Definition: Soft PLC vs. Virtual PLC

Soft PLCVirtual PLC
FunctionSoftware component embedded in physical equipmentVirtualised PLC running in a virtual machine or cloud environment
Hardware supportElectronic card, RTU, IED, gateway, industrial PC, etc.Virtualised server, cloud, virtual machine
EnvironmentReal-time or standard OS (Linux, Windows, FreeRTOS...)Hypervisor or container (VMware, VirtualBox, Docker...)
Typical use caseOEM integration, embedded systems, edge computingTesting, simulation, cloud scalability, remote maintenance

Why choose a Soft PLC?

The Soft PLC establishes itself as a powerful and modular solution for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), integrators or developers of embedded solutions.

Key advantages:

Integration flexibility

parallel hardware/software development, CPU/OS independence.

Interoperability

works with third-party applications (motion, HMI, domain apps...).

Openness

compliance with standards (IEC61131-3, IEC61850, IEC60870...).

Cost control

a customisable runtime that can be reproduced indefinitely.

Security

access to source code and updates to comply with cybersecurity standards (IEC 62443...).

Adjustable performance

from ultra-light embedded systems (128 KB RAM) to powerful servers.

Customisation

creation of differentiated solutions (adding HMI, gateway, domain functions...).

Virtual PLC: a complementary approach

The Virtual PLC represents a cloud-native approach to automation. It enables control applications to run in virtualised environments, independent of the underlying hardware.

Benefits of the Virtual PLC:

  • Rapid deployment in a cloud (or on-premise) environment.
  • Ideal for testing, simulation or large-scale duplication.
  • Reduction of local hardware, centralised supervision.
  • Elasticity of resources: adapts to load.

Limitations:

  • Dependence on network environment and latency.
  • Less suited to strict real-time requirements.
  • Less hardware control for OEMs.

The right choice depends on your needs

Your objectivesMost suitable solution
Embedded developmentSoft PLC
Real-time & low latency requirementsSoft PLC
Large-scale simulationVirtual PLC
Centralised cloud supervisionVirtual PLC
Product differentiation and customisationSoft PLC

Each approach responds to specific use cases based on real-time, deployment and hardware control constraints.

straton: the customisable Soft PLC solution

The straton software is a powerful embedded Soft PLC, recognised by major industrial players.

Key strengths of the straton soft plc solution:

Ergonomic editor standardised by IEC61131-3
Development across all types of CPU/OS (including no-OS systems)
Scalable, secure and regularly updated
Tailored support and responsive assistance
Easy integration into your equipment or domain applications
Compliance with standards: IEC 61850, DNP3, IEC 60870-104, IEC 62443, etc.
A single investment for an unlimited number of applications: straton helps you manage your product lifecycle

Use cases for straton as a Soft PLC

Integration into industrial equipment (RTU, IED, Gateway...)

Embedded automation in Smart Grids and Industry 4.0

Emulation of test benches or simulators

Embedded critical real-time systems

straton: the Virtual PLC solution adapted to virtualised environments

The Virtual PLC solution from straton enables the execution of a software controller in virtualised environments, whether virtual machines (e.g.: SEAPATH) or Docker containers. This approach offers great flexibility for large-scale deployment, managing multiple instances, or integration within cloud-native architectures. It retains the same technical advantages as embedded versions:

Compatibility with industrial standards (IEC61131-3, IEC61850, etc.)

Real-time performance

Adaptability to various operating systems.

Key strengths of the straton virtual plc solution:

Simplified replication of the target system (e.g.: electrical substations)
Reduction of costs related to physical components
Virtualise a powerful ensemble especially in energy thanks to our proprietary IEC61850 stack
Capacity to deploy multiple virtual PLCs on a single physical machine, optimising hardware resource utilisation.

Thanks to this solution, straton fully embraces the dynamics of Industry 4.0, industrial IoT and infrastructure virtualisation.

Use cases for straton as a Virtual PLC

Retrofit

Digital twins

Maintenance: Virtual deployment

Test benches, simulators

SCADA: Cybersecure IT/OT convergence

Discover a concrete example

Discover a concrete example of the straton virtualised solution for the SEAPATH project with RTE and Savoir-Faire Linux at an SGT25 conference.

Watch the SGT25 conference

Download a trial version of straton

Enjoy all the Soft PLC features of straton and test the solution in your environment.

Download the straton trial version

Ready to choose between Soft PLC and Virtual PLC with straton?

Contact us