Configuration software refers to some special software used for data acquisition and process control. They are the software platform and development environment for the monitoring level of automatic control system. With flexible configuration, they provide users with a universal software tool to quickly build the monitoring function of industrial automatic control system. Simply put, configuration software is the software used to develop the monitoring screen on the production line, a set of development tools common to all industries. Therefore, in the process of using software, it is inevitable to encounter problems of one kind or another. Therefore, when purchasing software, we should not only consider the price factor, but also consider the supplier's technical support service ability.
With the continuous improvement of automation level, configuration software has been widely used in factories of various industries. IFIX software of GE intelligent platform is one of the best. The following is mainly about some matters needing attention in purchasing iFIX software, hoping to help everyone.
IFIX simple classification description:
First of all, let's take a look at the product type introduction of iFIX software. Here are some examples. Let's briefly talk about the meanings of several nouns:
IFIX standard 300-point development edition
IFIX Plus 900 sub-running version
Standard edition: called stand-alone edition or independent node edition. It can run on a single computer. If there are multiple iFIX consoles at the same time, the host computer with iFIX software will not be able to communicate with other console computers. ODBC driver without iFIX.
Plus version: network version, corresponding to the standard version, can realize data exchange between computers of multiple operating stations. ODBC drivers include iFIX.
300 points, 900 points: This is the number of variables that allow iFIX software to exchange data with lower layers (such as PLC). IFIX is divided into 150 points, 300 points, 900 points and unlimited points.
Development version: If the workstation is a development version of the installed iFIX software, the workstation can be developed online or run continuously.
Running version: If the running version of iFIX software is installed on the workstation, the workstation can only run continuously and cannot be developed online.
Note: iFIX's demo software can support 2 hours of development and operation. Unlimited points.
The first chapter equipment connection
Equipment connection is the primary problem to be solved in factory data acquisition system. IFIX can provide convenient connection with various well-known devices in the world, and at the same time provide a communication program development kit, so that users can connect their non-standard devices to iFIX monitoring system. The following is elaborated from several aspects.
1. Connection device type:
There are many types of equipment that iFIX can connect, including DCS, PLC, controller, remote module, field bus equipment, bar code reader, intelligent instrument, weighing instrument, other computer systems or special equipment.
2. Connection mode:
The connection modes between iFIX and equipment mainly include: serial connection, industrial network connection, standard Ethernet connection, telephone dialing, microwave equipment, wireless transmission, dedicated line connection and other ways.
3. iFIX driver used:
IFIX drivers are divided into 6.x version and 7.x version according to different development tools.
The driver of version 6.x is developed with the driver development kit ITK, which can run on WINDOWS 95/98 and WINDOWS NT. Driver version 6.x supports running 8 different drivers on the same PC to connect 8 different devices. This drive has built-in redundancy. See the redundant system description for details.
The driver of version 7.x is developed by ASDK or OSDK (OPC Toolkit) and can only run on WINDOWS NT platform. Version 7.x driver provides OLE automation interface, which can run independently of iFIX, and its properties and methods can be referenced in VB programs. The driver adopts COM/DCOM technology and can be installed and run under C/S structure. That is to say, remote network control can be carried out, such as installing the client part on iClient, controlling the operation of the server part through the network, configuring the remote driver, controlling the operation and diagnosing the state. 7. The X driver supports the definition of an infinite device connection channel. Most 7.x drivers are OPC servers, which can connect to standard OPC clients.
Click here to view the list of drivers.
4. Use third-party drivers and OPC servers.
GE FANUC has a large number of automation partners (CAP), who have written a large number of commercial drivers and OPC servers for iFIX in the project.
5. Device connection mode classification example:
Examples of iFIX drivers;
ABH: It is easy to connect to AB DH+ network through serial port, but the speed is limited by serial port, and other AB software and hardware are not needed. Driver version: 6.x.
