How to use the .Net Core on a PLCnext Control

If you’re a C# programmer working with a PLCnext Control then you might want to use the Microsoft^® .NET Core runtime. Here’s how to install it on an AXC F 2152 control.

Set up the runtime on the PLC

1. Download the Dotnetcore Runtime Binaries (Microsoft .NET Core download site);
   for the AXC F 2152 it is Linux ARM 32bit.
    Note: You may also use a newer version, e.g. 3.0
2. Unzip the Runtime .zip file
3. Unzip the Data folder
4. Copy the unzipped files (host, shared and dotnet binary) to the controller at /opt/DotnetRT
5. Create a symlink to the binary (as root user):
   ln -s /opt/DotnetRT/dotnet /usr/local/bin/dotnet
6. Check if the link is setup correctly:
   lrwxrwxrwx 1 admin plcnext 20 Nov 27 12:50 dotnet -> /opt/DotnetRT/dotnet
7. Check if installation was succesful with dotnet --info

admin@axcf2152:/opt/plcnext$ dotnet --info Host (useful for support): Version: 2.1.1 Commit: 6985b9f684 .NET Core SDKs installed: No SDKs were found. .NET Core runtimes installed: Microsoft.NETCore.App 2.1.1 [/opt/DotnetRT/shared/Microsoft.NETCore.App 

Create a project

1. Switch to a PC for development and building of your .Net Core apps
2. Install .Net Core SDK
3. Create a new application dotnet new console -o MyFirstTestProgram
4. Switch to the folder MyFirstTestProgram
5. Write your code at Program.cs – by default there is a “Hello World!” program
6. Build it with dotnet build
7. Switch to MyFirstTestProgram/bin/Debug/netcoreappX.X/
8. Modify MyFirstTestProgram.runtimeconfig.json and set "System.Globalization.Invariant": true

{ "runtimeOptions": { "tfm": "netcoreapp2.1", "framework": { "name": "Microsoft.NETCore.App", "version": "2.1.0" }, "configProperties": { "System.Globalization.Invariant": true } } } 

Deploy and run your application

1. Copy MyFirstTestProgram/bin/Debug/netcoreappX.X/ to the controller at /opt/MyFirstTestProgram
2. Execute the .Net application with
   dotnet MyFirstTestProgram/netcoreapp2.1/MyFirstTestProgram.dll

Hello World!

Access I/O data from a C# application running on the .Net Core

To access the GDS and the I/Os, use .Net sockets, Modbus or a REST implementation in a C++ ESM program.