Open Access

Axel Sikora, Peter Brügger

• The integration of web servers into embedded systems offers a dividend at many levels. Operationally it can place industrial control, diagnostics and maintenance half a world away from the actual plant location – in fact anywhere with access to a reliable Internet connection.The ease and economy with which web-based architecture can integrate the activities of geographically diverse plantThe integration of web servers into embedded systems offers a dividend at many levels. Operationally it can place industrial control, diagnostics and maintenance half a world away from the actual plant location – in fact anywhere with access to a reliable Internet connection.The ease and economy with which web-based architecture can integrate the activities of geographically diverse plant locations alone justifies use of the technology:The low cost and ubiquitous nature of Web Services components makes the case unassailable. Using public networks as a transmission layer for industrial architecture raises a legitimate concerns about security. But Virtual Private Networks can now deal effectively with the issue say Axel Sikora and Peter Brügger.…