Abstract
The convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) in Industry 4/5.0 is driving the adoption of virtualized control systems capable of running on shared, flexible computing infrastructures. Containerized virtual Programmable Logic Controllers (vPLCs) offer scalability, simplified lifecycle management, and seamless integration with cloud–edge computing architectures; however, they must still meet the strict real-time communication constraints required by industrial Ethernet protocols. When multiple vPLCs share a physical network interface, software-based port sharing mechanisms— such as the Linux MACvLAN driver—can reduce hardware costs and complexity. Yet, their impact on deterministic communication remains insufficiently characterized. This paper evaluates the networking performance of containerized virtual Programmable Logic Controllers (vPLCs) communicating over ProfiNET RT when sharing a physical Ethernet interface via the Linux MACvLAN driver. We deploy two vPLCs on both embedded and general-purpose edge devices, with and without real-time kernel optimizations and CPU-pinning. Experimental results show that even unoptimized embedded platforms meet the jitter requirements for most ProfiNET RT classes, while optimized edge devices achieve sub-3 μs jitter and 1–2 μs additional delay, enabling their use in demanding RT Level 3 applications, such as motion control. These findings confirm that MACvLAN-based port sharing is a viable approach for scalable, cost-effective vPLC deployments, paving the way for broader adoption of containerized control in IT/OT convergent environments.