Hello to all,

I've been reading about Siemens S7-1500V, virtual PLC intended to be used in virtualized environments or clouds.

If I understood correctly, only S7-1500 series is supported as virtual PLC. Does this include Safety (F part) as well?
is it possible to download a demo or trial and to see how it's working. I have to say it is very hard for me to understand the difference between Software controller that  turns PC into a PLC and virtual PLC, especially if I install VMWare workstation/ or player on a PC machine and then install Software Controller (Soft PLC) inside this VM.

Where can I find more information to try to clarify these  topics?

Thank you!

https://www.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/systems/industrial/plc/simatic-s7-1500/virtual-plc.html  has a "CONTACT US" option.

https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/api/uuid:f8d80591-b51c-41eb-8bfb-dab025123374/virtuel-plc.pdf

I think you get the idea.  The information is out there.  Please go and find it.  If you find you do not understand some concept after doing your research, please use the above mentioned "CONTACT US" option and of course try posting something about a brand new concept in the forums where we are most likely just like you - between idly curious and avidly seeking information.

0_Einstein

https://www.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/systems/industrial/plc/simatic-s7-1500/virtual-plc.html  has a "CONTACT US" option.

https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/api/uuid:f8d80591-b51c-41eb-8bfb-dab025123374/virtuel-plc.pdf

I think you get the idea.  The information is out there.  Please go and find it.  If you find you do not understand some concept after doing your research, please use the above mentioned "CONTACT US" option and of course try posting something about a brand new concept in the forums where we are most likely just like you - between idly curious and avidly seeking information.

 Hi Einstein,

not quite about the information out there. In the links you posted, there is a note that safety will be supported in the future version, and in tech talk YT session from "Insights in Automation" it is mentioned that Safety will be introduced in version 2 by the end of the years. So for the safety part, it seems it is still not supported.

Anyway, I'm still trying to understand how Virtual PLC would be different from Software controller running inside VM on a IPC. I know that PLCSIM/PLCSIM Adv are only simulators, while virtual PLC is " a real thing", just hw independent, but with performance depending on the actual underlying HW on which V-PLC is running.

Let's say you are building an automation system or project and need to decide on a PLC.

You choose the processor family, then model within that family, and start adding IO modules, remote IO, and so on.

However, you find that your needs might change in the future, so you think, I wonder how I can future-proof this system.

With a V-PLC, you may be able to accomplish that.

A simulation however is only as good as the PG/PC running it, and it is not deterministic unless it is running on a RTOS based virtualization technology.

I think this Virtual PLC is such a platform that provides deterministic behavior like you get from a purpose-built PLC.  Just an opinion, and a little uneducated one at the moment.

Jasner

0_Einstein

https://www.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/systems/industrial/plc/simatic-s7-1500/virtual-plc.html  has a "CONTACT US" option.

https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/api/uuid:f8d80591-b51c-41eb-8bfb-dab025123374/virtuel-plc.pdf

I think you get the idea.  The information is out there.  Please go and find it.  If you find you do not understand some concept after doing your research, please use the above mentioned "CONTACT US" option and of course try posting something about a brand new concept in the forums where we are most likely just like you - between idly curious and avidly seeking information.

 Hi Einstein,

not quite about the information out there. In the links you posted, there is a note that safety will be supported in the future version, and in tech talk YT session from "Insights in Automation" it is mentioned that Safety will be introduced in version 2 by the end of the years. So for the safety part, it seems it is still not supported.

Anyway, I'm still trying to understand how Virtual PLC would be different from Software controller running inside VM on a IPC. I know that PLCSIM/PLCSIM Adv are only simulators, while virtual PLC is " a real thing", just hw independent, but with performance depending on the actual underlying HW on which V-PLC is running.