# Possible for Ignition to detect PLC device through another pc?

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** ignition80\
**Created:** [March 16, 2021, 5:59am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509 "2021-03-16T05:59:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kairongsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kairongsen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kairongsen)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 5:59am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/1 "2021-03-16T05:59:02Z")

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Greetings,

Is it possible for the setup as below work?

 ![Screenshot 2021-03-17 230511](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/5/6/560c25df3faf005dd1c0d9641cb85648bebcbccc.png)

This is the setup required by the customer as they wish to maintain 2 layers of networking. Possible for the Ignition server to detect the PLC device through another PC instead of itself? Since they are in different domains. The only connection the PLC and Ignition server have is the PC1 that with two network ports and IP addresses.

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**Author:** ![nideyijuyidong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7cd45c/32.png) [@nideyijuyidong](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/nideyijuyidong)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 8:03am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/2 "2021-03-16T08:03:50Z")

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Port forwarding.

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**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 12:43pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/3 "2021-03-16T12:43:23Z")

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Place an OPC server on PC1

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**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/4 "2021-03-16T14:11:56Z")

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Agree with @pturmel, put an OPC UA server on PC1.

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**Author:** ![allnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce73a5/32.png) [@allnet](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/allnet)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 10:28pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/5 "2021-03-16T22:28:36Z")

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Why would be better a PC with OPC UA server instead of a good managed switch/router? This way would be faster at a fraction of cost.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kairongsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kairongsen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kairongsen)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 7:51am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/6 "2021-03-17T07:51:58Z")

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Erm okay that is a new term for me let me have a look into it. Much thanks =)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kairongsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kairongsen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kairongsen)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 8:04am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/8 "2021-03-17T08:04:04Z")

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@pturmel @Kevin.Herron  
May I know If an OPC server is being installed in PC1 which domain should it be in?

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**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 9:32am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/9 "2021-03-17T09:32:51Z")

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The domain is very unlikely to be relevant. I would not expect it to need to be in a domain at all. The OPC UA server will need to listen on the subnet Ignition connects from.

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**Author:** ![kairongsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kairongsen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kairongsen)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 3:04pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/10 "2021-03-17T15:04:46Z")

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The OPC UA don’t need to be in the same domain in order to communicate with the PLC? Do miss out something? Btw I think I miss out a network switch between the Ignition Server and PC1

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**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 3:08pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/11 "2021-03-17T15:08:04Z")

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Same subnet is often but not always required. When not required, there must at least be a route to the PLC. For “Domain” I thought you meant for Windows.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kairongsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kairongsen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kairongsen)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/12 "2021-03-17T15:33:06Z")

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I see. So even after PC1 is with an OPC server there must be a router between PLC and PC1 in order to make the network architecture to work? As image below?

 ![Screenshot 2021-03-17 233206](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/3/e/3e01f49e09c6141d4be3f5ffe0a200eb47776fdd.png)

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**Author:** ![Matrix\_Engineering](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/matrix_engineering/32/19781_2.png) [@Matrix\_Engineering](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Matrix_Engineering)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/13 "2021-03-17T15:39:17Z")

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Look’s like there are two NICs on PC1.

Set Ignition to target the OPC server on 10.148.xyz.abc

Have OPC UA server on PC1 target PLC driver using other NIC on 192.168.xyz.abc

Phil said route not router.

What I posted above should work, if not you can add a route file if Windows, example;

