SACRAMENTO, CA MAY 15, 2008 - The installation and maintenance of FactorySQL/FactoryPMI based systems involves a wide range of
technologies. Each normal installation consists of at least 4 components: FactorySQL, FactoryPMI, an OPC server and a database. Given that each component has its own set of requirements and caveats, it is important to have an organized game plan when implementing and installing a project.
For that reason, Inductive Automation has put together an installation checklist that will help you with both the installation and the startup of a project.
Inductive Automation Install checklist
Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation pioneered the first full-featured web-launched HMI/SCADA system in the world. Its standards based, database-centric architecture receives accolades from plant managers, IT managers, and system integrators worldwide. With a commitment to software quality and technical support second to none, Inductive Automation is at the forefront of industrial software.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Inductive Automation Installation Checklist
Inductive Automation Adds 8 New Online Videos
SACRAMENTO, CA MAY 15, 2008 - Inductive Automation is pleased to announce the addition of 8 new videos to their online video library. All training videos are free, available for all end users and integrators.
- FactorySQL Triggers - Learn how to use triggers
- FactorySQL Action Items - Learn how to use acion items in FactorySQL groups
- FactoryPMI Colors - Learn all about colors in FactoryPMI
- FactoryPMI Properties, Binding & Expressions 5 Part Series - Learn all about FactoryPMI component properties and binding
Integrator Highlight: PACsys, LLC
SACRAMENTO, CA MAY 15, 2008 - This month we interviewed Brian Romano of PACsys, LLC about his experience with Inductive Automation software.
IA: Tell us a bit about your company - do you have a focus on any particular industry?
Brian: PACsys is a 10 year old company made up of engineers and technicians with diverse backgrounds coupled with pointed knowledge in industrial processes and automation. PACsys, an acronym for Process and Automation Control Systems, strives to provide the customer with what they want and need, nothing more nothing less. PACsys customers comprise a broad spectrum of industries.
IA: Why did you choose Inductive Automation software?
Brian: We were actually following a very, very similar path to Inductive Automation, but writing an all encompassing, configurable was not really in our business model, but the end result of the software was absolutely necessary. There were packages of software and/or software components that could do what we needed for our customer base, but at a much greater cost and very time consuming deployment. As soon as we were introduced to the packages produced by Inductive Automation, we immediately abandoned our internal efforts of development of our own package and began purchasing, learning and implementing a package that was so much more feature filled and configurable than ours might have been and for that matter, anyone else's with similar functionality.
IA: What system features do your customers need that you can provide using FactorySQL and FactoryPMI?
Brian: FactorySQL - Acquisition of data from various sources anywhere in the plant that sits on the plant network with placement of the data into an industry standard, stable database.
FactoryPMI - the ability to view production data, downtime and efficiencies by anyone authorized with a simple web browser. No extra client software! With a thought out network WAN and LAN structure, multi-plant data is available to people from anywhere in the world via the Internet.
IA: What have you and your customers found to be the main benefits of the software?
Brian:
- Relative fast implementation and deployment.
- Configurable
- Low up front software costs as well as quick, lower cost development
Brian: We will continue to use it as we have in the past and use it directly for our end customers. We also will be utilizing both packages of software in an OEM product that we are producing.
IA: Is there anything else you can say regarding your experience with Inductive Automation?
Brian: We have had nothing but extremely supportive and helpful people willing to listen to our wants and needs, with a strong emphasis in product demonstration and training. It starts at the top and that helpful spirit emanates to all levels of employees in the company. We have been involved with many hardware and software manufacturers and can honestly admit that Inductive Automation is very unique in their outstanding, outgoing customer support.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Success Story: Bronco Wine Company
"Efficiencies have improved upwards of 30%, productivity targets are hit every day." - Paul Franzia
Bronco Wine Company, Ceres, CA (the producer of "Two-buck Chuck") uses FactoryPMI for enterprise-wide process monitoring, control, and troubleshooting. It was a business decision to use this technology, and is paying off handsomely for the Franzia family-owned business.
Click here to read the entire success story
Inductive Automation Introduces Online Video Library
Inductive Automation is pleased to announce the introduction of a new online video library, available starting April 10, 2008. The library features sets of training videos geared to a specific part of Inductive Automation's software. Access to the library is free and available at http://www.inductiveautomation.com/support/videos/.
Inductive Automation attends 2008 North American Interop Conference; Receives 'Self-Tested' certification
Inductive Automation is pleased to announce that for the third year in a row FactorySQL was successfully tested at the OPC Foundation's North American Interoperability Conference. FactorySQL was successfully tested with a large range of industry leading OPC servers, and once again received the OPC Foundation's "Self-Tested" certification.
This year's server field included over 40 products from MatrikonOPC, Kepware, Cogent Realtime Systems, Siemens, Software Toolbox, Wonderware and more. Each server was tested for compatibility with the OPC specification, and operation with FactorySQL. Additionally, FactorySQL once again passed the OPC "Self-Tested" certification test, which is conducted by OPC officials and tests for compliance with the specification and best-practice guidelines.
FactorySQL is a full featured, bi-directional OPC to SQL databridge, providing historical logging, realtime status and control, and more. The OPC foundation is a collective of over 300 top-name companies dedicated to ensuring interoperability in automation by creating and maintaining open specifications for communication. Since the first specification was published in 1996, OPC has become the de-facto standard in the field. Through OPC, FactorySQL is able to effortlessly link nearly all industrial devices with any standard database system.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
FactoryPMI and FactorySQL Benchmark Whitepaper Summary
Ever wondered how many clients you could really run with FactoryPMI's unlimited client licensing? How about the maximum tag throughput of SQLTags on a MySQL database? Inductive Automation has published a whitepaper detailing the results of rigorous performance tests on its products, FactoryPMITM and FactorySQLTM. These benchmarks will answer these questions and more.