ABR: Now it is widely used. It can support AB's KT, KTC, KTX, KTXD and the communication between Ethernet card and PLC. It also needs AB's RSLinx software support. Please note that you cannot use the RSLinx Lite version. The versions required by RSLinx are: Windows NT and RSLINX with 95 V2.00.97.30 or above, and OEM versions are also acceptable.
MB 1: There are two versions of 6.x and 7.x, and all devices supporting Modbus serial communication protocol are connected through serial ports. There are mainly Modicon PLC and other control instruments, such as Honeywell UDC, UMC and Moore. Support Mobus RTU and ASCII communication protocols. When using it to communicate with other compatible devices, please note that the data type will be different from Modicon. Version 7.x supports telephone dial-up connection and radio connection.
MMP: 6th edition. X, support to connect Modicon PLC through Modbus Plus network. It can support dual SA85 network cards and support 984 series and Quantum series PLC. WIN95 and NT can be supported, and the supported network cards are: SA85, SM85, AT-984, MC-984.
MBE: Connect Modicon Ethernet communication module through standard Ethernet card.
SIE: Connect the serial communication module CP525 of Siemens S5 PLC through serial port. Support 3964R protocol, and can also be connected with other Siemens devices that support this protocol.
Si7: Support three ways to connect Siemens S7 series PLC, namely Profibus (L2), industrial Ethernet (H 1) and standard Ethernet (TCPIP). Three connection modes:
Siemens software required: SIMATIC NET
OMR:6.x version driver, connecting Omron Host Link and WIN95/98/NT platforms through serial port, supporting C series, CV series, P series, K series, etc.
GE6: communicate with various PLCs of GE by using CCM2 protocol of GE. The supported operating system platform is WIN95/98/NT, and the PLC types are: 9030/9070 series (through the communication processor of CMM7 1 1), 1 series (connecting DCU port), 5 series (connecting CCM port) and 6 series (connecting CCM or IOCCM module). 6.x version, serial port connection.
Logi.master5 software is needed to set the site number of PLC. Master-slave protocol mode supporting GE.
G90: communicate with GE Series 90 PLC using SNP protocol of GE Company. 6.x version, serial connection, supported by Win95/98/NT platform. The communication efficiency of this protocol is higher than CCM2.
GE9: Connected to GE 9030/9070 PLC via Ethernet, driven by version 7.x, only supports NT platform and standard Ethernet card, but requires corresponding GE Ethernet configuration software, such as connecting to 9070 PLC.
GE intelligent platform series 90-70 TCP/IP Ethernet software (part number: IC 65 1ens042a) is needed to configure the Ethernet communication module of PLC. If you connect with 9030 PLC, you need 90-30/20s series software packages (part number: IC 64 1SWP306L).
Chapter ii iFIX function module
1. Functional module classification:
According to the different functions of iFIX components, it can be divided into the following three categories: server software and options, client software and options, other components and Internet products. Because of the real C/S structure of iFIX, users can choose the appropriate software and options according to their own needs. See the figure below:
2.ifix software products:
IFIX server: according to the database size, it is divided into 150 I/O, 300 I/O, 900 I/O and infinite point I/O, including iFIX's IO communication program, process database, real-time background processing and historical data collection. There is no front-end interface tool.
IFIX client iClient: divided into development version or running version, including front-end interface generation tools, VBA, ActiveX support, security container, historical data collection, real-time and historical trends, etc. Without database and IO driver, all data must be transmitted from iFIX server on the network, including alarm, real-time and historical data.
IFIX HMI Pak: it is the combination of iFIX Server and iClient, and it is divided into 150 I/O, 300 I/O, 900 I/O and infinite point I/O. ..
Server related options (server options):
IFIX OPC client connector: makes IFIX an OPC server, and the user's OPC application can obtain the data of ifix process database.
Redundancy of iFIX: It needs to be purchased in pairs, so that two iFIX servers can act as partners, and switch between active and standby according to needs in different roles, while the client regards these two computers as one. It can be used for automatic network detection, role determination, alarm synchronization and so on. Please refer to the description in the redundancy section for details.
