WinCC Version 7 now supports client virtualisation.
The virtualisation of clients is one of the central innovations of the Service Pack 2 offered by the Siemens Industry Automation Division for Simatic WinCC Version 7. Virtualisation allows several systems that would otherwise require separate hardware to be operated in parallel on one PC. The virtual WinCC clients can be connected with thin interfaces via an Ethernet network using RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol).
Thin interfaces are rugged hardware terminals with a display. Thanks to their reduced equipment, they are significantly smaller, more cost-effective and less fault-prone in harsh environments than full industrial PCs. In production plants, thin clients provide users with visualisation and data input facilities for the virtual WinCC clients installed on a server located away from the field level.
Virtualisation technology has three central advantages: On one hand, existing hardware resources are optimally utilised, reducing procurement and operating costs. Companies can significantly reduce their hardware costs in the production environment, particularly in combination with rugged thin clients. On the other hand, virtual clients can be easily and quickly backed up to increase availability. The third advantage is the simple migration of existing, completely configured systems to new hardware, making lengthy installations on the PC unnecessary. After installing Service Pack 2, several WinCC clients can be installed and operated on one hardware platform via the two virtualisation applications Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware ESXi 4.0.
Another new feature of the Service Pack 2 is the ‘Mitsubishi Ethernet’ driver with two additional channel units for integrating controllers of the FX3U series and the Q series via Ethernet networks. Communication with the controllers takes place via the MELSEC communication protocol (MC protocol).
WinCC V7 can also be operated under Windows 7 and Windows 2008 Server following the installation of Service Pack 2. Further innovations such as the addition of more graphics cards to the split screen manager, or access to the user account control (UAC) safety concept on Windows 7 complete the comprehensive new offering.
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