At times it’s difficult to get valuable data from the production floor to operations and management. Here, Maple Systems Smart HMIs can help — by connecting to MySQL databases and letting plant managers send logged data and event (alarm) information to a MySQL server. Now one can synchronize sampled data to a remote MySQL server … and then (using third-party software such as Microsoft Office Excel) manage received data and funnel it directly into corporate data systems.

To review, MySQL is a relational database management system that uses Structured Query Language (SQL) to access data in databases. The free and open-source system is common and widely supported; it’s also secure — and integrated with Smart HMIs as well as and industrial panel PCs.

In fact, MySQL is a powerful tool that works with the Maple Systems Smart HMI series to help collect and display data for easier monitoring and analytics. By connecting a Smart HMI to a MySQL database, one can collect and organize and even store data in flexible and trusted databases. That way important information is readily available to help operations make better business decisions.

Software to simplify integration and use of MySQL

Maple Systems EZwarePlus software makes using MySQL with one of the Smart HMIs easy. By using the Database Server object in EZwarePlus, a Smart HMI unlocks the tools one needs to use Excel or other common software to display information; synchronize data and event logs to a remote MySQL server on the local network; and manage data on the server. In fact, in three easy steps one can use MySQL and MS Excel to collect, analyze, and respond to the collected data in ways that allow one to make better and more informed decisions. Learn more about these steps at maplesystems.com/mysql-hmi.

In addition to MySQL, Maple Systems Smart HMIs support other IIoT protocols:

MQTT – Connect as a publisher (send messages to a broker), subscriber (request messages from a broker), and/or broker (manage data and connections with publishers/subscribers).

OPC UA — Supported by many SCADA, MES, and ERP software providers, any realtime data accessible to the HMI can be organized into multi-level objects with descriptive names.

MODBUS Gateway — Maple’s Smart HMI series can act as a gateway to pass information from the plant floor to remote SCADA systems by translating data from 250+ PLC protocols from various manufacturers to the default industrial standard protocol, Modbus TCP/IP.

cMT Viewer — a free application for handheld devices (including Apple and Android products) and PCs to get remote connection to Smart HMIs.