Enhanced system availability and efficient service through remote access to industrial PCs.
The new software package Simatic IPC Remote Manager from the Siemens Industry Automation Division is used for efficient remote maintenance and administration of Simatic industrial PCs with Intel Core 2010 i5 and i7 processors. For password-protected remote access the software uses Intel AMT (active management technology) functions, which act independently of the operating system and software, and regardless of whether the system is switched on or in standby. Remote Manager reduces the number of time-consuming and costly on-site service visits and cuts energy consumption, for example, through the targeted shutdown of plant computers at the end of a production shift. The new software is particularly beneficial in plants distributed over a wide geographical area, such as those of the automotive, chemical, solar energy and offshore wind industries.
The new software package enables centralised service concepts to be implemented in which AMT functions are used for remote access of Simatic IPCs. System or program errors, for example, can be rectified and BIOS or program updates can be run from a control room without the need for a site visit. Productivity is increased and resources are saved by activating and deactivating systems centrally and loading updates during breaks in production. Remote access is carried out via secure connections providing access only for authorised persons by means of HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption. A user-friendly menu bar containing icons supports rapid access to all functions.
The ‘Keyboard Video Mouse Redirection’ function can be used to redirect the KVM signal of a remote computer to a central computer, without the need for additional hardware, so that an administrator can control the remote computer from a distance and set parameters, for example. Until now additional hardware, such as a switch, was required. The ‘Remote Power On/Off/Reset’ function switches the remote computer on and off, or resets it, for maintenance purposes or when the operating system no longer responds. This function also supports centralised coasting down of the plant computers when production has stopped or before a production-free weekend. This enables a company to cut operating and power costs. The ‘Remote Reboot’ function initiates a restart of the remote computer from hard disk, CD or network drive, following installation of an update, for example.
Simatic IPC Remote Manager is ideally suited for all Simatic IPCs of device generation ‘B’ and Simatic Field PG programming devices.
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