Where to Start
If you are new to Zeus, do not start by reading every concept page. Pick the path that matches your goal, run a working example, then come back to the terminology.
Pick Your Goal
| What you want to do | Read first | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Verify Zeus runs | Console Sample | A minimal app that writes PING, receives the echo, and exits cleanly |
| Build a WinForms host app | First WinForms App | A form with send button, state display, and echo display |
| Build a WPF host app | First WPF App | A WPF window that updates safely through the Dispatcher |
| Connect a serial device | Serial Port | Replace the virtual channel with real COM3 / 9600 settings |
| Read a Modbus meter | Modbus | Read coils and registers, or simulate a slave first |
| Read Mitsubishi PLCs | Mitsubishi MC | Access common Mitsubishi devices and virtual PLC simulation |
| Read Siemens PLCs | Siemens S7 | Read/write DB/I/Q/M areas with virtual PLC simulation |
| Read Omron PLCs | Omron FINS / Omron Host Link | Use FINS over UDP/TCP or Host Link over ASCII serial/TCP tunnel |
| Read Allen-Bradley PLCs | EtherNet/IP | Read/write CIP tags and attributes |
| Deliver with a config file | JSON Configuration | Move ports, unit ids, point maps, and polling intervals into zeus.json |
Four Terms to Remember
| Term | Plain meaning | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Host | The Zeus runtime container | Starts, stops, and disposes resources |
| Channel | A communication line | Serial, TCP, UDP, and virtual channels |
| Protocol | How bytes are interpreted | Modbus, MC, S7, FINS, Host Link, EtherNet/IP, or custom frames |
| Point | A business data item | Temperature, pressure, switch state, alarm state |
Recommended First Pass
- Read Installation and confirm .NET 8 SDK is available.
- Run Console Sample to verify host and channel behavior.
- Pick WinForms or WPF if you are building a desktop UI.
- Keep using virtual channels until the workflow is stable; replace with serial, TCP, or UDP when hardware is ready.
- After the protocol path is clear, move on to acquisition, configuration, and troubleshooting.
When Not to Use Zeus
Zeus is not a low-code SCADA system and does not ship charting, permissions, recipes, or reports. It targets the infrastructure that host applications most often reimplement incorrectly: channel lifecycle, protocol sessions, polling, UI thread marshaling, and hardware-free simulation.
Next: Installation.