Firmware update 1.4.0 is now available for the groov EPIC processor, GRV-EPIC-PR1.

Our engineering team released an exciting new update for groov EPIC this week. Here are some of the highlights.

Ready to start using your new GRV-EPIC-PR1, the groov EPIC Edge Programmable Industrial Controller? An EPIC can do so much more than a traditional controller.

But first, you'll need to activate it. Once you've activated, you can:

• Get future software and firmware updates
• Receive automatic notifications about updates
• Build and use web-based HMIs with groov View (the visualization software)

The recent announcement of security vulnerabilities discovered in the Wind River® VxWorks® IPnet TCP/IP stack has prompted questions from Opto 22 customers about what impact this discovery may have on TCP/IP-based products developed and manufactured by Opto 22.

Opto 22 would like to reassure our customers that, after careful and thorough review, we can state that none of our hardware or software products contain the VxWorks IPnet TCP/IP stack or variants of that software and are, therefore, not directly exposed to any attacks that might target these vulnerabilities. This statement applies to the recent Opto 22 product family groov EPIC® (edge programmable industrial controller), the groov® Edge Appliance (groov Box), the SNAP PAC® System, and SNAP Ethernet I/O® products.

These security vulnerabilities, dubbed URGENT/11 by Armis, an enterprise IoT security firm that made the discoveries, have far-reaching implications and affect an extremely large array of industrial, medical, and enterprise environments. These include mission-critical systems such as SCADA, industrial controllers, PLCs, PACs, and more. Other systems outside traditional industrial devices like patient monitors and MRI machines, as well as firewalls, routers, modems, VOIP phones, and printers are also affected.

As you might have read in previous blog posts, groov EPIC runs a Linux-based operating system that supports a variety of programming and operating options, including optional secure shell (SSH) access. SSH provides root access to the tools, software, and files on the groov EPIC system.

But how does SSH access work, what is it capable of, and is it right for you? In this post I’ll go into a bit more depth about secure shell and the Linux operating system (OS) on groov EPIC and provide answers to these questions.

Learn how to set up, install, and communicate using a groov EPIC serial I/O module.

Many industrial automation applications require communication between the controller and multiple serial devices. The GRV-CSERI-4 module provides four independent and isolated serial ports for this purpose. Each port is software configurable to communicate with RS-232 or RS-485 (half duplex or full duplex) serial devices.

An Automation World podcast poses the question, "Is open-source software a good choice for SCADA?"

A new podcast series, Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered, addresses questions submitted exclusively by its readers and subscribers. Opto 22's Benson Hougland and Terry Orchard recently sat down with Automation World's Editor-in-Chief, David Greenfield, to provide some insight on this open source and SCADA discussion.

New video workshop takes a closer look at the LED quality indicator on groov EPIC I/O modules.

Are you seeing a yellow light on one of your groov EPIC I/O modules? This means that one or more of its values is outside of the expected range. Opto 22 applications engineer Ben Orchard explains why this is important and how to use this feature in a video that's just been added to the groov EPIC hardware playlist.

Take advantage of our all-new animated GIFs resource page and SVG image library.

Are you building HMI screens to use with your groov EPIC (GRV-EPIC-PR1) or groov Edge Appliance (GROOV-AR1-BASE)? You'll want to check out these handy website resources to customize your HMI.

Attendees learned how to build a complete IIoT infrastructure for improved efficiency and real-time analytics.

The Opto 22 Road Crew was in Tulsa, Oklahoma last month to take part in another Ignition Discovery Day. These are one-day seminars hosted by Inductive Automation® that show the unique capabilities of the Ignition Edge® platform, and how it offers the automation industry a new architecture for collecting and analyzing data.

OptoPartner and Distributor Advanced Control Solutions (ACS) now offers groov EPIC classes in their new OptoCertifed training facility located in Marietta, Georgia.

Good news for those of you looking for instructor-led classroom training on Opto 22's groov EPIC system. You now have a choice: come to Opto 22 headquarters in California or head to the southeastern U.S., whichever is more convenient for you.

ACS's recently opened training lab is staffed by OptoCertifed Trainers and teaches the same EPIC Premium Factory Training curriculum. Choose your location and get the same great training for your next automation or IIoT project.