Connecting or managing several remote locations via a network.
Connecting or managing several remote locations via a network.
I received a new challenge from my workplace. It’s something we’ve never encountered before, and I’m unsure where to find the right support. We manage 10 remote locations that secure a town center; each site uses equipment connected to a PLC, with a Netbiter enabling remote monitoring and control. The client wants all sites to turn on together when a button is pressed. Unfortunately, the Netbiters can’t be controlled collectively—each site must be activated separately. I considered using a POE relay to send a signal into the PLC and manage activation via switch settings. Some sites already have 4G routers for connectivity, while others only have basic Netbiters and an intercom. We might need additional 4G routers for those without them. If all network ports can be activated simultaneously, we’d need a method to send the activation command together. Personally, I’d prefer a web interface with a single large red emergency button for a more dramatic solution. The Netbiters could also be integrated via an API, but I’m not sure that would help. Apologies if this sounds unclear—I don’t handle network systems and have limited knowledge about it. Is there any possibility of achieving this? Another idea is to connect all the PLCs together, though that seems even more complex.
I would connect a site-to-site VPN through a Cisco concentrator using a dedicated website VPN solution and implement a tailored script to launch everything simultaneously.