Estimates assume that up to 60% of errors can be resolved or at least supported via remote access. Remote maintenance via a telecommunications or internet connection means users have access to data worldwide, wherever they are located, 24/7. This delivers the ability for such things as analysing and correcting errors, setting up and maintaining the plant, as well as carrying out optimisation work.
Weidmüller's u-link remote access service offers a system that is easy to install, easy to configure and easy to manage – and guarantees a high level of security at all times.
System essentials
In addition to high security standards, the usability and flexibility of remote access systems are also important. Users need to carry out the configuration easily and independently, with a clear overview of the plant out in the field and with a connection that is established with a single mouse click.
Connections need to be set up and disconnected rapidly and switching between different devices also quick. The administration of the entire system should be clear cut and users should have no need for in-depth IT expertise.
System security is critical, as remote access always forms an interface to the outside world. An account should have sufficient security features, such as two-factor authentication, protection against brute force attacks and a password policy.
Devices should be be authenticated using certificates with a sufficient key length, e.g. X.509 certificates with 2048-bit key length, and communication directed out via known ports such as 443. Other available features that should be included consist of detailed user management with organisation administration, firmware management and additional access restrictions.
The benefits of remote maintenance system solutions are clear. There is no need to buy and maintain a server, no public and externally accessible IP address is required, and the systems are designed to be highly available and redundant.
u-link – a simplified and secure service in practice
Weidmüller’s u-link service for secure remote access is particularly easy and intuitive to use. It allows efficient management of production facilities as well as users. An intuitive interface can be easily configured to match the user’s system and quickly customised to meet specific design requirements.
Security standards are designed in accordance with the recommendations of the “Federal Office for Information Security”. All the servers accessed by u-link are located in Western Europe and meet all the relevant security standards. With the u-link concept, each customer receives their own, unique u-link details, which prevents third parties from accessing the plant.
u-link access
Remote access with u-link means a connection is established with a single click. Steps for the connection run securely and quickly in the background and the technician, once authorised by the system operator, is connected to the network virtually, as though it were connected locally via an Ethernet cable. The technician is then able to view the plant visualisation and the parameters of the control.
For example, the technician can quickly recognise in which section of the program the machine has failed. In this way, u-link can significantly reduce the time between reporting an error to the service team and restarting the machine. Regular machine updates can also be run by default via the u-link remote access service.
u-link – simple administration and setup
The administration of a remote maintenance system accounts for the majority of the later work involved. Therefore, it is all the more important that many actions, such as creating a new user, can be carried out independently during configuration. The simple administration of u-link provides detailed management of users, groups and their access rights according to individual specifications. Access can also be granted to an end customer or supplier, safe in the knowledge that they can only carry out actions that are relevant to them.
Administration work also includes firmware management.
These updates often include security updates for each installed device and can take a long time. With u-link's firmware management, current firmware statuses are clearly displayed, and a secure method is offered to update them automatically at an individually defined point in time.
u-link's connection dashboard means the user has a smart diagnostic tool at their disposal. In the event of an error due, for instance, to a changed IP address, a pulled Ethernet cable, poor reception or a new firewall rule, the cause of the error can be quickly determined via the connection evaluation. In addition to diagnostics, per-second billing of service times to the customer is also available.
For more information, visit the Weidmüller website or call on 0845 094 2007.
Weidmüller UK
- +44 1162 823470
- http://www.weidmueller.com
- Klippon House, Centurion Court Office Park, Meridian East, Meridian Business Park Leicester, Leicestershire LE19 1TP GB
About us
Be it automobile manufacturing, electricity production or water management - hardly any of today’s industries can do without electronics and electrical connectivity. In this internationalised, technologically changing world, the complexity of requirements is rapidly increasing due to the emergence of new markets. New, more varied challenges have to be overcome, and the solutions to them will not be found in high-tech products alone. Connectivity is the key, whether it involves power, signals and data, demands and solutions or theory and practice. Industrial Connectivity needs connections. And that’s precisely what we stand for.
Our Industries
Our industrial environment is full of connections that need to be connected, controlled and optimised. We are absolutely committed to always providing the best connection possible. This is not only demonstrated in our products but also in the human connections we maintain: We develop solutions in close cooperation with our customers which meet the full measure of all requirements of their particular industrial environment.
Industry 4.0 and Digitalisation
In the light of Industry 4.0, customised, highly flexible and self-controlling production units often still seem to be a vision of the future. As a progressive thinker and trailblazer, Weidmüller already offers concrete solutions that allow producing companies to prepare themselves for the “Industrial Internet of Things” and for safe production control from the Cloud - without the need to modernise their entire range of machinery.
Where we supply to
UK Ireland
Industries we supply to
Chemicals, Energy and Power, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Water and Wastewater
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