A gateway server can be used to allow your local PC to communicate with one or more runtime systems. The setting concerning which runtime systems can be addressed, which is specifically configured for each gateway server, and the connection to the desired gateway server, is made on the local PC. Here it is possible that both the gateway server and the runtime system(s) can run together on the local PC. If we are dealing with a gateway server which is running on another PC we must ensure that it has been started there. If you are selecting a locally installed gateway server, it automatically starts when you log onto the target runtime system. You can recognize this through the appearance of a symbol on the bottom right in the task bar. This symbol lights up as long as you are connected to the runtime system over the gateway. The menu points Info and Finish are obtained by clicking with the right mousekey on the symbol. Finish is used to switch off the gateway.

PC_local is your local PC, PC_x is another PC, which gateway addresses. PC_gateway is the PC on which the gateway server is installed, PC_PLC1 through to PC_PLC4 are PCs on which the runtime systems are running. The diagram shows the modules as separated but it is fully possible for the Gateway server and / or runtime systems to be installed together on the local PC.

The connections from gateway to the various runtime computers can, on the other hand, run over different protocols (TCP/IP, Pipe, etc.).