Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · PLC and control programming

TwinCAT/BSD

Also known as: TwinCAT BSD

German: TwinCAT/BSD

In industrial automation, TwinCAT/BSD is Beckhoff's operating system for its industrial PCs, based on FreeBSD, which runs the TwinCAT runtime as an alternative to Microsoft Windows.

  • PLC programming
  • Vendor product

In one sentence

TwinCAT/BSD is Beckhoff's FreeBSD-based operating system for industrial PCs, running the TwinCAT runtime instead of Windows.

Example

A machine builder switches its controllers from Windows to TwinCAT/BSD to reduce the operating system footprint and simplify update handling.

How it applies

  • Engineering: Engineering still happens on a Windows PC; TwinCAT/BSD runs the runtime on the target. Additional software can be installed from package repositories, which changes how the system is set up and extended compared with Windows.
  • Security: A smaller operating system can reduce the attack surface, but it still needs hardening, user management and updates, see Patch management and IEC 62443.
  • Maintenance: Service staff need command-line and remote-access skills that differ from Windows-based systems. Backup and restore procedures differ as well.
  • Documentation: State the operating system and version for each delivered IPC, and provide service procedures specific to it: login, updates, backup, restore. Do not reuse Windows instructions.

Keep in mind: product names and features change. Check supported devices, versions and features against the vendor's current documentation.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: AI TechDoc Blog editorial definition, based on vendor product information

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Blog and are not part of any standard.

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