Converting a 1998 cell to IIoT without ripping the PLC — what actually worked
The question
SLC 5/05, DH+, a few Ethernet/IP nodes bolted on later. Management wants MQTT and a dashboard. I refuse to put the PLC on the business VLAN. What have you used as a one-way historian that didn't become a second SCADA we have to baby?
TS ControlsThe answer
Keep the SLC on its VLAN. Put a small edge (Ignition Edge, or a hardware store-and-forward) as the only broker client. Read via Ethernet/IP, publish MQTT outbound, no subscribe back into the PLC. Document the tag list like a contract. The plants that failed gave the IT VLAN a write MSG.
TS ControlsOne more thing
If the cell is a robot + PLC pair, the cleaner path is the Industry 5.0 loop we run on TIA/KUKA and are expanding to Logix, FANUC, and ABB. Dashboard is a side effect. Email sales@ts-controls.com with the processor and we will tell you if an edge box is enough or if the PLC should stay lonely on purpose.
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