This library is intended to provide easy use as ADS client applications running on non-windows systems (e.g. FreeBSD, Linux, ...) to communicate with TwinCAT devices via TCP/IP.

To build this library a recent compiler with C++14 support is required.

Currently (2024-12-13) tested with:

host os	host	target	compiler
Alpine 3.21	amd64	amd64	gcc 14.2.0
Arch Linux	amd64	amd64	clang 18.1.8
Arch Linux	amd64	amd64	gcc 14.2.1
Debian 12	amd64	amd64	clang 14.0.6
Debian 12	amd64	amd64	gcc 12.2.0-14
Debian 12	amd64	i686	gcc 12.2.0-14
Debian 12	amd64	mips	gcc 12.2.0-14
Debian 12	amd64	win32	gcc 10.2.1-6
Debian 12	amd64	riscv64	gcc 12.2.0-13
Debian 12	arm64	arm64	gcc 12.2.0-14
TC/BSD 14	amd64	amd64	clang 18.1.5
Windows 10	amd64	win64	msvc 19.36.33134

Compile & usage

# clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/Beckhoff/ADS.git
# change into root of the cloned repositorycd ADS
# configure meson to build the library into "build" dir
meson setup build
# let ninja build the library
ninja -C build

Prepare your target to run the example

• Download your PLC project to your target e.g. "PLC-TestProject" of our GitHub repository.
• Authorise your ADS client for the TwinCAT target by adding an AMS route.

  • TwinCAT Engineering: Go to the tree item SYSTEM/Routes and add a static route.

  • TwinCAT Systray: Open the context menue by right click the TwinCAT systray icon. (not available on Windows CE devices)

  • TC2: Go to Properties/AMS Router/Remote Computers and restart TwinCAT

  • TC3: Go to Router/Edit routes.

  • TcAmsRemoteMgr: Windows CE devices can be configured locally (TC2 requires a TwinCAT restart). Tool location: /Hard Disk/System/TcAmsRemoteMgr.exe

  • IPC Diagnose: Beckhoff IPC’s provide a web interface for diagnose and configuration. Further information: http://infosys.beckhoff.de/content/1033/devicemanager/index.html?id=286

Sample AMS route:

 Name: MyAdsClient
AMS Net Id: 192.168.0.1.1.1 # NetId of your ADS client, derived from its IP address or set by bhf::ads:SetLocalAdress().
Address: 192.168.0.1 # Use the IP of the ADS client, which is connected to your TwinCAT target
Transport Type: TCP/IP
Remote Route: None / Server
Unidirectional: false
Secure ADS: false

Prepare your client to run the example/example.cpp

• set "remoteNetId" to the AMS NetId of your TwinCAT target (this is the AMS NetId found in the "About TwinCAT System window" e.g. "192.168.0.2.1.1").
• set "remoteIpV4" to the IP Address of your TwinCAT target (e.g. 192.168.0.2)
• (optional) enable bhf::ads::SetLocalAddress() and set to the AMS NetId you choose for the ADS client (e.g. 192.168.0.1.1.1).

# configure meson to build example into "build" dir
meson example/build example
# let ninja build the example
ninja -C example/build
# and run the example
./example/build/example

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ADS/AMS Specification: https://infosys.beckhoff.com/content/1033/tc3_ads_intro/index.html