Makers Blog

By using embedded systems (and a PLC is in fact nothing else) it is a vital requirement to analyze the timing behavior of the application (programs and tasks). This is not only useful to enhance the general performance of an application, but absolutely necessary to find seldom and sporadic issues.
We decided to use for that purpose the powerful Linux open source package LTTng (Linux Trace Toolkit Next Generation - http://lttng.org) and to give the application engineers the full insight into the system.

This manual should introduce the general usage of LTTng for the AXC F 2152 with the stand alone tool Trace Compass (http://tracecompass.org)

Every PLCnext Control is based on a Linux operating system and is delivered with a preconfigured admin user with a unique password.

With the admin user it is possible to get access to the most important functions (e.g. OpenVPN^® and firewall configuration, set time and date, read/write project specific folders), but sometimes it might be necessary to get root permissions.

This can be done temporary by using the "sudo" command, but it is also possible to create a persistent root user.

Watch also our Tutorial Video on Youtube How to create a root user

This little guide describes how a VPN tunnel can be created in an easy manner between a server and a client (AXC F 2152) via OpenVPN^® by using certificates.

Keep in mind that there are several ways of how to configure a VPN tunnel, this examples shows only one possible way of many.

Use this guide at your own risk. I tried to make it reasonably safe, but you should always assure yourself if it’s safe, if their are vulnerabilities known, and if protocols might be compromised.

In this manual it is described how a SCP and SSH connection can be established between a developer machine (Linux, based on How to create a Linux Virtual Machine) and a PLCnext Technology device (like an AXC F 2152).

With the command "tcpdump" it is possible to capture all the Ethernet communication packets the controller receives and sends.
This is a useful feature for analysing network applications and possible misbehaviour of network devices.

See also the tutorial video Tutorial Video - WinSCP and a few useful Linux commands