You can download the benchmarks here http://www.inductiveautomation.com/products/whitepapers/IABenchmarkWhitepaper2008.pdf.
For those of you who do not have the time to wade through 14 pages of technical benchmark methodology and results, here is the executive summary. The benchmarks are divided up into two major tests. The first test monitored the FactoryPMI Gateway under high concurrent load count to determine how many clients FactoryPMI can support at a time. The test was run on large and small servers, and with large and small projects. With a small server, you can expect to run between 70-100 clients at a time, depending on the size of your project. With a large server, those clients counts go up to 150+. Within these ranges, you can expect tags to update at their proper rates, and expect sub-second write-to-readback round-trip times. Note that these projects were using pure-SQLTags for data display.
The second test involved the SQLTags throughput between FactorySQL and various databases. We found that MySQL with the MyISAM data engine and Microsoft SQL Server gave the best performance. We frequently hear the question: "How many tags can I have". It turns out, the real question should be: "How many tags can I have changing per second". This is because a tag's presence in the system doesn't dramatically affect performance unless it is changing. So, systems with upwards of 250,000 tags are feasible, as long as only a small percentage of them are actively changing every second. This benchmark found that the tag throughput for a low-end server or high-end desktop computer, ranges between 2,500, and 13,000 tag changes per second. The factors that contribute to this are wide spread are explained in detail in the whitepaper.
Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation pioneered the first full-featured web-launched HMI/SCADA system in the world. Its standards based, database-centric architecture receives accolades from plant managers, IT managers, and system integrators worldwide. With a commitment to software quality and technical support second to none, Inductive Automation is at the forefront of industrial software.
MatrikonOPC Tunneller Now Bundled with FactorySQL
Inductive Automation is pleased to announce that MatrikonOPC's popular OPC Tunneller is now included as an optional installation in their unified installer system. The OPC Tunneller is the perfect companion to FactorySQL, and allows users to easily overcome DCOM headaches to create efficient, seamlessly networked OPC solutions.
Security and configuration problems associated with DCOM have long made even the simplest remote OPC configurations a hassle. MatrikonOPC Tunneller provides the perfect answer, translating local COM based OPC calls into standard network traffic. Furthermore, it provides a range of additional features such data encryption, compression, and aggregation making it the perfect choice for someone looking to collect data from one or more remote sources. Configuration is minimal, allowing users to get up and running extremely quickly.
FactorySQL is an industry leading OPC to SQL databridge. It provides bi-directional synchronization, historical logging, e-mail alert notifications, and much more. When paired with the MatrikonOPC Tunneler, within minutes users could have data being retrieved from any number of remote sources and available in their corporate database. There truly isn't a more cost effective, powerful way to retrieve and monitor remote data.
For more information on FactorySQL or the MatrikonOPC Tunneller, contact Inductive Automation at (800) 266-7798.
End-User Highlight: Metaldyne
This month we interviewed Michael Young, the Lead Process Engineering Technician for Metaldyne, a leading global designer and supplier of powertrain and chassis products for the automotive industry.
IA: What do you use Inductive Automation software for in your company or facility?
Michael: We are monitoring our process for machine status, alarm history, downtime and OEE calculations. We can now view this anytime and in real time from unlimited clients through intranet or VPN.
IA: Why did you choose Inductive Automation software?
Michael: It is the most versatile I have seen yet, and if you are imaginative, the Inductive Automation technical support staff can help you figure out how to turn those dreams into reality.
IA: What features have you found most useful to your specific process?
Michael: I have found out, while learning to use them, that all of the tools such as SQL syntax, scripting, Jython and expression language give you tremendous options and flexibility.
IA: How has the introduction of SQL affected your development and implementation?
Michael: I am still learning it, but without it some things just are not possible without a lot of extra work.
IA: What have you found to be the main benefits of the software?
Michael: The flexibility of it and after getting better at it, the freedom of it.
IA: How do you plan on using IA software in the future?
Michael: All that I can, because there is no limit to the type of information that I can save and store in the database. This makes it a great tool for all of us involved in the project.
IA: Is there anything else you can say regarding your experience with Inductive Automation?
Michael: They are in California, but we won?t hold it against them.
Screenshots:
Integrator Highlight: eGenietech Software Services
This month we interviewed Vipul Shah, MES Division Head, of eGenietech Software Services about his experience with Inductive Automation software.
IA: Tell us a bit about your company - do you have a focus on any particular industry?
Vipul: eGenietech is a software solutions provider in the area of IT for manufacturing. Since we have a good domain experience in the Process Automation Domain, our focus area has been providing solutions in the area of MES and Plant to Enterprise Integration.
IA: Why did you choose Inductive Automation software?
Vipul: For quite a long time we have been using custom software development for providing solutions to our client. But as the scope and complexity of the projects started increasing we started thinking of a product based approach to reduce the implementation time and maintenance cost. We evaluated a number of products for process data logging and finally chose FactorySQL because of its flexibility, configuration capabilities and its cost advantage due to support for unlimited tags. Another factor was we got very fast response during product evaluation which increased our confidence in Inductive Automation.
IA: What system features do your customers need that you can provide using FactorySQL and FactoryPMI?
Vipul: Most of the customers and our projects demand flexibility in configuration, openness to third party integration and extensibility. I feel both FactorySQL and FactoryPMI meet these requirements.
IA: What have you and your customers found to be the main benefits of the software?
Vipul: Our project involved providing a solution for metals industry, where we needed to seamlessly integrate an Oracle Based Production Management and Scheduling System and RSView Scada and provide a bidirectional transfer of process data among these two systems. Additionally the customer needed extensive data reporting and analysis.
