General Information

Library Overview

The library IoTCloudCommunication provides the functionality to establish a connection from the machine controller to the EcoStruxure Machine Advisor cloud service and the transmission of machine data through this connection.

Preconditions for establishing a connection to the EcoStruxure Machine Advisor and to transmit data are:

  • Your machine must be registered in your organization in EcoStruxure Machine Advisor.

  • The connectivity configuration between the Machine Advisor and the controller (gateway) is done inside the MONITOR > Configuration Panel for your registered machine.

NOTE: During the configuration you will obtain the connection parameters which are required for the communication client in your application.

Example Project

In conjunction with the library, an example project is provided. The example project demonstrates how to implement the components from the IoTCloudCommunication library.

The example project is installed on your PC along with the programming software. To open the project example, proceed as follows:

Step

Action

Comment

1

In the EcoStruxure Machine Expert Logic Builder, execute the command New Project.

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2

In the New Project dialog box, select From Example from the Project type list.

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3

On the right-hand side of the New Project dialog box, click the button Toggle Filter.

Result: Available examples are listed in the drop down menu.

4

Select your example from the drop down menu.

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5

Select your controller from the Controllers list.

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6

Enter a name for the new project, and select the file location.

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7

Click the OK button.

Result: A new project is created based on the selected example.

Characteristics of the Library

The table indicates the characteristics of the library:

Characteristic

Value

Library title

IoTCloudCommunication

Company

Schneider Electric

Category

Communication

Component

Internet Protocol Suite

Default namespace

IOTCC

Language model attribute

Qualified-access-only

Forward compatible library

Yes FCL

NOTE: For this library, qualified-access-only is set. The POUs, data structures, enumerations, and constants must be accessed using the namespace of the library. The default namespace of the library is IOTCC.

General Considerations

NOTE: Schneider Electric adheres to industry best practices in the development and implementation of control systems. This includes a "Defense-in-Depth" approach to secure an Industrial Control System. This approach places the controllers behind one or more firewalls to restrict access to authorized personnel and protocols only.
 WARNING
UNAUTHENTICATED ACCESS AND SUBSEQUENT UNAUTHORIZED MACHINE OPERATION
  • Evaluate whether your environment or your machines are connected to your critical infrastructure and, if so, take appropriate steps in terms of prevention, based on Defense-in-Depth, before connecting the automation system to any network.
  • Limit the number of devices connected to a network to the minimum necessary.
  • Isolate your industrial network from other networks inside your company.
  • Protect any network against unintended access by using firewalls, VPN, or other, proven security measures.
  • Monitor activities within your systems.
  • Prevent subject devices from direct access or direct link by unauthorized parties or unauthenticated actions.
  • Prepare a recovery plan including backup of your system and process information.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.

For more information on organizational measures and rules covering access to infrastructures, refer to ISO/IEC 27000 series, Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation, ISO/IEC 15408, IEC 62351, ISA/IEC 62443, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, Information Security Forum - Standard of Good Practice for Information Security and refer to Cybersecurity Guidelines for EcoStruxure Machine Expert, Modicon and PacDrive Controllers and Associated Equipment.