
Live Data is the communication protocol used in the FactoryTalk suite of software products. Through FactoryTalk services, it delivers data to FactoryTalk-enabled applications via Live Data. FactoryTalk Linx takes data from Rockwell Automation controllers. …is Now FactoryTalk LinxįactoryTalk Linx, formerly called RSLinx Enterprise, is the preferred data server for Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk-enabled products. Lite versions were bundled with editors like RSLogix 5/500/5000 and Studio 5000 at no charge with. RSLinx Enterprise shipped with FactoryTalk-enabled software at no additional charge whereas RSLinx data servers were purchased separately for client software needing OPC or DDE access to Allen-Bradley® PLCs. RSLinx Enterprise was the product for communicating with FactoryTalk®-enabled products supporting the FactoryTalk Live Data system, a superset of OPC used by FactoryTalk software products like FTViewSE and FTHistorian. All versions have Lite functionality included.

Gateway supports remote OPC clients and multiple controllers. Both Single Node and OEM must reside on the same PC as the client software. Single node is limited to one controller while OEM allows multiple controllers. RSLinx Classic Lite does not support OPC, whereas the other three versions are DDE/OPC servers. The Lite version supports upload/download to Rockwell Automation controllers, is included with the purchase of RSLogix, and is a free download. It is available in four versions: Lite, Single Node, OEM and Gateway. Today, RSLinx Classic is still named RSLinx Classic and can be used for the purposes for which it was originally developed. This is also the communication product RSLogix editors have used to upload/download to controllers and IO.

RSLinx Classic is an OPC DA 2.x data server and is required for DDE and bridging through legacy networks like DH+. Let’s look at what RSLinx rebranding means. Recently, Rockwell Automation® rebranded RSLinx® Enterprise to differentiate RSLinx Classic from RSLinx Enterprise.