The most important benefit we found was that we could deploy the project in a relatively short time with all the IT friendly features of FactorySQL and also could easily incorporate new requirements given by the customer during actual implementation at the customer site.
IA: How do you plan on using IA software in the future?
Vipul: Though we were initially a bit wary of using third party products in our projects, and of a vendor who is separated from us by a 12 hour time zone, based on our initial success of using IA products we have decided to aggressively propose solutions to our clients around their products.
IA: Is there anything else you can say regarding your experience with Inductive Automation?
Vipul: The best experience was the fast turn around time both from the sales and support side. The most important thing was we didn't actually require much support during actual implementation and that is very credible. Other good thing is the continuous information on new ways to exploit the products that we get through the newsletters. In view of all this we foresee a long term relationship with IA and wish them luck to create new innovations in their products.
FactoryPMI Adds Linux Support
Inductive Automation is proud to announce that as of version 3.1.5, FactoryPMITM supports running on Linux/Unix operating systems. This groundbreaking change will be welcomed by many of our customers, especially international customers, who are running Linux on the plant floor. In an industry so dominated by Microsoft-dependent technologies, Inductive Automation's move towards platform-independence is a breath of fresh air.
FactoryPMI is an innovative, full-featured industrial data visualization and control product. It can be coupled with FactorySQL or other database-aware industrial tools to create robust SCADA systems. Additionally, its flat-fee server based licensing model, including unlimited tags, screens, and runtime clients, makes it the most cost-effective solution on the market.
FactoryPMI is written in Java, which is renowned for its ability to run on multiple platforms. While our FactoryPMI HMI/SCADA clients have always supported running on multiple platforms, including Linux and MacOSX, the ability to run the FactoryPMI Gateway on Linux is new. Those who know our software architecture will ask, "What about FactorySQL?" As you might have suspected, FactorySQL is tied to Microsoft Windows because of the OPC standard's reliance on DCOM, a Windows technology. However, many of our customers are using FactoryPMI by itself and have their own data-bridge that brings in their industrial data to their database. For now, these customers are the main benefactors of FactoryPMI's platform independence. In the future, Inductive Automation is committed to providing more platform independent solutions.
To download FactoryPMI for Linux, visit our downloads page at http://www.inductiveautomation.com/downloads. There you'll find the tarball for Linux. Inside is a README document that describes how to get the FactoryPMI Gateway up and running.
Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation pioneered the first full-featured web-launched HMI/SCADA system in the world. Its standards based, database-centric architecture receives accolades from plant managers, IT managers, and system integrators worldwide. With a commitment to software quality and technical support second to none, Inductive Automation is at the forefront of industrial software.
End-User Highlight: Hancock Lumber
This month we interviewed Kevin Murphy of Hancock Lumber about his experience with Inductive Automation software.
IA: What do you use Inductive Automation software for in your company or facility?
Kevin: We use all three components (Factory SQL, Factory PMI and the Reporting Plug-In) to centrally monitor multiple PLCs at three sawmills located throughout the state of Maine. The collected data is presented in a dashboard-like environment for use by sawmill managers to improve their processes by evaluating correlations between downtime events and process outputs.
The flexibility of the software has allowed us to customize both data collection points and interfaces so that we can gather exactly the data that is relevant to our processes.
At the beginning of January, 2008, we added a second FactorySQL/PMI data collection server in our Bethel, Maine facility for use in controlling our upgraded wood-fired boiler. Factory PMI with SQL tags made it exceptionally easy for us to custom develop a control panel to meet the needs of our environment in a cost- and time-efficient manner.
IA: Why did you choose Inductive Automation software?
Kevin: Our primary reason for selecting Inductive Automation was its lower cost compared to competing products. In addition, the ability to install the software and run it in a meaningful way before purchasing it was key to our decision-making process. During our evaluation process, Inductive Automation's engineering staff made themselves available to us to answer many technical questions, long before we bought the software. Having a working model of what FactoryPMI could do for us with our data in it made it very easy for us to get Management approval to purchase the software.
IA: What features have you found most useful to your specific process?
Kevin: The ability of the software to speak to any database, as well as to any OPC server, has been a big plus to us. In addition, the ability to publish any FactoryPMI solution on any desktop, without the need for additional licensing has made it very easy for us to roll out the solutions in our environment.
IA: How has the introduction of SQLTags affected your development and implementation?
Kevin: SQLTags made it possible for us to produce the screens for our recent boiler project in a fraction of the time it would have taken in past versions. Since this project was on a very tight timeline, the ability to produce the necessary controls quickly was a huge advantage to us.
IA: What have you found to be the main benefits of the software?
Kevin: The initial benefit to us was in the ease of deploying our solutions. When a user requests access to the dashboard, all we have to do is send them a link with logon information, and they have all the access they need.
As we have gotten deeper into the software, we are finding many more ways to utilize the controls features that the FactoryPMI interface offers. We have been able to accomplish several small controls projects quickly and inexpensively simply by building the interfaces through FactoryPMI.
IA: How do you plan on using IA software in the future?
Kevin: We look forward to establishing additional servers for data collection at several other points of control throughout our network. We are exploring the possibility of using Inductive Automation tools to update and automate one of our oldest mill facilities.
IA: Is there anything else you can say regarding your experience with Inductive Automation?
Kevin: Our experience with support from Inductive Automation has been very, very good. When we called with issues printing from the Reporting plugin, the IA staff worked to replicate the issues we were having so they could help us resolve the issue. We are also tracking other issues within our environment for which IA technical staff have been invaluable resources. In short, Inductive Automation has provided us with excellent service throughout our entire experience with their software.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Redundancy On The Cheap: How to use two servers, FactoryPMI, FactorySQL, and MySQL to make a mission critical HMI/SCADA application.
