PLC Networking Methods
PLC Rack (Image by UnFlOb from Pixabay ) The methods of PLC networking help to allow communication among PLCs and with other devices in an industrial set-up. Some standard techniques of PLC networking are: Master-Slave Networking One master device controls the communication with multiple slave devices. Common protocols: Modbus RTU, Profibus. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networking Each device can directly communicate with any other device in the network. Popularly used protocols: Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP. Client-Server Networking A client requests data or services that the server provides. The server processes and returns the requested information. Common protocols : OPC UA (OLE for Process Control Unified Architecture) and HTTP/HTTPS for web-based interfaces. Token Ring Networking The devices pass around the network. Each time, only the device holding the token can send data. Thus, it avoids colliding data. Common Protocols: IEEE 802.5 (Token Ring). Fieldbus Networking A digi...