You probably don’t have to think back too far to realize how tedious it was updating your automation software for PLCs, PACs, smart sensors or industrial network devices. Why couldn’t it be more like updating Windows, or even most Linux systems, which make use of databases and repositories to keep your software updates in sync and equipment running—well, most of the time.
With automation systems, there are usually several boxes involved with all sorts of revision numbers and dates—not to mention the services you’re entitled to receive and the supporting equipment. And these boxes include underlying operating systems, drivers, network interfaces and applications, compounding any update issues. Isn’t there a simpler way?