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Beckhoff's TwinCAT/BSD Hypervisor Provides Efficient Engineering and Execution of Virtual Machines

By: Beckhoff Automation
12 January, 2022
Beckhoff's TwinCAT/BSD Hypervisor Provides Efficient Engineering and Execution of Virtual Machines
Beckhoff's TwinCAT/BSD Hypervisor Provides Efficient Engineering and Execution of Virtual Machines
With this TwinCAT/BSD OS extension, Beckhoff increases availability through integrated virtual machine environments.

Jan. 12, 2022 - TwinCAT/BSD Hypervisor, a powerful new feature of the TwinCAT/BSD operating system from Beckhoff, enables simultaneous execution of virtual machines and TwinCAT real-time applications on an Industrial PC (IPC). Optimized hypervisor integration in TwinCAT/BSD, plus matching configurations of Beckhoff hardware and software provide maximum performance for virtual machines–often called VMs–while maintaining TwinCAT real-time properties for automation. The high-performance execution of virtual machines means different operating systems can be utilized on one IPC so users can take advantage of the features and strengths of each. In addition, users can enhance the security properties of the overall system by operating user environments in a modular and isolated manner.

For example, TwinCAT real-time applications can operate separately from a Windows desktop environment for machine operation on an IPC. In this context, the Windows operating system runs in a virtual machine environment. Therefore, when Windows restarts, e.g., due to software updates, it will not interrupt machine control execution.

This ensures optimal machine availability since Windows only restarts within the virtual machine environment and TwinCAT continues to run in the real-time context supported by the TwinCAT/BSD host. Through the device passthrough feature of TwinCAT/BSD Hypervisor, hardware resources such as the GPU, USB ports and/or network interfaces can be explicitly assigned to a virtual machine. In this way, access to the TwinCAT/BSD system by user and/or network interfaces can be limited, creating opportunities to boost control system security. TwinCAT/BSD Hypervisor supports operation of Linux distributions on the controller in addition to Windows, such as for running Linux containers, for example.

In this case, host-only networks support data communication between Linux containers and the machine controller. This ensures that unencrypted network communication will only take place locally between TwinCAT/BSD and the Linux container host, and confidential machine data does not leave the IPC.

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Beckhoff Automation
Beckhoff Automation provides advanced, open automation products based upon proven industrial technologies. Manufacturers, processors and machine builders can implement high performance Beckhoff control systems more efficiently and at a lower overall cost than traditional PLC and motion control systems. Beckhoff has been a long-time proponent of open controls architectures, full system interoperability, seamless machine-to-machine communication and lean automation solutions. As more businesses are calling for these types of cost-efficient solutions, Beckhoff is well-positioned today to support them. Beckhoff sales and service are handled directly, with no intermediaries involved for exceptional customer service and consultation. Beckhoffs product range includes PC-based control, Industrial PCs, Embedded PCs, programmable automation controllers (PACs), PLCs, operator interfaces, I/O compatible with over 15 different fieldbuses, EtherCAT (next generation Ethernet fieldbus technology), servo drives and motors. Beckhoff is also advancing leading edge automation solutions that deliver high performance at a low cost. This includes Scientific Automation, which merges automation, PLC and motion control with advanced condition monitoring and precise measurement technologies. Today this can be handled all on one powerful, PC-based automation controller and cost-effective EtherCAT Terminals, eliminating the need for many expensive ‚Äúblack boxes.‚Äù Another advanced solution from Beckhoff is eXtreme Fast Control Technology (XFC), which efficiently brings automation performance to new heights, with greatly increased system precision and I/O response times < 100 μs. Worldwide Presence Beckhoff Automation North American headquarters is located in the Minneapolis, Minn. area. At this location, administration, product and engineering management, warehousing and training occurs. There are also regional technical centers located in San Diego, Calif.; Duluth, Ga.; Charlotte, NC; Mill Creek, Wash.; Fond du Lac, Wisc. and Guelph, Ontario. Beckhoffs global headquarters, including product design and assembly facilities, is located in Verl, Germany. Between direct owned subsidiaries and world-wide co-operation with partners, Beckhoff is represented in 60+ countries.

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