Automation and IT solutions are subjected to constant change driven by factors such as plant modernisation, plant expansion, the implementation of central monitoring and process optimisation initiatives.
To meet growing requirements while protecting original investment, plant visualisation must be expandable without causing technology incompatibilities or requiring completely new configurations.
SIMATIC WinCC is designed with scalability in mind, from the small single-user solution to the client/server solution with a central Microsoft SQL server for data archiving and operator stations on the Web.
Scalability personified
The WinCC architecture offers scalability in tag count, clients and servers. From single-user systems, users can add clients and servers as required - up to 12 redundant WinCC servers with 32 WinCC clients can be used in a linked system configuration.
The servers themselves can be configured as a distributed system. The distribution of the overall application or of the tasks to several servers allows load balancing to ensure good performance.
Both clients and servers can run on virtual machines.
Virtualisation and real savings
Virtualisation offers a significant potential for savings in system administration and maintenance. The possibility of using simple, robust thin clients provides additional cost benefits and increases IT security.
Virtualisation of WinCC servers and clients.
WinCC scada solutions can benefit from the advantages of virtualisation. The basis of the virtualisation is VMware ESX(i), a well-established hypervisor application. Access to the clients takes place via Ethernet and the standardised Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). To this end, cost-effective and robust thin clients can be used.
Savings potential
* Multiple WinCC server and/or client sessions can be operated on a central hardware platform.
* Simple thin clients, such as mobile PDAs, can be used.
* Reduced overhead for central administration and maintenance.
Increased safety
* Centralised rights management.
* Reduced susceptibility to attack for thin clients.
Higher availability and flexibility
* Hardware can be replaced on the virtual server during operation.
* Clients can be activated simply by starting an additional VMware session.
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