open cmd type

```auto
route -p add 192.168.2.1 mask 255.255.255.255 10.148.3.4

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kairongsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kairongsen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kairongsen)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/14 "2021-03-17T15:48:17Z")

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…… Sorry for the mistake. I mix up route and router. ==. Yes, there is two two NICs on PC1. Route file erm. Let me look into it as well. That a new term for me. Thanks for correcting me. =)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nideyijuyidong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7cd45c/32.png) [@nideyijuyidong](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/nideyijuyidong)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 1:00am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/15 "2021-03-18T01:00:27Z")

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It’s very simple. I’m using it.Here is a tool for windows.

> **[zmjack/PortProxyGUI](https://github.com/zmjack/PortProxyGUI)**
>
> A manager of netsh interface portproxy which is to evaluate TCP/IP port redirect on windows. - zmjack/PortProxyGUI

The disadvantage is that,the reliability depends on all devices.If your network,or “PC1” is unstable,you’ll lose connect and data.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kairongsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kairongsen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kairongsen)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:41am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/16 "2021-03-18T08:41:42Z")

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> [@Matrix\_Engineering](#):
>
> route -p add 192.168.2.1 mask 255.255.255.255 10.148.3.4

Hi I found what you have mention.  
[route | Microsoft Docs](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/route_ws2008)  
May I know why there mask is set as 255.255.255.255 Instead?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kairongsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kairongsen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kairongsen)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:57am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/17 "2021-03-18T08:57:31Z")

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Hi @pturmel is the route you mention is what Matrix-Engineering told me?

I am currently looking into this-A route may be defined as information that is used to make a decision about how to forward a packet so that it will reach its intended destination network.  
[route | Microsoft Docs](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/route_ws2008)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matrix\_Engineering](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/matrix_engineering/32/19781_2.png) [@Matrix\_Engineering](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Matrix_Engineering)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:10am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/18 "2021-03-18T09:10:12Z")

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My habit, I only allow one device through if that’s all is needed (/32).

Let the 4th Octet through if you really want (/24 255.255.255.0)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kairongsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kairongsen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kairongsen)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 1:29pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/19 "2021-03-18T13:29:49Z")

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Hi, mind if I ask something out of the topic? I have some basic knowledge about subnet mask and scanned through this [route | Microsoft Docs](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/route_ws2008). However the article itself didn’t mention much about the functionality of mask in route. Is the functionality of mask in route is same as it in subnet mask?  
Let take this as example

route -p add 192.168.2.1 mask 255.255.255.255 10.148.3.4  
The mask 255.255.255.255 mean it only allow IP 10.148.3.4 to get to the destination 192.168.2.1?

route -p add 192.168.2.1 mask 255.255.255.0 10.148.3.4  
From the command above, is it allow any IP with 10.148.3.XXX to pass through to the destination 192.168.2.1

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matrix\_Engineering](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/matrix_engineering/32/19781_2.png) [@Matrix\_Engineering](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Matrix_Engineering)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/20 "2021-03-18T13:48:46Z")

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Well, mask is relative to the first IP, so in your example it will expose all of 192.168.2.XXX/24 with a GATEWAY of 10.148.3.4

If you read the first half of my reply a few posts above, and setup the OPC UA on PC1 with two NIC’s, I don’t think you even need a route file or router. That being said, a MikroTik R3011 etc is like $150, you don’t need to spend megabucks.

Regardless, as I see it per your diagram, if you have two NICs on PC1…

Let’s make up some numbers:  
PLC:  
IP 192.168.2.5  
Mask 255.255.255.0  
Gateway 192.168.2.1

PC 1 NIC 1:  
IP 192.168.2.1  
Mask 255.255.255.0

PC 1 NIC 2:  
10.148.1.2  
Mask 255.255.255.0  
Gateway: 10.148.1.254

Ignition server NIC:  
10.148.1.1  
Mask 255.255.255.0  
Gateway: 10.148.1.254 (What is the switch in your diagram, L2, L3?)

Ignition OPC UA endpoint: 10.148.1.2:67000 (or whatever your OPC UA port is)

OPC UA Server on PC 1:  
Using NIC 1  
Target IP 192.168.2.5

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 2:01pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509/21 "2021-03-18T14:01:51Z")

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I used “route” in the generic sense, meaning a network path for Internet Protocol between PC1 and your PLC. If in the same subnet, the route is trivial–the packet travels direct from one device to the other. If not in the same subnet, the route would need at least one _router_, but could need multiple routers. And there are numerous technologies that could be involved, including the recommendations in this topic.

[Next page](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/possible-for-ignition-to-detect-plc-device-through-another-pc/44509.md?page=2)
