are there VMs or any methods that I should be mindful of through this process? Is this all I can do?

 

[Ken Moore]

When I worked for an engineering firm. We had the Rockwell toolkit license, each year, someone would create a new VM and install all the software from Rockwell. Then the VM would be copied to each user. We used a central server for licenses, so now worries. You could do the same and then add license information to each VM. Works well because you only have to install all the software once.

 

[Mandel314159]

I think I want to try that out, making a VM with all of the rockwell software on there. At least I want to try and prevent this problem for future employees, and deepen what I'm understanding about this whole process a bit. Are you familiar with any working tutorials for building VMs for PLC stuff? if not, what VM resources would you recommend/what VM software did you use back when you used it?

 

[hardaysknight]

I think I want to try that out, making a VM with all of the rockwell software on there. At least I want to try and prevent this problem for future employees, and deepen what I'm understanding about this whole process a bit. Are you familiar with any working tutorials for building VMs for PLC stuff? if not, what VM resources would you recommend/what VM software did you use back when you used it?

There's multiple posts on the forum about this.



I would suggest using VMWare Workstation as it's officially supported by Rockwell.



I've also in the past skipped using a virtual machine and installed the software on bare metal, and then cloned that hard drive to multiple other computers using Acronis or Macrium Reflect. Sort of the same idea.

 

[Mandel314159]

I'm new to the old style of forums, do I just go to the search bar and look up "VMWare" or other keywords to find those posts?

also, I've not heard of Acronis or Macrium Reflect, thanks! I'll be sure to look into it for when I inevitably try and fix the issue of hard install.

 

[drbitboy]

Wasn't there a thread a while back where someone found pre-provisioned VMWare images on the Rockwell-Automation site, with RA software already installed?

 

[hardaysknight]

Wasn't there a thread a while back where someone found pre-provisioned VMWare images on the Rockwell-Automation site, with RA software already installed?

Yeah, it was called PlantPAX or something. It requires a specific license from Rockwell.

I'm new to the old style of forums, do I just go to the search bar and look up "VMWare" or other keywords to find those posts?

also, I've not heard of Acronis or Macrium Reflect, thanks! I'll be sure to look into it for when I inevitably try and fix the issue of hard install.

Pretty much, yes.



I did have this screenshot about Rockwell activations within a VM saved from when I went to a VM install last year. I apparently cropped the OP's name out of the comment though, so apologies to the OP.

 

[Mandel314159]

Thanks for the information!

 

[hardaysknight]

I found the virtual machine template. It is the PlantPax template, but in this case, it's called "Studio 5000 Essentials - Virtual Image Template". No idea if it'll work for anyone without a plantpax license. I'm downloading it now to see. From what I understand, it includes studio 5000 versions v20-v33.



https://download.rockwellautomation.com/esd/validation.aspx?sdrsid=S48720&pageID=817008534


More info here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/PLC/comments/qi1rlb/rockwell_logixstudio_5000_unassisted_install/

 

[drbitboy]

also this has some information:

https://www.rockwellautomation.com/...iterature/documents/pp/proces-pp009_-en-p.pdf

 

[Mandel314159]

this forum rocks!

 

[hardaysknight]

Just to update on the PlantPAx virtual machine template - You'll need a Windows 10 LTSC Enterprise license (although there are *ahem* other ways to go about that) and then from there, you can set up your Factorytalk Activation Manager with all of your licenses like the picture I posted earler. You may also need RSLogix 5, 500 or different versions of 5000.

 

[Peter Nachtwey]

Has anybody tried using Docker or containers vs virtual machines?
I had always use VMs in the past but Docker is "lighter" and cheaper.

 

[tdoa]

You need to run Windows, and you need/want video output, that kinda limits the docker usability, but there are official docker images:
https://hub.docker.com/_/microsoft-windows-servercore/

I know that someone recently made a window11 docker image, but I can't find it easily.