Building industrial MQTT networks at scale with edge computing. We promised that 2020 would be a big year for MQTT at Opto 22, and with the launch of groov RIO, we’ve renewed our commitment to this transformative communication standard. But, in spite of its popularity—already used in everything from mobile chat to smart energy management—and the advantages…
Get ready for groov RIO 3.0
Hot on the heels of Opto 22’s recent groov EPIC 3.0 firmware release comes the groov RIO 3.0.1 firmware update. There are at least 5 exciting additions in the latest groov RIO edge I/O module update. LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) – This will enable your RIO to connect to your existing LDAP server (like Windows Active Directory) and…
New videos help you start programming with groov RIO and Node-RED
Opto 22’s Node-RED expert Terry Orchard shares a new series of videos for developers to help get the most out of your groov RIO. Our Node-RED videos continue to be one of the most watched series on our website and YouTube channel. Included in both groov EPIC and groov RIO, Node-RED is an open-source software program used to wire together devices, databases, cloud…
New guide to using MQTT/Sparkplug B
Waiting to dip your toe into the MQTT pool? Jump into this new user guide, and get started with MQTT and Sparkplug B on your Opto 22 groov products. If you’re already an OptoBlog subscriber, chances are you’ve become familiar with the MQTT protocol. We understand it can be a little daunting to take the…
MQTT: Bringing it all together
Building industrial MQTT networks at scale with Opto 22 groov devices. If you’ve followed this series since the beginning, you should have a good idea of how to set up your groov EPIC or groov RIO for MQTT communication. You also understand the importance of Sparkplug B in building MQTT systems and designing industrial-strength IoT networks. After all that, you might still be wondering…
New White Paper: Building Industrial IoT from Edge to Cloud
See how next-generation edge-based distributed I/O and controllers open new possibilities for connected infrastructure. In the field of industrial automation, terms like digital transformation, the industrial internet of things (IIoT), or edge computing have become common topics of discussion. Today’s businesses have IoT goals. End users need devices and applications to share data seamlessly across…
Take another look at groov EPIC
Get an up-to-date overview of the groov EPIC system in only two minutes with this new video. Since its release in 2018, groov EPIC has continued to evolve, with new features that make it an even stronger choice for your IIoT and automation applications. As an edge programmable industrial controller, groov EPIC is much more than a PLC or a PAC.…
New Opto 22 Visio Stencils Now Available
New Microsoft® Visio Stencil libraries representing products like groov EPIC and groov RIO are now available on the Opto 22 website. Are you drawing or creating graphics for your control system diagrams or HMIs? We’d like to help you with that. Our engineering and graphics teams have worked together to create some detailed Microsoft Visio Stencils of…
Watch groov RIO in action with new on-demand webinar
Follow along with Opto 22’s Benson Hougland as he presents a live demonstration of the recently released groov RIO. groov RIO (GRV-R7-MM1001-10) is available now with all of the features and capabilities you’ve heard about. But it’s one thing to read about it and another thing to see it for yourself. Edge I/O revolutionizes remote I/O…
MQTT: Mission-critical fault tolerance
Our MQTT series continues with a deep dive into groov EPIC’s (and now groov RIO’s) features for high-reliability MQTT networks. Part 1 – MQTT: Basic publishing with groov EPIC Part 2 – MQTT: Faster, better with Sparkplug B At its heart, MQTT was designed for unreliable networks. Back in the ’90s, ConocoPhillips (now Phillips 66) was looking for a…
Go further with groov EPIC 2.0
With the latest firmware update, groov EPIC gets I/O for the IIoT and more groov EPIC firmware version 2.0 is a milestone for the platform, and there are more than a few reasons to consider updating. Here’s an overview of what’s included. groov RIO remote I/O support What’s groov RIO? For those of you who’ve been head-down in a…
This video series gives you tips for using Modbus TCP devices with groov EPIC
Watch these new groov EPIC videos for tips on using your Modbus TCP devices with groov View, PAC Control, Node-RED, and Inductive Automation’s Ignition software. Opto 22 engineer Ben Orchard is back in the Opto 22 studio with several new video lessons on communicating to Modbus TCP devices with a groov EPIC processor. For each lesson, Ben is using a groov EPIC Learning…
groov EPIC 1.5.0 is ready, and here’s why you’ll want to update
