Live from Inductive Automation’s ICC 2025 in Sacramento, Mike sits down with Mark La Liberte (HMS Networks) to unpack why Red Lion’s DA50/DA70 and FlexEdge have become go-to edge gateways for energy, water/wastewater, and data centers. We dig into store-and-forward, Sparkplug B / MQTT, OPC UA, DNP3, ruggedization, and how Crimson® 3.2 collapses multiple boxes (edge gateway + router/firewall + HMI + cellular + basic control) into one platform.We also cover:- Why Ignition 8.3 and the expanded ICC venue are a “level up”- The case for...
Live from Inductive Automation’s ICC 2025 in Sacramento, Mike sits down with Mark La Liberte (HMS Networks) to unpack why Red Lion’s DA50/DA70 and FlexEdge have become go-to edge gateways for energy, water/wastewater, and data centers. We dig into store-and-forward, Sparkplug B / MQTT, OPC UA, DNP3, ruggedization, and how Crimson® 3.2 collapses multiple boxes (edge gateway + router/firewall + HMI + cellular + basic control) into one platform.
We also cover:
- Why Ignition 8.3 and the expanded ICC venue are a “level up”
- The case for a “Prove It” track focused on the energy sector
- Practical wins: reducing cost & complexity while improving cybersecurity
- Real-world stories: Modbus RTU to MQTT in minutes, DA50/DA70 in the field, FlexEdge sleds
- Support & training: free tech support, fast response, hands-on enablement for OT & IT
Guest: Mark La Liberte, HMS Networks
Topics: Edge computing, MQTT/Sparkplug B, OPC UA, Crimson 3.2, FlexEdge, DA50/DA70, N-Tron switches, CANbus/J1939, cellular/Starlink backhaul, NAT, deadbands, UDTs/AOIs, store-and-forward.
Presented by OpSite Energy — Insight-Driven Remote Optimization.
🔗 Energy Tech Podcast: https://opsiteenergy.com/all_podcast
🔗 OpSite Energy: https://opsiteenergy.com/
🔗 HMS Networks: https://www.hms-networks.com/
Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – Intro / music
00:10 – Welcome & guest intro (HMS + Mark La Liberte)
01:08 – Why HMS supports the Ignition community & digital transformation
02:12 – ICC “Leveling Up”: new venue, Ignition 8.3, and “Prove It” ideas
03:29 – Red Lion strategy and role within HMS Networks
03:32 – Security + protocols: DNP3, Modbus RTU → OPC UA / MQTT / Sparkplug B
05:20 – Field story: Modbus water meters → MQTT with a Red Lion DA50
06:11 – DA50/DA70 & FlexEdge: HDMI, headless HMI, store-and-forward (256 GB)
07:40 – Bandwidth savings with MQTT publish-on-change / deadbands
08:05 – Modular sleds, cellular as a weak link, NAT & networking notes
09:52 – Rugged switching (N-Tron) & harsh environments / temps
10:07 – Popular sleds & protocols: RS-485/Modbus, OPC UA sharing, CANbus/J1939, Starlink
12:06 – Targeting the “big three”: cost, complexity, cybersecurity
13:20 – Crimson 3.2 as the differentiator; replacing multiple boxes (under ~$3K)
14:38 – Crimson capabilities: multi-protocol, headless HMI, VPN, diagnostics, deadbands
16:26 – Fast time-to-value: AB tags, UDTs/AOIs, publishing in minutes
18:58 – Getting started: download C3.2, emulator, Windows 11; free tech support & response times
21:02 – Training for OT & IT; global coverage
21:57 – Wrap-up & call to action
Uygar Duzgun “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
