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Why does my OFS Console show "PLC Offline?"

The OFS Console can sometimes show "PLC Offline" - find out why.

If you notice your OFS Console showing "PLC Offline" in the bottom left corner:

This means that your OFS Software is currently unable to read signals from your factory. This message can appear regardless of the signal pathway your lines utilise:

  • PLC - via the Modbus protocol
  • OPC server - using OPC-DA or OPC-UA protocol
  • OFS Revpi or other middleware device - providing counts via API calls

What steps can I take to troubleshoot my signal issue?

Unexpected power outages and periods of poor network performance can result in the PLC / other device being in a stuck state. For this reason, it is always worth at a minimum trying to power cycle the device in the event it resolves the issue without the need for further investigation.

Locate and Power Cycle the OFS Hardware

  1. For the PLC, this requires removing the green terminal block briefly.
  2. For the router, this is removing the power cable briefly.

Beyond this, the best way to approach troubleshooting these issue is to trace the source of the issue from the device at site --> back towards the OFS software.

This would follow a logical order such as below:

  1. Checking the status of the PLC / OPC server / other device
    1. Is the device powered on currently?
    2. Are any necessary network cables plugged in?
    3. Does it have internet connectivity where it is located?
      1. The device could be getting internet connectivity from the local network
      2. The device could be getting internet connectivity from a 4G enabled router. Locate the device and check it's status as well.
  2. Is the device communicating with OFS
    1. Local network firewalls can influence the device ability to make an outbound connection back to the OFS Cloud
    2. Devices reliant on a 4G connection can be hindered by mobile network outages

If you're confident you've answered the questions above to the best of your ability then you should provide an overview to the OFS Service Desk.

  • Log a case with the details here.
  • Call us on (03) 8684 9859.