Getting Started with UniCloud

Before you can start using UniCloud for the first time, you need to take the following actions:

1. In UniLogic: enable your project for UniCloud, then sign up for UniCloud (or sign in if you already have a UniCloud account), Next, you create a Asset Type,and include the tags and alarms you wish to make accessible to UniCloud. Lastly, you Sync the Asset type with UniCloud, and download the project to your PLC.

2. In UniApps: activate UniCloud in the PLC, either via VNC, or by physically touching the HMI panel.

3. Create an Asset. You can do this via UniApps, or via UniCloud.
   Note that if you create an Asset via UniCloud, you need to load a Security Certificate to the PLC, when you create an Asset in UniApps, the PLC loads a certificate automatically and transparently.

4. In UniCloud: Sign into your UniCloud web account and create your first Dashboard.

The Asset type, along with the tags and alarms, are part of the UniLogic project, and may be downloaded to any number of PLCs. This means you can, for example, use a UniCloud dashboard to manage a series of machines spread over multiple locations.

Before you Begin: Prerequisites

1. Configure the PLC's IP address, default gateway and DNS Server.
   
   

2. Enable VNC.
   
   

3. If you want to be able to access UniStream via webserver, remember to configure it in your UniLogic project.

How to enable your project for UniCloud

1. In the Solution Explorer, click UniCloud, and then click to enable UniCloud integration.
   
   

2. If you have a UniCloud Account, skip to How to Create an Asset Type.
   If you do not have an account, create one according to the steps below.

3. To create your UniCloud account, click Create Organization.
   
   

4. Enter the account administrator's email address as the Main Contact and click Next.
   
   

5. Enter the Organization's details and click Create Organization.
   
   

6. After you click Create Organization, UniLogic asks you to confirm the email sent to the Main Contact address.confirm the email sent to the Main Contact address.

   - Access the email, confirm the account, and set your password
   

7. Return to UniLogic and click the Log in button on the ribbon. Use the credentials of your new organization.
   
   

You have now created an Organization and logged into your UniCloud account.

How to Create an Asset Type

An Asset Type comprises the tags and alarms that you define as accessible by UniCloud.

1. Click Create Asset Type.
   
   

2. Enter the Asset Name, and click Create Asset Type.
   
   

3. UniLogic shows the Asset type settings.
   Under Subscription, you can edit the Tags timer interval option to match your application needs. The interval determines the frequency at which data syncs to UniCloud. (Note that you can also use a Ladder element, Sync to Cloud, to force data to be synced without regard to this Tags timer interval.)
   UniLogic estimates the Expected Monthly Number of tag updates according to your selections; and recommends the subscription plan you need; if you make changes in your project, UniLogic automatically updates the estimation.
   
   
   
    

How to make Tags and Alarms accessible to UniCloud

1. Tags: in the Solution Explorer, click UniCloud>AssetType>Tags, and then click Add Tag.

2. Click in the fields to select the tags; you can select individual tags or an entire struct.
   Note that you can select Access Levels: Read only or Read/Write.
   Usage count is the total amount of bytes in the selected tags; the usage count is the basis for calculating your subscription needs.
   

3. As you add tags, UniLogic estimates the Expected Monthly Number of tag updates according to the Timer Interval and the tags you select, and recommends the subscription plan you need.
   
   

4. Alarms: in the Solution Explorer, click UniCloud>AssetType>Alarms, and then click Enable Alarms for Cloud.

5. Check the Alarms you want to access via UniCloud, or select the entire Alarm group.
   Note that the Alarm state is pushed to UniCloud when an alarm turns on and when it is reset.
   
   

How to enable Remote Access directly from UniCloud to the Asset's PLC

1. In the Solution Explorer, click UniCloud>AssetType>Remote Access, and then click Remote Access Control Enabled.
   
   

How to Enable Data Backup

If you have a UniCloud subscription from Basic Data subscription or greater, you can back up data stored on your controller's SD to the cloud. The data is stored in the cloud in a .zip file, and can be downloaded, or restored from UniCloud back to the PLC.

The types of data that can be stored and restored include Data samples, Data tables, Retained memory values, System logs, Alarm logs, User files, and Screenshots, as well as Network settings. Note that restoring Network settings resets the PLC.

1. In the Solution Explorer, click UniCloud>AssetType>Data Backup, and then click Automatic Data Backup Enabled.
   This causes certain files stored on the PLC's SD card data to be backed up to the cloud as .zip files once every 24 hours.

How to Sync the Asset Type

1. Click Sync Asset Type in order to upload it to UniCloud.
   
   

2. Download your project to the PLC.
   

Mapping Asset Type Tags to PLC tags: Asset Type 'Template'

If you are signed into an organization, you can access an existing Asset Type in that organization, and link the tags defined in that type to different tags, then download it to a PLC. This does not make changes to any other PLC linked to that Asset type.

1. Log into an organization.
   
   
2. Click Select Asset type, Unilogic will display all of the Asset Types in the organization. Sellect one, and click OK.
   
   
    
3. UniLogic displays the dialog shown in the next image.
   Click Yes to disassociate the project you are editing from the tags defined in the Asset Type and allow you to assign new ones.
   
   
    
4. Click Tags. Note that the Add Tag button is disabled, and the the tag column is empty, ready for you to assign tags. The tags assignments you make are now part of the Asset Type for this specific project.
   
   

How to Create an Asset and Load a PLC Security Certificate using UniApps

1. Enter UniApps:
   -via VNC - click the cursor on the  upper right corner of the HMI and hold the mouse button down until the UniApps popop menu appears.
   -via touchpanel - touch upper right corner of the HMI panel and maintain contact until the UniApps popop menu appears.
   
   
   
    

2. Select the Network tab, and press the arrow on the right side of the screen to access and select UniCloud
   
   
    

3. Select Activate UniCloud, and then select Create Asset in UniCloud.
   
   

4. Log in: enter your user name and password, then press Apply.

5. The Create Asset window opens.
   Note that Organization and Asset Type have been downloaded/synced from UniLogic; you cannot edit them.
   Fill in the Asset Name and click OK.
   
   
                         

6. When the Asset is created successfully, click Close.
   Note that during this process, a security certificate is loaded into the PLC; this process occurs transparently, without your intervention.
   
   
    

7. Click on Asset > Start sending data. This connects UniStream to UniCloud; successful connection is shown when the Change Status message, shown below, is displayed.
   

8. The communication status is now shown as Connected; UniCloud can now access the Asset and harvest data.
   

How to Create an Asset and Load a PLC Security Certificate using UniApps via UniCloud

1. Log into your UniCloud account at https://www.unitronics.io, and then click:

• Organizations on the left.
• Assets, at the top.
• Add Asset, at the right; the New Asset window opens.
• Select the Asset Type from the drop-down list, and click Save.

1. Fill in the Asset details, following the online instructions, then click Save; the Download Certificate window opens.

2. Click Download to save the certificate to your PC.
   
   

3. Check that the Asset was added successfully.
   
   

The Help system for UniCloud is accessible in the UniCloud website. After signing in, open the system by clicking the drop-down arrow under your login name on the right of the screen, and clicking Help.