Chapter 2: Route the Hardware

This chapter will take you on the lovely journey of understanding how to connect physical hardware to virtual infrastructure. Understanding how a machine is running ESXi can route communications through to local Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), and other such devices. This section will utilize Koyo Click software and hardware to start with, as the Koyo Click PLC is a very cost-effective choice, and the engineering programming software is free to use, unlike other mainstream vendors who require you to pay hefty sums of money to license their programming software. Know that the principles and methods discussed in this chapter are reflected in those of other automation vendors, such as Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider, Omron, Mitsubishi, and many others. If getting access to a Koyo Click proves to be difficult, you can follow along with a PLC of your choice. Note that you will be required to get access to the engineering...