WAGO is going with Linux

Linux offers more reliability and investment security for automation than a number of other commercial operating systems. This is why WAGO has been building on this open-source operating system for its Linux controllers and industrial PCs since 2004.

The advance of Linux does not stop in the sector of mobile devices or on the consumer market; automation specialists have also discovered the benefits of Linux. The Linux open-source operating system has long since proven itself in PLCs, fieldbus gateways, switches, visualization devices and even in machine control systems.

The following benefits show why Linux has become so widely and well-accepted:

• Linux is and will be available over the long term,
• no licenses are required,
• it has become well-established throughout the world and
• it can run on a wide range of different hardware platforms.

Linux has experienced extremely successful growth in the server sector. A large portion of servers in the world operate using Linux. This is due primarily to the excellent stability of the Linux operating system.

Many users are taken aback by the phrase "open source", as the misconception that own or company know-how or applications must be disclosed still commonly exists. But this is not the case at all. Linux users must only show the changes they make to the operating system, but not their programming for the actual applications. Only two items must be taken into consideration here: Firstly, no algorithms for which an open-source license exists may be used in the application software and, secondly, only the standard interfaces to the Linux kernel may be used. When these two points are observed, the intellectual property represented by the applications remains with the programmer.

A variety of distributors for office and home applications exists, as well as special ones for control systems technology. WAGO provides its own distribution with Linux controllers. Using this controller, not only can necessary functions be selected, but an application-specific Linux edition can also be compiled.

WAGO meets tough requirements

The requirements placed on Linux-based control systems are stringent. Assembly options to meet the demands of modern industry, permissible temperature range, EMC properties and mechanical strength must be provided, along with flexibly configurable input and output levels. WAGO offers such a solution with a Linux controller and a Linux-compatible industrial PC - both of which are components of the WAGO-I/O-SYSTEM 750.

The I/O system consists of fieldbus-independent input and output modules and fieldbus coupliers, or programmable controllers. The Linux controller is supplied equipped with a µClinux operating system. The controller provides access to the process images with an API. Powerful applications with comprehensive access to process data can be created via the Web server CGI interface.