Cloud-based control platform with connectivity to remote embedded devices in distributed control system

An apparatus for communicating between a remotely-located control platform and an embedded device in a distributed control system over a virtual private network (VPN), comprising:

• at least one network interface stored in a memory configured to receive and transmit data over at least one network;
• and
• at least one processing device having a hardware processor configured to control the at least one network interface to:
• communicatively couple to a bootstrapping server to the embedded device, having a hardware processor, via a local network;
• transmit, over the VPN to the remotely-located control platform stored in a memory, a request for first information associated with a BOOTP protocol synchronization process;
• receive, from the control platform, a first response comprising the requested first information;
• receive, over the local network from the embedded device in the distributed control system, a request for second information associated with the BOOTP protocol;
• and
• transmit, to the embedded device, a second response comprising the requested second information,
• wherein:
• the VPN comprises a VPN tunnel between first and second VPN endpoints,
• the second VPN endpoint is communicatively coupled to the embedded device and the bootstrapping server by the local network, and
• at least one of the first and second VPN endpoints is configured to only allow information associated with the distributed control system to pass through the VPN tunnel.

A system comprising:

• an embedded device having a hardware processor in a distributed control system;
• a control platform stored in a memory configured for communication with the distributed control system over a virtual private network (VPN), the control platform located remotely from the embedded device, the control platform configured to support native communication with the embedded device;
• and
• a bootstrapping server having a hardware processor communicatively coupled to the embedded device by a local network, the bootstrapping server configured to:
• transmit, over the VPN to the control platform, a request for first information associated with a BOOTP protocol synchronization process;
• receive, from the control platform, a first response comprising the requested first information;
• receive, over the local network from the embedded device, a request for second information associated with the BOOTP protocol;
• and
• transmit, to the embedded device, a second response comprising the requested second information,
• wherein:
• the VPN comprises a VPN tunnel between first and second VPN endpoints,
• the second VPN endpoint is communicatively coupled to the embedded device and the bootstrapping server by the local network, and
• at least one of the first and second VPN endpoints is configured to only allow information associated with the distributed control system to pass through the VPN tunnel.