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What is Industrial Edge?

Overview

The Siemens Industrial Edge platform is the central infrastructure for the integration and expansion of the connectivity for data exchange between automation and IT systems. It combines local and high-performance data processing directly in the automation system with the advantages of a cloud. Industrial Edge platform provides app-based data analysis, data processing and Infrastructure-as-a-Service concepts with central update functionality.

If you are new to Industrial Edge, the video and texts below provide a comprehensive overview of the components of Industrial Edge and their functions.

Industrial Edge consists of three components:

  • Industrial Edge Hub
  • Industrial Edge Management
  • Industrial Edge Device

Industrial Edge Components

Industrial Edge Apps provide ready-made functionality for the shopfloor, enabling fast deployment of connectivity, data management, analytics, and security features. Apps run on Industrial Edge Devices and are deployed, configured, and maintained via Industrial Edge Management.

Industrial Edge Hub

Industrial Edge Hub (IE Hub) is the single-entry point to the Industrial Edge ecosystem. IE Hub is the centralized repository for Industrial Edge's software packages, applications and resources. Use IE Hub to administrate the required management infrastructure and apps for any industrial automation use case.

  • Download and configure Industrial Edge Management software from the IE Hub.
  • Transfer and assign Industrial Edge Apps to Industrial Edge Management systems around the world.

Industrial Edge Management

Industrial Edge Management (IEM) serves as the central infrastructure for Industrial Edge. IEM is the dashboard from which the user manages all devices, apps, and users of a shopfloor. Use IEM to quickly put use cases into production and easily maintain use cases.

Industrial Edge offers three IEM versions:

  • IEM Cloud: A Siemens-managed solution for quick application deployment
  • IEM Virtual: Deployable as a virtual machine in your infrastructure
  • IEM Pro: A fully self-contained, highly customizable setup in your infrastructure

Industrial Edge Devices

Industrial Edge Devices (IE Devices) are physical or virtual devices operating at the field level. IE Devices record data generated by automation systems, store the automation data locally, and upload it any cloud-infrastructure of the customer's choice such as Insights Hub, AWS, or Azure as well as local data lakes. Later we will also learn how to deploy and run apps on the IE Device.

Siemens offers various Industrial Edge Devices to facilitate Edge computing in production environments including:

  • Industrial PCs
  • Virtualized devices
  • SIMATIC controllers with integrated Edge functionality
  • HMIs with integrated Edge functionality

Find a table of connectivity capabilities for various IE Devices and supported protocols here.

Industrial Edge Apps

Customers can develop and deploy their own apps, or buy ready-made apps and existing connectivity from the catalogue on the Marketplace. These apps from Siemens and Ecosystem partners work for more than 90 % of automation systems.

Find a catalogue of available Industrial Edge Apps here.

Apps include, e.g.:

  • Analytics, Dashboarding & Archiving: To handle your data coming in, you may either use those Edge Apps which are readily available on the Marketplace, or develop your own app and upload it to your Industrial Edge Management to use it on your Edge devices.
  • Northbound Connectivity: Choose a suitable connector for passing on pre-processed data to cloud.
  • Southbound connectivity: Choose a suitable connector for receiving machine data according to supported protocol types (e.g. UPC UA, PROFINET IO, audio, video,...)
  • VPN & more: Additional features to extend your use case like VPN connectivity, GDS application etc are available.

Users deploy, release, and maintain containerized IE Apps from Industrial Edge Management onto connected IE Devices.

Info

Refer to the Industrial Edge App documentation for more information about specific IE Apps.

Notice

Not all apps may be available for sale in your country.

Notice

For customers located in China, use Marketplace China to access Industrial Edge applications.

Component licenses for the Industrial Edge system

Industrial Edge functions as Software-as-a-Service. Purchase subscriptions for apps, devices, and other Industrial Edge components via the Marketplace.

Need help? Contact Marketplace Support

If you have a question about a specific order or need assistance with your purchase, contact Marketplace Support at marketplacesupport.industry@siemens.com. Please be as specific as possible in your inquiry so that we can provide the most accurate and helpful response. We strive to respond to all inquiries as quickly as possible.

Build your Industrial Edge system to suit your use case

Consider the following when building your Industrial Edge system:

  • What problem needs to be solved?
  • What are the devices providing data from the shopfloor?
  • Should you pre-process or analyze data on the shopfloor or in the cloud?
  • Do you need to display the data on the shopfloor in IT? Are notifications required?
  • Do you need a cloud connection for further analysis? Local cloud or specific vendor? Are there specific requirements?
  • Which security standards need to be achieved?

What's next?

Proceed to Setting up Industrial Edge Hub.