PLATFORM FOR CONTINUED USE OF EXISTING SOFTWARE FOR THE ACTUATION OF INDUSTRIAL FIELD DEVICES

A platform for actuation of at least one industrial field device in an industrial installation having control software includes: an execution environment, in which the control software is runnable; and an external interface for communicating between the control software and the at least one industrial field device. The execution environment has virtual hardware which, from a point of view of the control software, behaves in a manner of the at least one industrial field device. A switching unit is connected between the virtual hardware and the external interface. The switching unit bidirectionally translates data, interchanged between the control software and the virtual hardware, for communication with the at least one industrial field device via the external interface.