Abstract: Embodiments relate to a gateway and a method of determining machines to be networked at a gateway. In the embodiments, the gateway stores original channel information of a programmable logic controller (PLC) configured on an original networked machine. The gateway further defines a controlling logic process based on the original channel information, and selects at least one functional channel from a plurality of original channels of the PLC configured on the original networked machine. When a target networked machine connects to the gateway, the gateway determines whether the target networked machine is capable of replacing the original networked machine by comparing target channel information of a PLC configured on the target networked machine with channel information of the at least one functional channel.