System and method for simulating a stress or failure in a simulated network of program logic controllers

A computer-implemented method for simulating a fault in a network of a plurality of networked program logic controllers, the method comprising:

• providing a computing device for simulating a plurality of program logic controllers connected as nodes in a network, the networked program logic controllers each having network information defining the node;
• providing a network view interface in communication with the computing device for initiating the program logic controllers at the respective nodes of the network for simulating a network error;
• activating the network view interface for communicating with the computing device for inducing the network error;
• determining if the network error is specific to a single node or across the network;
• and
• wherein each program logic controller receives an equivalent amount of processing time within each network cycle time.

A computer-implemented simulation system for simulating plurality of networked program logic controllers and for monitoring and testing communication between the networked program logic controllers, the simulation system comprising:

• a network view interface;
• a plurality of program logic controller simulators connected as nodes within a network and having network information defining the connections of the network of the plurality of program logic controller simulators;
• wherein the network view interface is in communication with the plurality of program logic controllers for simulating a network error;
• activating the network view interface for inducing the network error;
• determining if the network error is specific to a single node or across the network;
• and
• wherein each program logic controller receives an equivalent amount of processing time within each network cycle time.