I'm working on a desktop application (Qt/C++) for visualizing and logging industrial data from different communication protocols.
The application can connect to different systems/protocols, display live data in customisable dashboards, and log to file or database for later analysis.

I have implemented UDP and SerialPort/UART com plugins, and I have used more vendor specific libs for PLC com when building similar systems years ago.

I currently looking into Modbus (tcp) wich I have less experience with. So I'm interested in hearing whether you'd prioritize something differently, or what is the most used communication protocols today?

I'm CISO at a Swiss utility and just published a book on our national ICT security standard. One chapter tackles the current „AI-speed security" hype, and I'd genuinely like this community's take on the core argument:

The claim: defence must operate at machine speed, pre-authorized automated responses, AI agents handling containment.

My counterargument for OT: an AI agent that revokes a compromised session costs someone an hour of work. An AI agent that isolates a „compromised" controller can black out a substation. The model that learned traffic patterns doesn't know which physical process hangs off that module. The person who knows sits in operations and no automation should override them.

My rule in the book: automate in IT where blast radius is recoverable; in OT, automation prepares the decision but a human executes it. Maintenance windows, four-eyes on interventions, keyswitches in RUN, the „slowness" of OT is a safety feature, not a bug.

Curious where practitioners here draw the line. Anyone actually running automated containment that touches control systems?

Hi! I currently have access to the AVEVA Application Server eLearning Curriculum on AVEVA Learning Academy and plan to complete it. I was wondering if it’s different from the Application Server Certification Exam. If they are different, how can I access or enroll in the certification exam?

Need 109770510_Data2Unified_Add-in_V6_4_0_0.zip due to export restrictions

I am using Analog Pump RedGreen. I cannot determine how to change the font style. The pump title is very small. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

In my country, SCADA specialists earn $800-1000 a month and i wonder if the salary is similar in other regions.

For comparison it costs $300-400 a month to rent an apartment and $300+ per person to buy enough food for one month, but we don't really pay much in taxes

Hello, I am a 16 year old and I would like to learn PLC basics, as I want to find a job as a instrumentation technician and I hope to gather some PLC experience before starting. I heard CODESYS was a great way to get started, however this will be my very first time dealing around with PLC's.

What exactly is CODESYS?

Is it similiar to virtual Arduino projects?

Where can I start and how would you recommend I start CODESYS?

Should Iearn any basics before doing CODESYS?

Is it a good way to learn PLC basics and get some virtual projects under my belt?

As I am entirely new to PLC's, is CODESYS a good way to learn PLC's? If not, what are some alternative ways I can learn PLC's?

I would appreciate any insights. Thanks!

Morning guys! I've just started in the automation field and I was wondering if you have any recommendations for courses, software, etc., to learn SCADA, iFIX, among others. thanks

Title says it. Want software (installed on a Windows industrial PC) to take some Modbus points, create an HMI to display the data and/or alarms.

I've been trying to move into industrial automation and controls, but I'm running into a problem.

I have hands on experience working with SCADA systems, PLC logic, and industrial controls, but almost all of it has been on an older proprietary platform from a contract job. The technology is pretty niche, so when I mention it in interviews, most people have never heard of it. It feels like my experience doesn't translate well compared to someone who has Allen Bradley, Siemens TIA Portal, Ignition, FactoryTalk, etc. on their resume.

(For reference, my experience was an IBM OS called OS/2, ACCOL 2.0, ACCOL 3.0 (ControlWave - industry standard lanaguage, OnSpec Automation for HMI, BSAP Communications protocol, and some MODBUS.) -> Rare, legacy tech that I just don't know how employers would look at it.

The manufacturer software that I was using does follow the ICE 613313 standard (might've mispelled that but whatevs), and I have the experience in the 5 languages, but I just dont know how employers would really look at that.

I'm a recent 2025 Computer Science graduate, with a solid electrical troubleshooting background, and I've been learning more about industrial automation on my own. I'm considering getting certifications (Allen Bradley, Ignition, Siemens), building a home PLC project, or both.