SACRAMENTO, CA -
FactoryPMI and FactorySQL have long supported clustering and redundancy, respectively. But their database-centric architecture always left the question: What about the database? A true clustered database solution, like Microsoft SQL Server Clustering or Oracle 11g RAC works great, but can take 4+ extra servers and tens of thousands of dollars worth of software. This whitepaper describes how to set up redundancy on the cheap, using 2 servers and MySQL.
First disclaimer: The solution provided here works well, but you do give up some of the reliability that you'd get with a true clustering solution. If you can afford it, go with a true clustered database. They are great and are built for exactly what you're doing. That said; we understand that budgets aren't infinite, and sometimes you have to do more with less. In that case, read on.
Second disclaimer: The solution here isn't rocket science, but it does demand that the user has a solid grasp on our products, databases, and networking. After all, rocket science probably isn't that difficult if you're a rocket scientist. If you start thinking this might be beyond your technical capability, skip to the bottom where we provide a much simpler solution that very well might be "good enough" for many users.
This guide is going to be using some advanced features of FactorySQL, FactoryPMI, and MySQL that you may not be familiar with. Let's go over some of these features first.
FactorySQL Redundancy. FactorySQL Redundancy is a feature that lets two or more FactorySQL services running on different physical machines cooperate, so that if the primary instance goes down due to a machine crash or software fault, one of the secondary instances will take over. FactorySQL uses a common database connection to share project configuration data, as well as monitor who is the currently running master instance.
FactoryPMI Clustering. FactoryPMI Clustering is a feature that lets two or more FactoryPMI Gateway instances running on different physical machines share configuration data and split client load evenly across all running instances, with dynamic client failover. FactoryPMI Clustering uses UDP communication over the local subnet for all clustering communication.
Aggregate Connections / Failover Connections. In FactorySQL, you can create an aggregate connection to a database. This special connection type uses two other database connections to create a single one. If the primary connection goes down, the secondary connection will be used instead. In FactoryPMI, you can specify a failover connection for any datasource connection. In a similar fashion, if that datasource connection fails, the failover connection will be used instead. These two features are very important to the technique presented in this guide, because they let FactorySQL and FactoryPMI use two separate databases as one, which is how we simulate a clustered database.
MySQL Replication. MySQL Replication is a feature of MySQL that lets you specify one database as a master and one as a slave. All changes that are made to the master will be replicated over the network to the slave. Setting up MySQL replication is out of the scope of this guide, but was covered in an earlier article, available here.
The basic idea is to set up MySQL replication for realtime data (status and control), and FactorySQL datacaching for historical data. When both servers are up, history will be logged to the master database, and realtime status and control will go through the master database. In the event that the master server goes down, history will be cached by the secondary server's FactorySQL, and realtime status and control will be routed through the secondary database. When the master server is brought back up, the secondary FactorySQL will put all cached history into the master database. So, during the failure, history will be unavailable, but status and control will work.
Figure 1: Redundant Architecture Overview (click to zoom)
Figure 1 is a diagram of the architecture this guide is describing. You'll see a "master" and "slave" server. Each server has the full "stack" of software on it, that is: an OPC Server, FactorySQL, a database (MySQL), and FactoryPMI. Don't let the picture frighten you, it's not as bad as it looks. Notice that there is a lot of symmetry here: Both instances of FactorySQL actually have the exact same connections, and the same goes for both of the FactoryPMI Gateways. Let's go over the configuration for each piece of the software stack.
First, we have the OPC server. Both OPC servers will be connected to your devices (PLCs, RTUs, etc). They don't need to be specifically set up for "redundancy", but they do need to be configured in the same manner, so that they have access to the same tags, etc.
Before we go over FactorySQL, let's look at the database. Notice that there are two separate schemas: one for historical data, and one for realtime data. Separating the data into two schemas lets us use different connections for each schema. The master database has both schemas, but the slave server only has the realtime schema. You need to set up MySQL replication to replicate the realtime schema from the master to the slave. Again, see this article for detailed instructions on setting up MySQL replication .
The FactorySQL configuration will be identical on both the master and the slave. The crux of the configuration here is in the Data Connection Settings. You'll need the following connections:
- HistoryConnection: Connection to the master's historical schema. Native or DSN connection. Ensure that Data Caching is enabled in the Service Settings.
- MasterRealtime: Connection to the master's realtime schema. Native or DSN connection.
- SlaveRealtime: Connection to the slave's realtime schema. Native or DSN connection.
- RealtimeConnection: Aggregate connection with MasterRealtime as the primary connection, and SlaveRealtime
as the secondary connection. Failover mode should be set to "Use secondary until primary is available"
Ensure that SQLTags is enabled and using the RealtimeConnection (unless you aren't using SQLTags). Enable redundancy, and set it to use the RealtimeConnection. Note that FactorySQL redundancy makes your project configuration shared implicitly across your master and slave, but the settings themselves need to be configured individually.
FactoryPMI configuration is fairly simple. You'll want to configure your master, and when it is all configured, you'll join your slave into the master's cluster. The configuration, again, mostly has to do with the datasource connections. You'll need the following connections:
- HistoryConnection: A connection to the master's historical schema.
- SlaveRealtime: A connection to the slave's realtime schema.
- MasterRealtime: A connection to the master's realtime schema, with the SlaveRealtime set as the "Failover Datasource".
In your project, make sure to use the HistoryConnection for all historical queries (e.g. charts, tables, reports etc. Use the MasterRealtime for all realtime information (e.g. SQLTags). To cluster your two FactoryPMI Gateways together, first set the Cluster Name of the master server to something intelligible, such as "FPMICluster". Then set the slave's Cluster Name to the same name. Ensure that you don't have any software firewalls such as Windows Firewall enabled, and that multicast UDP traffic on a single port can pass between the two Gateways.
