Plant-floor data access via the Web

EWeb toolkit from Rockwell Automation helps capture data from Logix-based controllers and monitor the information over the Web in a single-screen view using a standard Web browser.

By Control Engineering Staff August 11, 2005

EWeb toolkit from Rockwell Automation helps capture data from Logix-based controllers and monitor the information over the Web in a single-screen view using a standard Web browser. Used with the Allen-Bradley 1756-EWeb Module and a Logix control system, the EWeb toolkit uses Rockwell Automation’s Integrated Architecture over EtherNet/IP to deliver real-time production data.

It is designed to help engineers create simple data monitoring Web pages where full-featured human-machine interface system (with functions such as alarm acknowledgment, data entry, or data logging) are not needed. EWeb Toolkit permits the creation of Web pages without HTML programming and helps establish access to plant floor data with drag-and-drop objects. These objects, with minimal configuration, can link to an Allen-Bradley Logix controller and deliver view-only live system data via Web pages. To create the same Web pages without the Toolkit, the engineer would need to have Web authoring software and HTML programming knowledge, as well as additional development time. OEMs and system integrators also can leverage this utility to offer customers additional services, such as remote troubleshooting and notification capabilities.

The Allen-Bradley EWeb Toolkit is available as a free download on the Rockwell Automation Web site .

—David Greenfield, editorial director, Control Engineering, dgreenfield@reedbusiness.com