Client options:
IFIX OPC universal connector: As an OPC tool in the workspace, it can exchange data with the user's OPC application.
Server side or client side options
IFIX automatic alarm: send specific alarm point information to specific network nodes through dialing.
IFIX menu: Simple menu function, you can download or upload the menu.
SQL Server 7 Standard Edition and SQL Server 7 Client: Microsoft Standard Products.
Visionx enterprise access ActiveX controls: a group of ActiveX controls that can automatically generate SQL query commands by obtaining RDB data through OLE DB. It can be used as a front-end interface tool for RDB such as SQL Server.
Development kit:
IFIX integration toolkit: provides a set of API DLL, which enables users to read and write databases through VC or VB, and handle alarms and historical data.
IFIX Database Dynamo Toolkit: Provides VC tools, allowing users to add data block types in PDB and seamlessly integrate with the original 30 blocks in the database.
IFIX OPC Toolkit: Provides VC tools to enable users to develop their own communication programs. This toolkit can automatically generate the driver framework, and users only need to modify some codes according to their own communication protocols.
IFIX system extension toolkit: used to integrate user database and iFIX front-end interface, mostly for OEM users.
IGlobalcare:iFIX's global products and services
4. Database size calculation
The price of iFIX depends on the size and function of the database, and the size of the database is determined by the type and quantity of points used by users.
Generally speaking, the tag types involved in calculation are related to input and output. All the points on the hardware to be transmitted to the iFIX database and all the points written to the hardware from iFIX can be added, and a switch point is counted as an I/O, while other intermediate variables such as calculation, judgment, accumulation and timing are not counted in the total I/O. ..
Chapter iii iFIX network structure
1. Client/Server (C/S) structure
Intellution software design attached great importance to the network structure from the beginning, and the client/server structure ran through the company's earliest products. Among all similar products, it has the strongest network function. Its notable features are as follows:
Support software and hardware and protocols: it can connect various Ethernet connections, and the supported communication protocols are NETBEUI and TCPIP. However, it should be noted that only one protocol can be used at a time.
Free configuration of components: the main components are iFIX Server, iFIX Client and HMI Pak. You can choose to install the corresponding software on the network according to the specific functional requirements.
Network database: All data of iFIX have unique identification on the network, and the format is: Server. Node.Tag.Field where Server indicates whether the data is FIX or other, Node is the node name of iFIX real-time database, that is, the unique identifier on its network, which is generally consistent with the computer name. The following labels correspond to process variables, and the fields correspond to corresponding parameters. IFIX's database is a truly distributed database. Users can call the database of the server from any client through the network to perform various operations, including adding, modifying and deleting label definitions. All the operations are online configuration, that is, the modification can take effect without reloading the database. Because the database is distributed, any client can get the data of the database on any server. In this way, users only need to consider the size of the server database according to the IO on site, for example:
On the client iClient, you can see all other information, such as IO data and alarms on HMI Pak and iFIX servers.
Network alarm: various alarm types can be defined in iFIX database, and the definition of infinite alarm area is supported. All alarms occur on the server side, and the alarms that the client can see are real-time network alarms transmitted by the server. The user's alarm operation at the client also directly affects the alarm source of the server. At the same time, iFIX can support various other network alarm methods, such as wireless paging calls, automatic dialing of alarm calls and other complex methods. There are ready-made third-party alarm processing software to strengthen the above functions.
Network historical data: All historical data can be stored in any computer with iFIX installed on Ethernet, and the Chart object of the client can read the data in the historical data file on the corresponding network path. Therefore, historical data can be stored on SCADA server or any client computer.
Network operation of I/O communication: Only in the 7.x communication program can network remote operation be used. You can install the client part of 7.x driver together with the iFIX client, and then you can control the operation, online configuration and fault diagnosis of the I/O server through the network.