Now that you have your master and slave configured, let's take a look at how it will work in the event of a failure. First, look at Figure 2, which shows the path data takes when both servers are running. Notice that realtime and historical data go through the master database, and the FactoryPMI Gateways share the client load. Data flow is shown in the thick green lines. All other connections are not being used.
Figure 2: Normal Data Flow (click to zoom)
Now let's look at the data flow in the event that the master server has crashed in Figure 3. Again, the active data paths are shown in thick green. Notice that the realtime data is going through the slave's realtime schema, FactorySQL is caching the historical data, and the FactoryPMI clients have all switched to the FactoryPMI Gateway instance running on the slave.
Figure 3: Master Crashed Data Flow (click to zoom)
There you have it, with some clever partitioning of connections and some MySQL replication, you can create a mission critical HMI/SCADA system that logs seamless history, and never loses control of your application. Of course, there are details to work out, such as backup schemes for your history in case the master server crash cannot be recovered from, but such things can be put in place fairly easily. If you are going to put a system like this in place, we recommend two additional things: purchase the commercial version of MySQL (it is fairly inexpensive) so that you can receive support from them, and practice. Disaster recovery plans and redundant software can be quite complex. If you're serious about a highly available SCADA system, make sure that you regularly practice simulated outages to ensure that everything goes smoothly.
Last but not least, we have promised a simpler alternative, in case this all seems too complex. The alternative is: Have a cold-standby server ready and waiting. Purchase a USB licensing dongle from us (so that you can simply swap the FactoryPMI and FactorySQL license in a physical form), and in the event of a failure, turn on the secondary server and give it the IP address that your master server used to have. Yes, you'll probably be down for 5 to 10 minutes, and you will lose the history during that period, but you'll be able to explain how it works in one sentence. The only tricky part to this is to make sure that your secondary server's project files stay up to date. This can be achieved reliably through well-known procedural guidelines, or through automatic ghosting.
As always, if you'd like to speak to one of our engineers to discuss any of these architectures, or have some new ideas that we haven't thought of, please give us a call at 1-800-266-7798.
Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation pioneered the first full-featured web-launched HMI/SCADA system in the world. Its standards based, database-centric architecture receives accolades from plant managers, IT managers, and system integrators worldwide. With a commitment to software quality and technical support second to none, Inductive Automation is at the forefront of industrial software.
Feature Highlight: FactoryPMI ™ Retargeting Creates Seamless SCADA Across Multiple Plants
SACRAMENTO, CA - The ability to web-launch unlimited, free HMI/SCADA clients anywhere on a corporate network is almost universally everyone's favorite feature of FactoryPMITM. As an added bonus, these days it is commonplace to have a corporate network that spans multiple physical plants, whether they are across town or across the country. With corporate networks like this, a manager at the Austin, TX plant could open up the HMI system for the Atlanta, GA facility to monitor line performance, or check inventory levels. Scenarios like this is where retargeting comes in.
FactoryPMI's retargeting feature lets you take advantage of existing corporate networks to create a completely seamless HMI/SCADA system across physical locations, while retaining local functionality at each location in the event that any inter-facility WAN connection were to go down. This feature is so simple that using it takes a single line of script. Suppose you had a FactoryPMI project called "Line A" located in Austin, TX, and another FactoryPMI project in Atlanta, CA called "Line B". If you wanted to add a button to your Line A project to retarget to the Line B project, all you?d have to do was write the following line of script:
fpmi.system.retarget("Line B", "10.0.28.224")
That's it! All you need is the name of the project, and the IP Address of the remote FactoryPMI Gateway. This feature is almost too simple ? most of our users overlook it. Those who have discovered it have used it to create some of the most advanced seamless global SCADA systems in the world. Note that your current authentication credentials will be passed onto the new server when you retarget, which should make for a seamless user experience if you're using Microsoft Active DirectoryTM authentication. If not, you'll be asked to log into the new project with a valid username. That's all there is to this feature. As additional inspiration, here is a screen capture from a project that uses retargeting to create an interactive facility map:
Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation pioneered the first full-featured web-launched HMI/SCADA system in the world. Its standards based, database-centric architecture receives accolades from plant managers, IT managers, and system integrators worldwide. With a commitment to software quality and technical support second to none, Inductive Automation is at the forefront of industrial software.
Inductive Automation Releases FactoryPMITM 3.1 and FactorySQLTM 4.1
SACRAMENTO, CA DECEMBER 11, 2007 - Inductive Automation is proud to release FactoryPMITM Version 3.1 and FactorySQLTM Version 4.1. The main features of this release are SSL support for enhanced security over public networks, Java 6 support for easier deployment, and a new Historical Group in FactorySQL for easier data logging.
FactoryPMITM 3.1
SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is the industry standard encryption protocol for HTTP communication. This is the same technology that protects your sensitive financial information as you interact with your bank or purchase merchandise with a credit card online. FactoryPMI 3.1 natively supports SSL encryption for both its web-based server configuration and its web-launched HMI/SCADA clients. This technology is a natural fit with FactoryPMI, as its deployment and communication are completely web-centric. While most of our customers deploy their HMI/SCADA applications on their private intranet, we are getting more and more interest in deploying FactoryPMI's web-launched clients over the public internet. Interest in this technology ranges from simple internet-based deployment of a global SCADA system, to new hosted SCADA business models that only FactoryPMI's innovative web-launched clients can support. We are proud to be able to support applications that need the utmost level of security with SSL encryption in FactoryPMI 3.1.
