Web-based Management 2:
Introduction

Valid from firmware 2025.0 - for earlier firmware see the former Web-based Management

The Web-based Management is the user interface on each PLCnext Technology device. Here you can access static and dynamic controller information and modify certain controller settings. You can access the Web-based Management via one of the Ethernet interfaces of your PLCnext Technology device.

From firmware 2025.0 on, the Web‑based Management is rebuilt from the ground up and is now called "WBM 2". Some pages have been moved to other places in the left-panel navigation, and some more pages were added for a more convenient user experience when handling PLCnext Control devices.

Show a comparison of the WBM/WBM 2 navigationShow a comparison of the WBM/WBM 2 navigation

Accessing the Web‑based Management

Note: Access to the specific pages in the WBM 2 depends on user roles and their rights - see WBM 2: Accessibility for details.

Connecting to the device

To establish a connection to WBM 2 on the device, proceed as follows (assuming that the https port 443 of your host computer has not been blocked by a firewall rule):

Connect the device to your computer via one of the device's Ethernet interfaces.
Make sure your computer and the device are in the same network.
Open a web browser on your computer.
Enter the URL https://<ip address>
(for example: https://192.168.1.10 - check the default setting for your device in the respective hardware documentation).
↪ The WBM 2 start page opens.
(In case a "502 Bad gateway" error is displayed then the runtime system is still starting up. Just wait a little and refresh the browser by pressing Ctrl+R.)

Note: If there is a PLCnext Engineer HMI application on your device, entering just the URL https://<IP address> calls the login page of PLCnext Engineer HMI application instead of the page for the WBM 2.

To call the WBM 2 directly in that case, enter the URL https://<IP address>/wbm.
↪ The WBM 2 start page opens.

Differences when initially accessing the Web‑based Management

For secure communication, the device's web server initially uses a self-signed certificate for HTTPS communication that is generated by the device during the boot phase. Before the controller's web server can be accessed securely, that TLS certificate needs to be authorized in your web browser. When first tryining to access the Web‑based Management, that certificate is not known to your web browser. Therefore, a security warning is displayed in the web browser even though it is not necessarily a unsecure connection.

In a strictly local network (e.g., only the device attached to that Ethernet interface on your computer) and when first accessing the device it is okay to skip this warning once. You can access the Web‑based Management by clicking the Advanced button in the browser message and then a text link in the explanation.

Security note

You still need to set up a secure connection to the device eventually, and a Not secure marker in the address bar of your browser reminds you of that circumstance as long as you're accessing the Web‑based Management by skipping the browser warning.

Logging in to the Web-based Management

When accessing the WBM 2, usually a startup dialog is displayed that states the need for authorization. If the user authentication has been disabled then the WBM 2 Overview page is displayed immediately. Note: Disabling the user authentication is not possible when working with an active Security Profile or on Secure-by-default devices (e. g., AXC F 1252).

The startup dialog also provides a language selection in the upper-right corner, the button for navigating to the login page, and a switch to skip that startup dialog during further access to the WBM 2 and to go directly to the login page.

Adjust the language settings to your needs.
Click the Navigate to the login page button.

The login page shows the input fields for your credentials. As a default setting, the password is obfuscated while typing.

In addition, the login page shows a (customizable) system use notification.

↓ Login dialog with obfuscated password input

Initial login

If you're accessing WBM 2 for the first time on a new device, log in with the default admin user credentials:

Enter the user name admin in the Username input field.
Enter the default password (printed onto the device's housing) in the Password input field.
Click on the Login button.
↪ The Overview WBM 2 page opens.

Once you have logged in successfully with the initial password, change the password for that admin user to prevent unauthorized access (Setting a password). You'll be notified of this recommendation each time you log in to the WBM 2 until you do that:

Security note

After performing a reset type 2 the device the password printed on the device's housing will be valid again, and the above notification is displayed again.

Logging in with other user roles

If user authentication for accessing the WBM 2 is enabled, you can also log in using user credentials that have been assigned by means of the User management and grant access according to specific user roles.

Enter your user name in the Username input field.
Enter your password in the Password input field.
Click on the Login button.
↪ The Overview WBM 2 page opens.

Start page – areas and functions

Sources of help in the user interface

Within the user interface

The WBM 2 pages are largely self-explanatory. Find help by these means:

Links to other sources of information in the Help → Documentation page.
Very short bits of information in tooltips when hovering over icons
Short descriptions in a panel on the right edge; if invisible, expand the left panel by clicking the icon in the lower-right corner.

Additional descriptions to WBM 2 pages

If there's a lot to consider before setting up parameters, or if users should be aware of a complex concept behind some functions, for some functions the above means of help wouldn't suffice. In that case, this Info Center provides companion pages. See the links in the Pages column of the table showing the available WBM 2 pages.

You'll also find links to these companion pages in the right-side panel of the regarding WBM 2 pages on your device (if a panel was implemented for that page).

Available WBM 2 pages

Which WBM 2 pages are visible in your specific device depends on multiple conditions:

the device type you're using
the user role of the user you've taken for logging in
the system services that are currently active

In addition, the redesigned Web‑based Management 2 is modularly extendable by users. Therefore, a list of WBM 2 pages can never be complete.

WBM 2 section		Pages
	Overview
	Device	General data
	Diagnostics	PROFINET
		Axioline
		INTERBUS
		Notifications
	Configuration	Web Services
		Proficloud
		Date & Time
		Network
		PLCnext Store
	Security	Security Profile
		Certificate management
		Project integrity
		User management
		User policies
		LDAP configuration
		Syslog
		Firewall
		SD card
	System	Device maintenance
		License management
		Backup & restore
		Update
		App management
		System services
	Help	Documentation
	Help	Licenses