Get Started with IXON Cloud

Explore how simple the configuration of IXON products are. Setting up remote access to your industrial equipment is really this easy! Just follow this step-by-step guide.

In this step-by-step installation guide, we’ll show you how to get started with IXON’s Industrial IoT solution with remote access as its basic feature! By following three simple steps, you’ll have remote access to your PLC, HMI or robots in an instant. Try for yourself how quickly IXON's end-to-end solution is ready for use with the IXON Starter Kit. 

About IXON’s Remote Service & IIoT solution

IXON is an award-winning no-code Remote Service & Industrial IoT solution designed for machine builders and their customers. IXON offers the easiest way to start with remote access and expand with data services to optimise machine productivity, reduce downtime and introduce new business models for your industrial equipment.

IXON Cloud is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform with smart IoT connectivity, which means that you can easily activate new features whenever you need it, without the need for swapping hardware or installing new software.

In this article, you’ll learn the basics of IXON’s industrial remote access solution and how to get started. If you want a personal demo, then schedule it here.

Requirements to get started with IXON

To get started with the installation and configuration, you’ll need an IXrouter - IXON’s combined industrial VPN router and IoT edge gateway. If you haven’t got one yet, then request a 30-day free Starter Kit here. Furthermore, you need a computer, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection. 

Step-by-step Guide to get started with remote access with IXON Cloud and the IXrouter:

1. Create your free company account in the IXON Cloud
2. Configure internet access for the IXrouter
3. Register and activate the IXrouter to start with secure remote access to PLC, HMI and robots

This total installation process will take about 5-10 minutes when you are new to IXON products.

Step 1: Create your free company account in IXON Cloud

Sign up for IXON Cloud

Start with creating your free IXON Cloud account. Browse to www.ixon.cloud and create your company account - no payment needed.

Once you’ve signed up and confirmed your account, you have unlimited free access to your company portal where you can manage all your equipment and user access from a single place. Easy as that.

Step 2: Configure internet access for the IXrouter

Next step is to connect the IXrouter to the internet. Therefore you need to configure how the device should connect to the internet, so it can register itself online to your IXON Cloud account. 

Create an IXrouter configuration file with internet settings

To configure the IXrouter’s internet access via ethernet, Wi-Fi or cellular, you need to create a configuration file.

Login to your IXON Cloud account and browse to the “Tools” section. Click on the “Start configuration” button which opens a simple wizard to set the internet configuration.

Transfer the configuration file to the USB-stick

Follow the steps in the wizard to create a configuration file. When you’ve finished the steps, you can download the generated configuration file and can copy it to the IXON USB-stick. 

The Internet configuration file is created for the IXrouter and can be transferred to the IXON USB-stick.

Apply the configuration settings to the IXrouter via the USB-stick

Next step is to connect the IXrouter to the internet. Insert the power supply and connect an ethernet cable or mount the antenna. If the IXrouter isn’t connected to the internet, the “ACT” led-display will be red-coloured. 

Now insert the USB-stick with the configuration file to give the IXrouter instructions on how to connect to the internet. Once the IXrouter finds the new configuration, it will prepare its internet connection. The led-lights will blink blue and red during this process.

Step 3: Register and activate the IXrouter in your IXON portal

Register a new device

Once it’s connected to the internet, the IXrouter will automatically register itself to your IXON portal.

Open the “Devices section” and just wait till a “New device” is registered. 

Activate the IXrouter and give it a name

The final step is to activate the IXrouter and change its name by clicking on the new device.

That’s it, now the IXrouter is added and available in your portal to access it remotely.

Finished! Now start a remote VPN connection to the IXrouter and connected hardware

When the IXrouter is connected to the internet, you can start a secure VPN connection to it from any browser or in the IXON mobile app. Open the IXrouter that you want to connect to in the portal and push the “Connect” button in the VPN section.

Secure Remote Access to PLC and HMI

Any hardware connected to the IXrouter’s LAN port (usually a PLC or HMI), can be accessed securely over a VPN connection from your PC to the PLC with a single push on the button.

Once connected you can deploy and upload new PLC software, for example via the TIA Portal for Siemens S7 PLC’s, or remote control HMI panels over a VPN or VNC connection. It’s that simple!

Data logging from PLC and sensors

Simply configure your data source(s), the communication protocol (e.g. OPC-UA, Modbus, Siemens etc.), the variables and the conditions when you want to log data from your PLC or sensor. The IXrouter monitors your machine data locally and when your conditions are met it sends the data to IXON's highly secured ISO-27001 certified database cluster.

Use your collected data to build your own (live) monitoring, service or production dashboards or trigger alarms to prevent failures or predict maintenance.