FactoryPMI 3.1 has a host of other features as well. It is now compatible with the JavaTM Platform version 6, and still backwards compatible with Java version 5. Our popular SQLTags technology now supports the OracleTM database, as well as the PostgreSQL database. We now support licensing through hardware USB-dongles as an alternative to our software CD-Key based licensing. This is useful for customers who want a cold-standby server, because they know they can transfer their license by simply moving a USB-dongle. Last but certainly not least is the new Standalone Mode option for the FactoryPMI Gateway. This option lets FactoryPMI launch clients on multi-homed servers (computers that are on two or more networks), or over port-forward situations with no extra network setup, as long as the Gateway is not part of a load balancing cluster. Combine all of these features with a host of smaller improvements and bug fixes, and you have an upgrade that you don't want to miss. The full changelog can be found under the Support section of our website.
FactorySQLTM 4.1
For years, the workhorse of FactorySQL has been its standard "Group". This unit of configuration can morph from a historical logger, real-time status and control synchronizer, downtime tracker, recipe manager, etc. With the introduction of SQLTags much of this can now be accomplished easily and quickly inside of FactoryPMI, leaving only the need to configure history in FactorySQL. Therefore, in this version we have added a new easy to configure historical group. By stripping the options of the standard Group down to only what is used in historical logging, the Historical Group couldn't be simpler to use. Our famous install-to-SQL-logging time of under 5 minutes is now even shorter, with an even flatter learning curve.
Additionally, version 4.1 boasts improved support for OPC properties such as Quality, Timestamp and item path in all group types, making it extremely quick and simple to log these properties for each tag.
FactorySQL 4.1 also provides support 64-bit WindowsTM, USB-dongle licensing, and OracleTM and PostgreSQLTM databases in SQLTags.
About Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation pioneered the first full-featured web-launched HMI/SCADA system in the world. Its standards based, database-centric architecture receives accolades from plant managers, IT managers, and system integrators worldwide. With a commitment to software quality and technical support second to none, Inductive Automation is at the forefront of industrial software.
Contact
Jim Meisler
(800) 266-7798 x227
jmeisler@inductiveautomation.com
How To: Use SQLTags Scan Classes
SACRAMENTO, CA DECEMBER 11, 2007 - Whenever we release a large set of new features, it’s always interesting to watch how those features are received and utilized by our users. Most users prefer to “click and discover” vs. “read the manual”, and apparently the scan class button is too inconspicuous. This article aims to shed some light on scan classes and offer some tips about their advanced features.
What is a Scan Class?
A scan class defines how frequently FactorySQL will receive updates from the OPC server. The default scan class for SQLTags (appropriately named "Default") is set up for 5 seconds. This means that any tags in this scan class will update at most every 5 seconds. We say “at most”, because if the tag didn’t change in the PLC, then the SQLTag won’t update, of course. This is pretty slow, and we invite users to feel free to modify the default scan class. Without further ado, let’s see how to modify scan class settings.
First, select the SQLTags provider you wish to work with. Then, press the “Edit Scan Classes… button to bring up the Scan Class Editor window.
Here you can see all of the options for a scan class. When you change any of these options, all tags assigned to that scan class will immediately be running with the new settings. Scan classes provide a very convenient way to centrally manage the polling options for groups of tags.
Scan Class Modes
There are three modes that a scan class can run in. The most common mode is Direct mode. In this mode, the scan class always runs at a constant Rate (the Low Rate), which is the amount of time in milliseconds between updates. All modes of scan classes also have a Stale Timeout, which is the amount of time (in milliseconds) that can elapse after a scheduled update before the tags in that scan class are considered Stale. (If you aren’t already familiar with them, see the user manual’s discussion of SQLTags quality codes here)
Most users will only ever use Direct scan classes. It will often make sense to have more than one scan class. For example, suppose you have some control points that you want very quick updates on, perhaps to show feedback of a momentary button or some similar control device. Maybe you have other data that doesn’t need such quick updates. You could have a scan class named “Fast” that was set to update every 500 or 250 milliseconds, and another scan class named “Normal” that was updating every 1250 milliseconds. This way, the system knows to expend more resources updating those crucial tags quickly, but isn’t bothered by the bulk of the tags that don’t need such a fast update rate.
There are two other scan class modes besides Direct mode. They are Driven and Leased modes. A Driven scan class will toggle between a High Rate and a Low Rate, based upon the value of some other tag. This can be useful for tags that need very fast updates only when some condition is true. For instance, the values of an oven may need very fast update rates, but only when the oven is on. To set up a driven scan class, set up a tag that will represent the condition that drives the rate of your driven scan class. The only “gotcha” here is that the tag that drives your scan class cannot be in that driven scan class. Other than that, setting up a driven scan class is quite easy
The last kind of scan class mode is the Leased mode. A leased scan class also toggles between a High Rate and a Low Rate. Whenever there is any active subscription for a tag in a leased scan class, the scan class will run at its high rate. If nothing has a tag from the scan class subscribed, it will run at the low rate. This is like an on-demand system. When a FactoryPMI window is opened that has bindings for tags in a leased scan class, the scan class will start running at its high rate. When all windows that deal with that scan class are closed, it will run at its low rate. If the low rate is zero, that scan class is essentially disabled or turned off. This mode is useful when bandwidth is expensive, such as a satellite connection, or any time when you don’t want the PLC to be polled unless there is a need.
Conclusion
As you can see, scan classes offer the designer a great deal of flexibility when creating HMI/SCADA applications with FactorySQL and FactoryPMI. While the Direct scan class will suffice for the majority of users, we’ve seen some motivating examples of advanced situations where Driven and Leased scan classes can be useful. If after reading this article, you realize that you’d like to fine tune your scan class settings, but you’ve already created a few tens of thousands of tags, don’t worry! It is easy to bulk-modify tags to modify which scan class they are assigned to. Simply select multiple tags and only edit their scan class property. Even better, use the Tag Search button to quickly find and sort through your tags so that re-assigning their scan classes is a snap.
About Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation pioneered the first full-featured web-launched HMI/SCADA system in the world. Its standards based, database-centric architecture receives accolades from plant managers, IT managers, and system integrators worldwide. With a commitment to software quality and technical support second to none, Inductive Automation is at the forefront of industrial software.
Contact
Jim Meisler
(800) 266-7798 x227
jmeisler@inductiveautomation.com
Integrator Highlight: MCS Integrations
SACRAMENTO, CA DECEMBER 11, 2007 - This month we interviewed Pat Callaghan of MCS Integrations about his experience with Inductive Automation software in the field of water/wastewater.
IA: Tell us a bit about your company - do you have a focus on any particular industry?
Pat: MCS Integrations is a systems integrator working primary in the Water/Wastewater Treatment industry. We create control systems used in the treatment and distribution of drinking water and the processing of wastewater.
IA: Why did you choose Inductive Automation software?
Pat: We were looking for a web based SCADA application. Some of our customers require access to their SCADA application through the Internet. This has been possible in the past but we were looking for a product that better accomplishes this. The more we started working with IA’s software the more pleased we were with it.
To start FactoryPMI is a web launched application running in a Java environment. This gives us two benefits: 1) we do not have to install software on every client that needs to access the application this is handled automatically by FactoryPMI and 2) since the visualization part is processed on the client’s hardware this allows for the server to be smaller saving on overall system cost. Note that it is possible to run IA’s software as a standalone application, a central server is not required, but most of our customers have multiple clients accessing the system in which case a central server makes the most sense.
IA software has superior database support. We don’t have to create some crypt procedure in order to have the SCADA application access a database, all we need to do is write a simple SQL statement. IA’s software was created with database access in mind, not as some add-on.
Licensing, what could be easier? Whether you want 100 tags or 50,000 tags, whether you have 1 client or 100 clients, it’s all the same cost. In the past we would have to determine how many tags the system would need and how many clients would need to access the system in order to determine the cost of licensing; now it’s just one simple price. Plus there’s no separate cost for runtime licenses and development licenses, they are both part of the licensing.
IA: What have you and your customers found to be the main benefits of the software?
Pat: As an integrator the main benefit that IA’s software offers is freedom. We are able to create the application as we see fit. We can create the database (data storage) as we see fit, this allows us to optimize the application based on each customer’s needs. The development can be as simple as drag-and-drop to complex scripting, this allows us to create an applications look and feel to exact customer requirements. The inclusion of Python in FactoryPMI gives us access to a real programming language which allows us to create some complex applications; we no longer have to say ‘We can’t do that with this software’.
IA: How do you plan on using IA software in the future?
Pat: One of our customers is so pleased with the visualization part of the system that we are getting ready to incorporate record keeping into the system. Operators will enter data such as daily tests and chemical usage into the system. Once the data is in the system operators will be able to pull up charts and trends showing this data instead of having to fumble through paper and excel spreadsheets.
IA: Is there anything else you can say regarding your experience with Inductive Automation?
Pat: Great tech support. I can’t say enough about the tech support team you guys have, they are top notch. IA is a company that listens to customers recommendations for improvements to the software and actually implements them.
Here is a screenshot from one of his FactoryPMI projects:
Inductive Automation Revolutionizes SCADA Application Development with SQLTags™ Technology
SACRAMENTO, CA OCTOBER 12, 2007 - SQLTags™ Technology
Powered by OPC, SQLTags technology turns any SQL database into a high-performance industrial tag database. Modern databases, like Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL, have storage and performance characteristics that make them ideal for use in industrial applications, and are easy for IT departments to support.
The database-centric architecture of FactoryPMI and FactorySQL has long let designers create data-rich SCADA and MES systems with features like downtime and efficiency tracking, recipe and batch management, trending, and PDF reporting. Now with SQLTags, HMI functions like realtime status and control are accomplished with drag and drop ease, letting users benefit from the power of a database-centric architecture without the complexity.
| "SQLTags is a significant breakthrough in distributed SCADA technology," said Steve Hechtman, Inductive Automation's president. "In my 22 years experience as a systems integrator, I’ve never encountered a platform that so naturally crosses over between industrial controls and enterprise management." |
FactoryPMI™ 3.0 and FactorySQL™ 4.0
FactoryPMI is a full-featured, database-powered HMI/SCADA system with unlimited clients and data points. Its innovative web-launched rich clients make deployment and management a breeze. IT departments enthusiastically endorse its standards-based approach including Java clients, open SQL database connectivity, web based management, and integrated Microsoft Active Directory authentication. Its highly modular architecture enables systems ranging from redundant enterprise-wide SCADA systems to plant-floor touch-panel machine control.
FactorySQL is the easiest, most effective way to bridge the gap between PLCs and standard database systems. It is an OPC powered industrial data bridge that leverages existing IT infrastructures. Drag and drop configuration for both data logging and bi-directional control delivers easy connectivity with industrial devices. Advanced features like alerting, triggers, and stored procedure support make FactorySQL the data bridge of choice in a variety of industries worldwide.
FactoryPMI 3.0 and FactorySQL 4.0 are completely backwards compatible. A free evaluation is available for download at: http://www.inductiveautomation.com/downloads.
Get a feel for FactoryPMI’s web-launched rich clients by running our public demo, available at: http://www.inductiveautomation.com/demo.
For a 10 - 15 minute live web demonstration sign up at http://www.inductiveautomation.com/webdemo or call us at (800) 266-7798,
About Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation pioneered the first full-featured web-launched HMI/SCADA system in the world. Its standards based, database-centric architecture receives accolades from plant managers, IT managers, and system integrators worldwide. With a commitment to software quality and technical support second to none, Inductive Automation is at the forefront of industrial software.
