Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk AssetCentre software expands device support

Rockwell Automation has added custom-device plug-in capability to its FactoryTalk AssetCentre asset management software. Users can now develop re-usable plug-ins to connect the software to third-party devices. This connectivity expands monitoring, backup and recovery capabilities for critical automation-related assets.

The asset management software allows users to centrally manage controllers and other automation-related assets. It archives asset configurations, tracking changes and providing a point of return for recovery following a downtime event.

The software upgrade provides access to equipment across an entire automation system, and plug-in definitions created for one third-party device can be re-used with other devices or in other automated industrial systems to help speed up commissioning and deployment.

The software also archives user actions and changes, allowing users to audit changes that have been made to more easily identify a problem’s root cause.

The software upgrade also adds independent agent-group functionality, which enables users to place interrelated programs or agents into groups and then independently configure each agent group as needed, which allows for more scalable and flexible architectures.