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CODESYS Virtual Control SL - the virtual controller for even more hardware independence
The IEC 61131-3-compatible CODESYS Virtual Control SL runtime system can be installed on any architecture with container technology - as often as required and with scalable performance.
This allows you to easily implement virtual control systems equipped with all the familiar features of CODESYS and programmed with the CODESYS Development System in the IEC 61131-3 languages.
What is a virtual controller?
What are the benefits of virtual controllers for machine and plant manufacturers? This video gives a brief overview and explains the CODESYS product range.
How do you use virtual controllers?
Select the appropriate computer architecture for your automation task, e.g. industrial PCs, edge devices, or servers on which Linux® (e.g. RHEL, Debian) including real-time patch (PREEMPT_RT) and the appropriate container technology (Podman, Docker) are installed. You deploy or orchestrate the required number of CODESYS Virtual Control SL on this. You have various options for this:
- via Linux commands or scripts
- with appropriate tools (e.g. Kubernetes, OpenShift)
- with the CODESYS Automation Server (in preparation)
- The easiest way to do this is directly in the CODESYS Development System with an add-on tailored to automation engineers, which is seamlessly integrated.
The video shows you exactly how to do this.
Tutorial: CODESYS Deploy Tool - English
With version 4.14.0.0, CODESYS has simplified and standardized the management and configuration of its control products with the new central Deploy Tool. In this video, we guide you step-by-step through the installation, setup and use of the tool so that you can efficiently manage SoftPLC and virtual controllers such as CODESYS Control for Linux SL or Virtual Controls. Learn how to avoid compatibility issues, set up network licenses and configure your instances for optimal performance - all within a unified user interface.
The performance of the virtual controllers is scaled via the license: depending on the respective task, e.g. as a compact controller, motion controller, safety controller, or high-performance PLC. This means you have exactly the controllers you need for your application. You can access fieldbus I/Os via Industrial Ethernet. These are configured as in a normal PLC in the CODESYS Development System. If required, you can even virtualize the Ethernet port for different protocols using the high-performance Virtual LAN technology. Application programming is carried out in the CODESYS Development System as with other compatible controllers. You can even continue to use available CODESYS projects on virtual controllers without any problems - simply by switching the device description.
Can virtual controllers be used for safety applications?
CODESYS Virtual Safe Control SL - the virtual safety controller according to IEC 61508 SIL3
With CODESYS Virtual Safe Control SL, you can even use any containerized platform as a safety controller - with safety certification and regardless of the hardware platform used! The software solution creates dual-channel capability through "Diversified Encoding", which is based on "Coded Processing". The application processing is divided into two logical software channels. The safety concept developed in collaboration with SIListra Systems GmbH was approved by TÜV SÜD.
As before, the safety application can be configured in the safe IEC 61131-3 editor as part of the certified add-on module, which extends the CODESYS Development System. Users only notice that these are virtualized devices when connecting the safety I/O modules in the application.
Further information on CODESYS Virtual Safe Control SL can be found in the Safety section.
CODESYS Virtual Safe Control SL: Product of the Year 2024
The readers of the German trade magazine "Computer & Automation" have voted for their Product of the Year 2024:
In the "Control and Engineering" category, the first place goes to CODESYS Virtual Safe Control SL.
We thank everyone who gave us their vote!
How to get
Download the images from the CODESYS Store and use them as described. Alternatively, you can install CODESYS Virtual Control SL in the CODESYS Installer.
Purchase the appropriate application-based individual licenses for CODESYS Virtual Control SL and CODESYS Virtual Safe Control SL via the CODESYS Store.