groov EPIC firmware version 1.5.0 is available now and has several great new features and a few bug fixes. While our groov EPIC Readme file has all the technical details, here’s a sweeping look at the new features I’m most excited about. (Existing groov EPIC users can log into your MyOpto22 groov Manage account now to get your free update!) New external HDMI monitor support groov EPIC has always worked…
New VPN Client in groov EPIC simplifies remote equipment communications
One of the new features in recent versions of the groov EPIC firmware (R1.4.0+) that hasn’t gotten much attention yet is the built-in virtual private network (VPN), client. I’m excited about it because it’s an incredibly rare feature in PLCs and PACs and makes it much easier to create a secure architecture for managing remote…
Three new groov EPIC I/O modules
Opto 22 announces the release of three new groov EPIC input/output modules, further extending an already comprehensive industrial I/O portfolio. For system integrators and engineers, the new I/O modules provide more options for bringing existing devices into groov EPIC, as well as meeting precise requirements for temperature control applications. They also include budget-beating designs for…
groov EPIC Learning – You Have Options!
Pick from three options to fit your time and budget. “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin To help you learn about the powerful technologies you can add to your automation arsenal with groov EPIC, Opto 22 gives you three options. Let’s take a look. Option 1:…
A local database server on your groov EPIC processor?
In a recent blog post, Terry Orchard covered one of the programming options available on the groov EPIC: secure shell (SSH) access. If you’re familiar with Linux shell commands, you can use secure shell access to install application packages and add functionality to your groov EPIC Edge Programmable Industrial Controller. For example, you could add a local database server. In this blog post, we’ll…
Opto 22’s groov EPIC Firmware Update Enhances Secure Remote Access with VPN, adds Inductive Automation Ignition Options
Opto 22 announces the release of firmware update 1.4.1 for the groov EPIC® Edge Programmable Industrial Controller, expanding the capabilities of this next-generation industrial control system. Engineers and developers will find helpful new networking options and tools, plus new software choices for their automation and industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications. For secure remote access to…
Start EPIC communication to your serial devices
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…
Publish Allen-Bradley PLC tags using MQTT & Sparkplug
New video shows you how to use the Ignition Edge® MQTT Transmission module in groov EPIC to publish tag data from Allen-Bradley® PLCs. Why would you do this? One of the advantages of the groov EPIC system is its ability to connect to third-party PLCs, collect their data, and publish that data to an MQTT infrastructure so that other software applications like…
I/O module quality indicator LED sheds light on system status
This 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…
groov I/O module status at a glance
New to groov EPIC or want to know what those multi-colored LEDs on the groov EPIC system indicate? You’ll want to watch this short video that explains! One of the noteworthy features of groov I/O modules is that the multi-colored LEDs indicate module health at a glance. There are 5 colors and 1 blink code…
Automation & IIoT Learning Center includes free Premium Factory Training
Two complimentary seats (a $1990 value!) with your purchase of the groov EPIC Learning Center! Start your control or industrial internet of things (IIoT) project today with the groov EPIC Learning Center (GRV-EPIC-LC). Packed with fully-functioning EPIC hardware and software, the Learning Center gives you a compact and complete system to prototype your projects. AND…
New video: How to connect groov EPIC to an HDMI touchscreen
This video provides step-by-step instructions for adding an external touchscreen to the groov EPIC processor. You’ll begin by reviewing the software settings and hardware requirements of the groov EPIC system. The video will then take you through setting up and connecting the monitor through groov Manage. Remember, you can use just about any HDMI monitor…
Watch and learn: Another video added to Ignition Edge series
Configure Ignition Edge’s OPC-UA Server on groov EPIC If you’ve activated an Ignition Edge® license on your groov EPIC, you’re ready to use two key connectivity pieces for your IIoT applications: OPC UA and MQTT/ Sparkplug. This video covers the first piece. Ignition Edge in groov EPIC includes an internal OPC-UA server and drivers…