gRPC Protobuf Definitions

PLCnext Technology & PLCnext Controls
1

Hi,
I have been comparing the C++ RSC services that seem to be available with the matching protobuf definitions (https://github.com/PLCnext/gRPC/tree/master/protobuf) and notice that there are many RSC services that are not available. In particular, I would like to use the following IPlcManagerService and IRetainManagerService over gRPC. Is this possible at all ? (I assume that PLCNextEngineer is perhaps using these services to trigger the same actions). Reason is that I would like to integrate/automate some of this control within VSCode.
Cheers,
Lindsay

2

Hi Lindsay.
The development of the gRPC server involves a staged implementation of all the RSC services, starting with the most popular. It may be that the server doesn’t yet implement the two services you mention, or it could be that it does, but the Protobuf files haven’t been updated. I will check with the developers and let you know.
I assume that PLCNextEngineer is perhaps using these services to trigger the same actions.That’s a good guess, but PLCnext Engineer does not use the gRPC interface (although that might change in the future). At the moment PLCnext Engineer uses a proprietary „remote RSC“ mechanism that is not available to other users. The demand for this sort of use-case is what prompted the development of the gRPC server.

3

Martin,
Thanks for the update. Yep, please let me know if the protobuf files exist and it is supported. Not a big deal if not implemented yet (I can likely work around by calling the RSC services directly on the PLC in a round-about way).
Cheers,
Lindsay

4

Here is the current situation:

                              * Github contains the current version of the protobuf files.
                              * The disclaimer at the top of [the Makers Blog post on this topic](https://www.plcnext-community.net/makersblog/remote-grpc-using-grpcurl/) still applies - remote access to the gRPC server is possible, but not currently supported.
                              * When an officially supported version of the remote gRPC feature is finally release, the services that you mentioned will be part of that release.