A command-line utility for managing Beckhoff TwinCAT PLCs over the ADS protocol — without the TwinCAT engineering software.
Python · Automation · MIT
Summary
This tool talks the ADS (Automation Device Specification) protocol directly to discover PLCs on the network, manage routes, switch TwinCAT modes and back up or restore boot projects.
Purpose
Automation and CI environments increasingly run on Linux, while PLC administration traditionally requires Windows-based engineering tools. This utility makes PLC housekeeping scriptable and portable.
Key features
- PLC discovery via ADS UDP broadcast
- ADS route management
- Switch TwinCAT between Config and Run mode
- Boot project backup and restore with ZIP validation
- JSON output for automation
- Works on Linux, BSD and Windows
Technology
Python 3 using only the standard library (socket, struct); the ADS messages are implemented directly, no external dependencies. MIT licensed.