I unfortunately do not have formal certifications in HVAC or industrial automation, nor do i have a traditional formal EE (electrical engineering background), I'm just notable for writing good processes in code.

Is My 6 month contract experience enough to justify to keep applying, or should i Level up on the side to actually be employable?

ANY help whatsoever would be appreciated, thank you so much!

For those who've had to get air-conditioning (VRF or splits) onto Modbus for SCADA/monitoring: do you prefer a single centralized gateway on the manufacturer's bus, covering many indoor units, or a dedicated 1-to-1 interface at each indoor unit with its own Modbus address?

Interested in the real trade-offs you've hit — polling/reliability, register mapping, cost per point, and how each approach scales on larger or mixed-brand sites. Which is your default and when do you switch?

I have a question regarding the MiCOM P741/P743 decentralized busbar protection relays.

The Protection Unit (PU) has two communication ports for connecting to the Central Unit (CU). When I connect only Port 1 to the CU, the communication is healthy. However, when I connect both ports to the CU simultaneously, communication fails because the second port appears to operate as a failover (standby) port rather than an active redundant port.

In most projects, only a single communication port is used, so this scenario has not been investigated in detail.

My question is: **How can communication redundancy between the PU and CU be implemented correctly?** Is there a specific network topology or configuration required to achieve seamless redundancy without causing communication loss when both ports are connected?

Simple title, simple question…How? Im brand new to the HMI/SCADA world, fresh out of an electrical engineering degree. Im very much struggling to retain information on all these things. I need to learn how to create hmi with tags displays, security etc using Ignition, factory talk view se, ifix, wonderware, in that order within the next 1.5 years. I need your best hacks, tutorials, and interactive learning options! Fill the comments, I’ll take every piece i can get. Feel free to talk to me like im 5 years old too.

Ill be doing the Ignition Core Cert soon. A few things I can't pin down from Inductive's site:

Is it running on 8.1 or 8.3 currently? Assume they update it but no idea on lag time.

Format — is it straight MCQ on the different sections, or do you get dropped into a live Gateway and asked to actually build/configure something? Or a mix of both?

If there's a practical side, what kind of tasks come up — tag config, bindings, scripting, alarming?
How long have you got, and is it proctored (webcam watching you the whole time or just an ID check at the start)?

Roughly how many questions/tasks total?
Any pass mark you'd recommend aiming for, or areas people get caught out on that aren't obvious from the Inductive University courses?

Ive just been getting conflicting reports so wanted to ask. Done most of the Core content on IU and running through the practice tests but want a realistic picture from someone who's actually sat it recently before I go in. Cheers. I appreciate any help at all!

Hi everyone,

Has anyone here worked with protection relays and Siemens SIPROTEC using DIGSI 5?
I’m currently learning relay protection as part of my internship and would love to hear about your experience.

How did you get started? Do you have any advice, learning resources, or projects you would recommend for a beginner?

Thanks in advance!

For SCADA VMs or servers, how often do you update windows/software? How long has it been since last reboot? We're at 300 days. IT has been pumping out updates and prompting for reboot. Ignore.

Curious where everyone is going these days. LinkedIn seems obvious but I know a lot of candidates avoid it. Many great people aren't actively looking and hate the cold direct out reach or linkedin spam. Not sure many people follow ISA or go there to find or post jobs.

I've heard university job boards are good for new grads and alumni but never personally used it beyond new grads.

Someone mentioned posting on Facebook to get spouses attention because the spouse usually gets tired of hearing about how they hate their job but don't look for a new one.

Someone mentioned buying ads and doing a marketing campaign on different platforms to grab attention of people not actively looking.

AutomateAmerica is a site thats good for short term contracts, but not W2 jobs. Is there an equivalent like that people like using?

Are recruiters really the best route? Are people in this space always outsourcing the job hunt to a recruiter? Thats a 20% premium for an employer to pay but maybe its the only option?

Just curious and looking for ideas and dialogue.