2.iFIX WAN connection mode
Dial-up network:
The dial-up network supported by iFIX can be through public telephone network or private line, which can achieve the same function as ordinary LAN, but the speed will be slower than LAN. Note that when using this method, you should use NT server and install remote dial-up service RAS, because only NT server can support multiple dial-up connections.
iWebServer:
Through iWebServer, a component of iFIX, real-time data of iFIX can be published on WAN, and users can see real-time information through standard browsers.
Environment setting: iClient+iWebServer+IIS4.0. Among them, IIS provides standard WWW services, in the nt server environment. For example, on a workstation, it can be implemented through peer-to-peer Web services.
Working principle: The process of real-time data transmission is as follows: iClient reads real-time data from the database of iFIX Server, and iWebServer converts these data. All iFIX standard graphics are converted into HTML format files and JDF files through the tools of iWebServer, and Applet in JDF files take data from iWebServer and update them dynamically in standard browsers. The browser can display dynamic data, dynamic graphics, real-time and historical trends, alarm information and so on. Users can choose the playback option, which is a standard function of Microsoft and can play back historical data and historical trends. The data of IWebServer can use proxy server and network firewall.
Chapter IV Enterprise System Integration
The new technology applied by iFIX plays a key role in enterprise-level system integration. Its various components can be closely connected with all parts of the enterprise to complete an integrated information system from equipment to enterprise decision-making.
1. Relational database connection
The process database of iFIX and its HMI components collect the field data into the computer for process monitoring, and the connection with other parts of the enterprise such as ERP or MIS system is completed by other functional components of iFIX. Most MIS systems have a relational database, such as ACCESS, SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, Informix, DB2, etc. IFIX mainly exchanges data with these relational databases through ODBC and OLE DB. The connection modes of these two methods are mainly described as follows:
ODBC:
There are two main ways to connect in this way: using ODBC driver of relational database in iFIX; Using ODBC driver of iFIX in relational database.
There are several ways to use ODBC driver connection in iFIX:
1. 1 Using SQL database block in PDB, its operating principle is:
-Add a relational database source using the ODBC data source in Control Panel.
-configure ODBC tasks for the above data sources in iFIX system configuration.
-Add a table to the relational database for storing data tables to store SQL commands to be executed.
-Define the corresponding SQT and SQD blocks in PDB, execute the commands in the above table, and store relevant data.
1.2 Use VBA to directly define ODBC data sources in iFIX, call corresponding methods to read data, and then directly display or write data into iFIX database.
Using iFIX ODBC driver to obtain data in relational database
You can create a table in the corresponding relational database, using linked tables or input tables. The data types that can be used are iFIX historical data and real-time data, and then you can create the required data table by querying.
OLE DB:
This method is mainly used to query the data of relational database in iFIX. VisiconX, a ready-made component of Intellution, communicates with the corresponding relational database through OLE DB driver. VisiconX is an enterprise-level relational database connection query tool, which actually provides query connection through ActiveX. Users can display the table or query results specified in the relational database through these controls without programming. If there are complex query conditions, users can automatically generate query commands through VisiconX's SQL wizard.
If users have strong VBA development ability, they can also use VBA commands to exchange data through the engine of OLE DB.
2.ERP system connection
The largest supplier of ERP system is SAP, and Intellution works closely with EnvisionIT software to complete two standard object components connected with SAP R/3 system. These two components are FIX SCADA object and Visual Batch object, which connect the corresponding SAP object or its PP-PI module. Provide two-way data exchange. Data exchange with FIX is completed through EDA interface.
At the same time, Intellution and OSI*** provide a channel to connect with SAP R/3 through PI. Through this channel, you can connect the PP-PI, quality management and project management modules of SAP.
All modules of the above connection methods need to be purchased from a third party.
3.DCOM, a powerful tool for ActiveX application connection.
