Know How Protection Or Split the Hardware from the Project

I have read a lot here on the Forum and on the great great Internet, about Know How Protection. The general opinion is: It is no protection, but för accidently overwriting.It seems quite simple to "crack". This is saidabout older versions of S7.

Is Know How Protection improved? I use TIA V12 SP1. can I relay it protects the code?

Or

Is it possible to send over only the hardware project? I have a project which is sold without the PLC-code. Just the function. But it is necesssary for the custumer to edit the hardware solution (master-slav, PB, corresponding transfer areas) . I noticed it is possible to compile and download just the HW-configuration. Is it possible to exclude the progam block, symbols and more?

Ok. If NSA....I will surrender.......

I guess that will be it. I'll use the Know How Protection and send them the entire project.

In fact I already used K.H.P. in the code downloaded to the PLC. So it is only to upload the station and the have it. Without symbols and remarks, thought.

But... what about the other option? Is it an option? Is it possible to divide the project so the hardware and networkpartsare solitaire? Will it work? Is there a common way to do it?

You can also set access protection on CPU, so that no one can upload the program without knowing the password. Is it what you want?

Usab

Thank's for answers.

I have send the project to the costumer with Know How Protected Blocks. They already have the programin the PLC that way, so the hardest chain is no stronger thanthe weakest link. This will do fine. The program is no rocket sience and not classified top secret.But....the agrement was: no public editable code..

No I woundered countinously if I could send just the hardware part of the projekt, so they (costumers) could config the hardware and network to fit in their own controller network. And then download just the hardware part to the PLC.I did try to excludeit but found no solution. Maybe if I copy the project and then delete the program block????? I will tryit some day whith less to do. If any of you tried, please notify.

Regards

Mr Lof

Yes that is what I wanted the customers to do with a project containing only the hardware and network config. But I found no solution to send it like that, so I shipped away the entire project.

I will try to copy the project, then delete all program block and try to "download to device - hardware configuration.( But not quite yet because of lack of time.....). But it is (almost)all the same to give away the whole project, as long as the know how protected program block is downloaded in the PLC and can be uploaded.

however:no trying, no learning......( unless you kind people will teach me....)

Indeed there is no possibility to set the CPU to accept download but not upload....

The possible access rights are read only, read/write, but there is no write only... I think your use case is a little bit special. For now, you have to trust the know how protection and hope nobody can crack it in a project.

Usab