Distributed multi-server, multi-client HMI

Rockwell Automation introduces RSView Supervisory Edition 3.0, the latest and most powerful version yet of its multi-server, multi-client HMI software, ideal for process industries such as brewing

Rockwell Automation introduces RSView Supervisory Edition 3.0, the latest and most powerful version yet of its multi-server, multi-client HMI software.

Ideal for distributed control applications often found in process industries such as brewing, paper and pulp and water treatment, RSView Supervisory Edition (RSView SE) provides a multi-user architecture able to support up to 10 servers and 50 thick or thin clients as standard.

Part of the Rockwell Software ViewAnyWare enterprise-wide visualisation strategy, RSView SE uses the same development environment - RSView Studio - as the standalone machine level HMI package RSView Machine Edition.

System developers and users can now share application software and control data seamlessly across the full range of HMI platforms from portable thin client devices to Windows XP or 2000-based PCs.

In addition to dramatically increasing the scale of HMI solutions possible, a major benefit of the RSView SE multi-server architecture is increased reliability due to its built-in redundancy.

Just by checking a single box during set up, a primary server can be set up to automatically switch to a secondary machine in the event of failure with no need for intervention by the user.

The system switches back to the primary server when it becomes available and, with alarm states constantly synchronised between primary and secondary servers, no alarm data is lost during switch-overs.

While RSView SE is hardware-independent and works well with any PLC platform, it offers greatly enhanced functionality when used with other 'FactoryTalk'-enabled members of the Rockwell Automation family.

'FactoryTalk' is a common language used in Rockwell Automation hardware and software that enables information to be shared, saving time and cost in reproducing settings and values in different parts of the automation system.

When RSView SE is used with Allen-Bradley ControlLogix or ProcessLogix controllers, the FactoryTalk Directory function provides access to both user-defined tags stored in an RSView SE tag database and directly referenced tags stored in the controller.

This allows tags created or modified in the logic program to be automatically reused in RSView SE without the need to recreate them manually, and changes to tag values and properties update automatically throughout the system.

FactoryTalk Directory resides on a designated server in the RSView SE network and here too built-in redundancy means that the application will continue to run (and read and write values to and from a local cache) if the FactoryTalk Directory becomes unavailable.

It is also simple to set up a redundant FactoryTalk Directory server that enables any changes made by users to be saved while the primary server is down.

To speed problem solving and trouble shooting, RSView SE uses another module - FactoryTalk Diagnostics - to collect a wide range of time- and date-stamped error messages and other diagnostic information from multiple FactoryTalk equipped products.

This information can be logged to a central location on an RSView SE server or client, to any external ODBC database or to Rockwell Software's powerful change management and maintenance system, RSMACC.

Manufacturers in increasingly regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, personal care, food and beverages will appreciate the improved security features available when running RSView SE 3.0 under Windows 2000.

Windows 2000 Authentication is a system-wide user group list, and users set up on this list can be added to RSView SE.

This takes advantage of the high level of security provided by Windows 2000 and avoids the need to duplicate user accounts.

For some critical operations, such as changing set points or downloading recipes, RSView SE requires operators to re-enter their user name and password, and can also require a second authorising "signature" before the changes take effect.

Changes made are saved to the FactoryTalk Diagnostics log along with all relevant information required for an FDA 21CFR11-compliant system.

Rockwell Software's best-selling and highly developed HMI software RSView32 will continue alongside the newer RSView Supervisory Edition and Machine Edition, and RSView32 remains the optimum solution for single server, multi-client applications.

For users looking to expand their HMI from single to multiple servers, RSView SE includes an option allowing the core functions of an existing RSView32 application to be migrated easily to RSView SE.

RSView SE provides unparalleled performance, security and reliability for the largest distributed HMI applications while greatly reducing the programming required to create redundant, multi-server systems.

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