The support of iFIX software for COM/DCOM and ActiveX provides a standard connection channel between applications. Any third-party software or system can be easily integrated with iFIX as long as it supports the above standards. The software supporting COM/DCOM can be directly applied to the VBA interface of iFIX just like referencing the components of MS Office. The workspace of Intellution is a super container, and any ActiveX control can be inserted. At the same time, its security containment will shield the wrong ActiveX control and ensure the stable operation of the system.
For example, AutoCAD, as long as AutoCAD is installed, the ActiveX control it brings can be inserted into the picture of iFIX to directly display the design drawing of AutoCAD.
Various instruments and operation boards can also insert iFIX images through ActiveX, which can be mapped quickly by simply connecting with the database.
4.OPC compatibility
Intellution is one of the founders of OPC(OLE for Process Control) Foundation, which supports direct OPC data exchange in all aspects of iFIX products, including OPC server and OPC client.
The OPC driver of Intel Solution can be connected to Intel Solution's own OPC server or any third-party OPC server to provide browsing function on the OPC server and follow the latest OPC standards.
5. Integration Toolkit User Toolkit
IFIX provides Integration toolkit as a tool for user application integration, and provides a standard interface between VC and VB. Users can connect the library provided by iFIX to user programs and operate iFIX's database, alarms and historical data. In this way, iFIX data can be transmitted anywhere in any format required by users, including cross-platform network data transmission.
Chapter 5 iFIX redundant system
The redundancy support of iFIX can be divided into five layers, namely PLC layer, industrial network layer, SCADA layer, LAN and view client layer.
PLC-level redundancy support refers to the support for dual PLCs. This support is configured in the intelligent driver, that is, the following redundant PLC station numbers can be defined in the form of main PLC and standby PLC. Industrial network redundancy, that is, the driver of Intellution can support dual industrial network card redundancy, that is, dual channels. LAN redundancy means that iFIX can directly support dual Ethernet cards, that is, redundancy between two NetBIOS sessions or redundancy between two TCPIP addresses.
SCADA level and client level redundancy together constitute the automatic failover function. If you want to use the above functions, you need to purchase the redundant component option of iFIX, which is purchased in pairs with SCADA server.
Software installed on SCADA_A and SCADA_B:
1.iFIX HMI Pak
2.iFIX redundancy option (installed with iFIX installation)
Software installed on the client:
IFIX client
Hardware connection: All computers are connected by Ethernet. SCADA server is connected with hardware equipment.
Function description:
Data acquisition: The definitions of process databases on SCADA_A and SCADA_B are exactly the same, and IO communication is carried out on both machines at the same time. SCADA_A is configured as the main machine and SCADA_B is configured as the standby machine. The above was done in SCU.
Redundancy switching process: When the client sets the name of the remote server, the following methods are used: there is only one logical name: LINE 1 and two actual names: SCADA_A and SCADA _ B; when selecting the data source, only one remote computer node name: LINE 1 will be seen. SCADA_A's partner is SCADA_B, and SCADA_B's partner is SCADA _ A. Under normal circumstances, two SCADA systems read hardware data at the same time, but the client only reads the data of the main server, that is, the client can only see the data collected by 1 line, alarm and historical data. There is a network variable label in iFIX. SCADA_B constantly checks the status of SCADA_A through Ethernet. If she is found to be out of order, she will switch the active and standby roles and send a message to the client that she will become the primary server. The client will immediately switch the data source to the standby server, and the whole process will take about 1-2 seconds. Because data collection is carried out on two servers at the same time and will not be lost, iFIX redundancy option can be guaranteed by synchronizing network alarms.
System repair process: When the host is reconnected after repair, it can be manually switched back to the active and standby state at the client. All operations can be completed through the network and redundant role operation screen brought by iFIX installation. After determining the above problems, we can already determine the specifications and standards of the software to be purchased. Configuration software is used to develop the monitoring screen on the production line, and it is a set of development tools commonly used in all industries. Therefore, in the process of using software, it is inevitable to encounter problems of one kind or another. Therefore, when purchasing software, we should not only consider the price factor, but also consider the supplier's technical support service ability.
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