Data: these days everybody wants it. From operations, engineering, accounting and management: everybody needs it. In traditional PLC, PAC or DCS systems, extracting the data can be difficult. Integrating embedded computers helps to bridge the need for reliable operations and accessible data. Today many embedded computers use Linux as an operating system. Linux makes a perfect platform for an embedded or distributed control system. Together with other Open Source software such as MySQL you can have a rock solid system with no licensing or maintenance fees.