FAQ: How to connect RobotStudio to IRC5 over the internet

John Wiberg

 

At RobotStudio support we usually get requests similar to this one so I thought I would post something short on this.

 

Question: How do I use RobotStudio to connect to my IRC5 over the internet?

Answer: You don't.

RobotStudio doesn't support it and ABB Robotics would at all points recommend against it.
You and your IS/IT would need to spend hours upon hours to secure all the security risks of putting your robot controllers in contact with such an exposed environment.
Then RobotStudio and the controller are not designed nor are they tested for this scenario, so sorting out all the technical difficulties alone would be a massive undertaking.

 

Question:  But I really need to remote connect to my robot controllers, how would you do that?

Answer: ONE SOLUTION that I might use would be the much simpler and faster approach and use a Remote Desktop software to remote control a PC with RobotStudio in the LAN where the robot controllers reside.

Like this image:
 

Note 1, that the Plant Control Network is separated from the Office Network.
Note 2, so even if I get to Remote Desktop through Firewall 1, there is still Firewall 2 protecting the plant.

 

Question: If I'm unfamiliar with Remote Desktop and how to set that up what would you recommend?

Answer: Talk to your IS/IT and get their recommendation, but if you want something fast and simple then I have used Teamviewer [http://www.teamviewer.com] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teamviewer] in some support cases in the past.

tomnew481

Can laptop will work on that?

John Wiberg

Yes. Both Remote Desktop and the connect to controller parts of RobotStudio are quite light loads for a PC.

enmi1980

I normally setup a VPN solution for the machine lines. To get some added security I ask the operator to connect and disconnect the cable that connects the machine line to the outside world. Takes longer to setup, but you get a very stable solution.