Contact
Jim Meisler
(800) 266-7798 x227
jmeisler@inductiveautomation.com
ISA Expo 2007 a Great Success
SACRAMENTO, CA OCTOBER 12, 2007 - For the second year in a row, Inductive Automation attended the ISA Expo, an international showcase of the latest in automation and industrial technologies. We are pleased to announce that this year's show was a great success, and would like to thank everyone who came by our booth.
The highlight of this year's show was the release of FactorySQL 4.0 and FactoryPMI 3.0, introducing SQLTags technology. The release was formally announced with a press release on Wednesday morning, and demoed throughout the week at Inductive Automation's booth. Visitors were surprised by the ease-of-use of SQLTags, and the overall simplicity and power of Inductive Automation's software.
The “Turn the Corner” theme of this year's booth was also a great success, and the message of being frustrated by tag, screen, and client licensing restrictions resonated well with visitors. The backdrop scene, depicting two industrial users standing on a street corner with “will work for tags” and “will work for clients” signs, elicited many knowing chuckles and expressions of agreement. The scene provided a good entry way into a conversation as to how Inductive Automation could help users “Turn the Corner” to the future of HMI/SCADA software.
As part of ISA's “Cruising for Solutions” contest, Inductive Automation was able to interact with thousands of attendees throughout the week. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk to so many representatives from a wide array of companies and industries, and to demonstrate our software.
Many visitors to our booth were surprised to learn what Inductive Automation had to offer them. The following are a few “Frequently Asked Questions” that we received.
ISA 2007 Top 5 Most Frequently Asked Question:
5) What do you do?
Simply put, we make a revolutionary web-launched HMI/SCADA system. “Web-launched” meaning that it's launched off of any web browser, but runs as a fully interactive application. All data goes through standard SQL databases, which means it's open, accessible, and IT friendly. Our OPC to SQL bi-directional data bridge does the rest of the work to the device.
4) Why does the world need another HMI?
The fact is, there's a huge market of customers who simply aren't happy with what they have and what they currently see in the market. We had many people approach with this question, and almost all of them left convinced that there is a better way to do SCADA- the Inductive Automation way.
3) It's really a fixed price?
It is! We don't charge extra for more tags, screens or clients. Our solution is about getting things done- if you need another client, simply go launch one. Want some more information on a screen? Fire up the designer and add it. You simply don't have to pay extra to do more. Oh, and one more thing: our prices are fully visible for all to see. We're not afraid to show what it costs.
2) Can it connect to ??? (device/database)
Simple answer- YES. We connect to any database that supports ODBC, and have native connectors for every major system. All device communications are performed through OPC, which means we can communicate with any device that has an OPC server- essentially every device made.
1) Will you stamp my card?
It's true, many people came by simply looking for stamps in the “Cruising for Solutions” game. However, we were genuinely surprised as to how many people stayed around to talk to us about their experiences with SCADA software, and to learn about what we have to offer.
About Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation pioneered the first full-featured web-launched HMI/SCADA system in the world. Its standards based, database-centric architecture receives accolades from plant managers, IT managers, and system integrators worldwide. With a commitment to software quality and technical support second to none, Inductive Automation is at the forefront of industrial software.
Contact
Jim Meisler
(800) 266-7798 x227
jmeisler@inductiveautomation.com
How to use Indirect Tag Binding for Rapid Development
SACRAMENTO, CA OCTOBER 12, 2007 - Indirect tag binding is a type of data binding available in FactoryPMI 3.0. It allows the designer to bind a component’s property to any number of tags using one or more layers of indirection. This lets one create templated components and parameterized windows. A templated component is a component or group of components whose data bindings are relative to some properties of the component. A parameterized window is similar, the difference being that the entire window’s contents are relative to a parameter that is passed into the window when it is opened. Indirect tag binding makes creating these components and windows a snap. All you need to do is bind to a tag, and then choose the part of the tag path that changes, replacing it with a value from a property in the window.
To demonstrate indirect tag binding, suppose we had a tank farm with four tanks. Each tank has some properties, like level and temperature. Each tank also has an outlet pump, that can be controlled from the screen and has amperage associated with it. Here is how the tag structure would look in the SQLTags browser:
Our goal with indirection is to bind to tag paths like:
[]TankX/PumpAmps... where the
"X" is replaced with 1-4. Let’s say we wanted all 4 tanks on the same screen. In this case we’ll set up a templated component, or rather, group of components. Put all the components you want to represent 1 tank in a container, like so:
These components were created simply by dragging the tags represented into the container. The pump is an image whose tint color is bound to the pump mode tag. To turn this container into a templated component, simply add an integer dynamic property to the container called
"TankNum", and set its value to 1. Now modify each of the data bindings on the components’ properties from a direct tag binding like this:
... to an indirect tag binding like this:
To create this indirect tag binding, first browse for the tag:
"Tank1/Level." Then, remove the "1" in "Tank1", and browse for your "TankNum" dynamic property. That’s it – your binding is now indirect, and will point to whichever tank is indicated by the value of "TankNum". Now all you need to do is copy and paste this container 4 times and change the value of TankNum appropriately, to create a screen like this:
Creating a parameterized window is just as easy. The only trick is that the dynamic property
"TankNum" that controls the indirection for the bindings needs to be placed on the popup window’s Root Container. This lets you create a popup window like this:
Whenever you open this window, simply send it a value of 1 through 4 by passing the
"TankNum" parameter in the navigation action. In this way, one popup window can be used for a number of devices.About Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation pioneered the first full-featured web-launched HMI/SCADA system in the world. Its standards based, database-centric architecture receives accolades from plant managers, IT managers, and system integrators worldwide. With a commitment to software quality and technical support second to none, Inductive Automation is at the forefront of industrial software.
Contact
Jim Meisler
(800) 266-7798 x227
jmeisler@inductiveautomation.com
