Listen to a recent episode of Inductive Automation's Ignited podcast to see how the open-source MQTT protocol has completely changed industrial data architectures.

Are you looking to build systems that move data—reliably and securely—across an enterprise? Have proprietary approaches slowed you down or locked you in?

Episode 4 of Inductive Automation's new Ignited podcast is a must listen! The co-inventor of MQTT, Arlen Nipper, and Opto 22 VP Benson Hougland are the featured guests on this podcast, reviewing industrial automation technology and taking you into the future.

Inductive Automation's Travis Cox and Thomas Burke host this discussion about why MQTT and Sparkplug B are now the key to scalable industrial data, and why edge computing changes everything.

Listen in on these insightful conversations:

Follow along with Part 2 of the DMC Inc. guest blog series as Natalie Pippolo demonstrates configuring Ignition Edge—installed on every groov EPIC controller.

Are you curious how Ignition Edge software works on groov EPIC and what types of applications it's useful for?

DMC's project engineer Natalie Pippolo returns this week with part 2 of her 3-part guest blog series here on the OptoBlog.

Follow along as she walks you through her experience with configuring Ignition Edge on groov EPIC:

DMC Inc. offers a unique experience and perspective on the groov EPIC system in the first of a three part guest blog series.

Opto 22's groov EPIC (Edge Programmable Industrial Controller) is more than just a modern PLC. With an embedded Linux operating system, the groov EPIC processor supports a wide array of platforms for programming, visualization, and more at the network's edge.

For a complete overview of the groov EPIC and its features, you'll want to check out this three part guest blog series from Natalie Pippolo of DMC, Inc.

New video provides some practical solutions to consider in the age of TCP/IP.

Looking to digitally transform your operations, but your existing machines don't support newer protocols like MQTT or OPC UA?

Don't worry, you're not alone. Legacy industrial control systems are still operating everywhere today. But don't settle or wait for them to fail. 

It's time to learn more about modern edge devices that can bridge the gap between old and new.

This new 1-minute video is a great conversation starter on the topic.

Without disturbing existing systems, edge devices make it easy to convert data from a custom fieldbus into open protocols for digital transformation.

If TCP/IP won the “protocol wars” in the ‘90s, then WHY are you still fighting protocol battles on the plant floor today? Because industrial networks were around long before the internet. As far back as the 1960s, machines communicated via serial networks like RS-232, RS-485, and CAN Bus—with specialized proprietary fieldbus protocols like Modbus, Profibus, and DeviceNet.

Even with TCP/IP on Ethernet, specialized protocols remained. Modbus now has a TCP/IP version, Profibus gave way to ProfiNET, DeviceNet to EtherNet/IP, and even some new ones joined the protocol party.

After the industry demanded interoperability, OPC was born—now OPC UA—a big step toward a unified architecture on OT networks. Meanwhile on the IT side, using HTTP and HTTPS was common. It’s how web browsers—and most of the internet—work today.

MQTT Sparkplug came later. A recently named International Standard, it’s built on efficient, secure, and scalable publish/subscribe communications—a great fit for digital transformation projects and the IIoT.

A year in review of the most popular topics and discussions on the OptoForums.

Let's talk for a moment about our fantastic Opto 22 forum fans. The OptoForums host an amazing community.

It seems that only a very small number of industrial automation manufacturers run their own public forums. Some community-supported efforts have sprung up to backfill the need for a place where like-minded folks can gather, but there is something special about having a place that is, well, for lack of a better term, "factory supported."

Why is that a big deal?

Move data where you need it with the Data Services menu, the latest in our 12-part video series on groov Manage.

Opto 22 was an early adopter of MQTT—implementing it right out of the gate when groov EPIC was released just over 5 years ago. And did you know that back in the day, Opto 22 was not only one of the founding members of OPC, but also that version 1.0 of the OPC specification was ratified around the granite table in the Opto 22 headquarters' conference room? 

With this history in mind, you'll see why we're excited to talk about the Data Service options you'll find in groov Manage. This is where you choose the methods and protocols to move your data where you need it. Follow along with groov Manage: Data Services.

New categories and reorganization of topics are just some of the reasons to visit the OptoForums.

Whether you're new to using Opto 22 products or a long-time user, you can benefit from checking out the OptoForums. It's where engineering minds meet to post questions, answer fellow forum user questions, recommend solutions or even provide code samples—all related to Opto 22 hardware and software.

Moderated by Opto 22's Ben Orchard and Terry Orchard, the Forums are another great resource to keep bookmarked for troubleshooting or application advice.

And the Forums recently went through some reorganization, with more topics and categories added to help you find your answers more quickly and efficiently. Take a look at what's new.

The latest video in our developer series is a quick-start guide for setting up OPC UA on groov RIO.

You heard it here first a few weeks ago in the OptoBlog! groov RIO is the first universal Ethernet I/O module with an embedded OPC UA server. Now you can connect your favorite OPC UA-compatible SCADA or HMI software directly to your multi-signal, multifunction Ethernet I/O System. 

Terry Orchard shows you how simple it is. In his latest developer video, learn how to set up an OPC UA server on groov RIO to accept connections from OPC UA clients and request groov data.

A look at how edge devices and interoperability standards are paving the way for the fourth industrial revolution.

As we enter the so-called fourth industrial revolution, which aims to finally close the gap between distributed automation systems and business systems, let’s take a quick look back at some of the developments that got us here and where they point for the future.