Remotely access Finder OPTA using CODESYS

Learn how to remotely connect to Finder OPTA using CODESYS.

Overview

CODESYS can automatically detect Finder OPTA when the PC and PLC are on the same local network. This mechanism works well within LANs, but it does not work when the PC and the PLC belong to different networks.

This limitation exists because CODESYS normally discovers Finder OPTA using UDP broadcast messages, which are limited to the local network and are not forwarded by routers. To overcome this limitation, Finder OPTA can be accessed using a direct TCP connection, provided that network connectivity exists between the PC and the PLC.

This tutorial explains how to use this approach to establish a remote connection to Finder OPTA using CODESYS. By following the steps provided, you will be able to access and program Finder OPTA from outside the local network.

Goals

• Configure remote connectivity to Finder OPTA in CODESYS.
• Verify that CODESYS can remotely connect to Finder OPTA.

Requirements

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• PLC Finder OPTA CODESYS (x1)
• 12W or 25W switching power supply for OPTA (1x)
• CODESYS development environment installed with the OPTA Configurator plug-in. You can find an installation guide at this link.
• Properly configured network: there must be a valid routing path between your PC and Finder OPTA.

Instructions

This tutorial assumes that you have already created a working project and opened it in CODESYS. When Finder OPTA is not on the same local network as your PC, the CODESYS network scan will not detect the PLC.

To configure a remote connection, open the Tools menu and select Options....

In the Options window, select the Device editor section.

Switch the communication page to Classic mode and confirm by clicking OK.

After applying this setting, the Communication settings section in the Device tab will change accordingly and appear similar to the one shown below.

Select your gateway and click on Add Device... from the menu on the right.

Enter the IP address of your Finder OPTA and set the assignment mode to TCP/IP, as shown below. Click on OK to confirm.

If the Finder OPTA is reachable it will appear in the device list. Double-click the device to activate it.

Finally, click the login button to connect to Finder OPTA using CODESYS.

Conclusions

Using a direct TCP connection makes it possible to connect to Finder OPTA with CODESYS even when the device is not on the same LAN as the PC. This way, if there is a valid network path between the PC and the PLC, Finder OPTA can be accessed and programmed remotely without relying on automatic device discovery.