Enhancing time synchronization features in PLCnext via WBM
Hello PLCnext'ers,
I've been exploring the Web-Based Management (WBM) interface of PLCnext and appreciate the ability to add NTP servers for time synchronization. However, I noticed that directly aligning the PLCnext's time with the local timezone, including automatic adjustments for Daylight Saving Time (DST), isn't straightforward through WBM settings alone. This requires some workarounds in PLC programming to ensure accurate time alignment with our local settings and the observance of DST*.
Would it be possible to consider enhancing the WBM functionalities to include options for setting the local timezone and automatic DST adjustments? This addition would streamline time synchronization processes, reducing the need for external adjustments and ensuring that our PLCnext devices are always on the correct time, seamlessly transitioning through seasonal time changes.
Such an improvement would significantly enhance user experience and operational efficiency, especially for those of us managing multiple devices across different time zones.
Thank you for considering this enhancement. Your continuous efforts to improve the PLCnext platform are greatly appreciated!
Best regards,
Michel.
* In an 'ideal world', we'd have left DST in the past with floppy disks and dial-up internet, but expecting politicians to update our timekeeping is like expecting a software update to reduce the number of bugs – optimistic at best, and at worst, we end up with more complications than we started with!
Comments
Thanks for the suggestion. I agree that this would be a useful feature.
I have just checked and it turns out that this feature has been listed as a requirement for a number of years.
It currently has a high priority, but unfortunately I cannot say when this feature will be available.
Hi Martin, thanks for your response.
Is there a way for us to view the list of (accepted) feature requests online?
Additionally, I'm curious to know if the following item is on that list:
Flexible eHMI access control in PLCnext Engineer, enabling the selection of specific pages that do not require authentication, while maintaining authentication requirements for the remainder of the pages.
https://www.plcnext-community.net/forum/#/discussion/3675
For various technical and commercial reasons, a complete list of feature requests is not available online. A list of upcoming features is given in the "Development Roadmap" section of the PLCnext Info Center:
... but that is far from a complete list.
As for your other question, your earlier post should have been answered by someone back in January. The answer from the Controls Support team is:
There are currently no activities scheduled in that direction.
It is already possible to assign different user rights to different pages but that would at least require a login of a basic user in the mentioned use case of the general process monitoring page. Further pages could then ask for a higher user level.
If you have proposals for features that you would like implemented, then you will need to contact the technical specialists in your local Phoenix Contact office. They will collect all the information that is needed to submit a feature request for the developers.
That's a really nice list of welcomed and useful features!
When is PLCnext Engineer 2024.0.1 with integrated alarm configuration scheduled, @Martin PLCnext Team ?
Two weeks ago I heard that they were targeting this week for a new release of PLCnext Engineer, so it shouldn't be far away.
PLCnext Engineer 2024.0.2 is now available :)