Terminal Services for InTouch®7.1/7.11

PRODUCT POSITION

Wonderware® once again leads the industry in providing new benefits for manufacturingautomation by bringing the performance capabilities of thin client computing to itsflagship human-machine interface (HMI) system, Wonderware InTouch® version 7.1/7.11.

The new Terminal Services for InTouch provides manufacturing users with all thebenefits of using thin client applications, including:

■ Centralized deployment, maintenance, and management of software includingprogram execution, data processing and storage on a server.

■ High scalability for installing and serving large numbers of remote clients.

■ Centralized management while still allowing individual user flexibility with the complete Windows experience.

■ Reusing PCs in new ways to take full advantage of existing hardware by allowing computers(even hardware that operates Windows 3.11 applications) to operate as thin clients.

■ Simplifying installation and related costs. It can take only minutes to deploy most thin-client devices.

■ High levels of operator and system security.

■ Remote access to running applications for production.

■ Client support for multiple operating systems and versions, including Windows CE,Embedded NT(NTE), Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows 95/98, Windows NT 3.51/4.0, Windows 2000, Linux and Unix®.

Terminal Services for InTouch accomplishes all this by introducing the ability to useMicrosoft® Windows® Terminal Services in an industrial environment. Terminal serversystems can deliver the complete Windows 2000 desktop experience—including runningthe latest Windows-based applications, such as Wonderware InTouch—to virtually any

Terminal Services forInTouch® 7.1/7.11

PRODUCT DATASHEET

Terminal Services for InTouch 7.1/7.11

provides manufacturingusers with all the benefits of using

thin client applications.

desktop or remotecomputing device,including those that runoperating systems otherthan Windows 2000,including Windows CEand Embedded NT. Theclient need only run theTerminal Server protocol.

Manufacturing users cannow choose to deployInTouch 7.1/7.11 in a fullyserver-centric mode, inwhich applications runentirely on the server.Each operator logs onand perceives only his orher presentation (known as a session), which ismanaged transparently by the server operating systemand is independent of any other client session. Onlyscreen, mouse and keyboard information is transmittedover the network between the client and the server.This facilitates use by plant operators as well as casualusers—including maintenance staff, supervisors,engineers and/or vendors, who might need immediateaccess to critical manufacturing or process informationthat is pertinent to them.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS–OVERVIEWArchitecture

The typical production plant of recent years has been amulti-layered hierarchy of systems. At the bottom is thecontrol layer, with the associated programmable logiccontrollers (PLCs), distributed control systems (DCS)and input/output (I/O) systems. These are linked by the control network layer, usually implemented usingEthernet or proprietary methods. If the application issufficiently large, there will be an InTouch Tag Serverthat centralizes communications with the plant floorequipment. Above this will be the InTouch operatornodes, linked to an IndustrialSQL Server™ historian,and any casual or infrequent users.

For the last decade and a half these systems typicallyhave been implemented in client/server architectures.The problem is, anytime new operating system orapplication software upgrades are released, each nodemust be loaded with the patches, service packs or newsoftware versions, creating a huge administrative issue.

This is resolved usingterminal servercapabilities and a newthin client version ofInTouch 7.1/7.11.Microsoft has embeddedTerminal Services as acore part of Windows2000. Now, theimplementation ofTerminal Services is assimple as checking a boxwithin Windows 2000.

Flexible Configurations, Flexible Budgets

The new thin client approach to InTouch deploymentalso allows users to change over gradually to terminalserver usage. Users can mix-and-match client/serverand terminal server configurations. They can even mix and match RDP and ICA clients in order to runcombinations of Windows workstations and Linux clients.This approach provides users with great flexibility tosupport whatever is appropriate for specific applicationsand to reduce total cost of ownership in the process.

Using a 25-node system, for example, if a user installedall thin clients on diskless workstations, the typicalhardware cost might be $39,000. This is much lowerthan the typical cost for implementing applications in afull client/server architecture, at an estimated $68,000.The cost for converting existing hardware can be evenlower. By adding Terminal Services for InTouch, atypical user could save thousands of dollars byinstalling a new server and re-deploying the older PCsas client terminals. The user could upgrade easily toInTouch 7.1/7.11 with one copy on the server andusing thin clients on the PCs.

Plus, if users are already running InTouch on a full-function workstation client, they now have the choice ofrunning tasks locally or as a terminal services session.A user running an InTouch application today canredeploy the same application in terminal services andextend usage to multiple workstations. Users can haveone application on the server and just execute itmultiple times, in multiple sessions. Or they can havemultiple different applications running and executingsimultaneously on the server. It just depends on howthey want to set up the system.

* Assumes a 25-client system configuration

Application Deployment

Although Terminal Services for InTouch looks and feelsmuch like the original client/server versions, and mostapplications run without modification, there are someconsiderations that should be reviewed when planninga terminal server configuration. Please refer to theInTouch Terminal Services Deployment Guide forfurther details.

Client High Availability

The new thin client approach to deploying InTouch willalso be valuable because of its enhanced systemavailability. There are quite simply fewer problems thatcan take a thin client down, and even if a componentfails, it’s easy to get applications back up and in servicemuch more quickly. Since the application is still runningon the server, users just plug in the new terminaldevice and they’re back up in less than a minute.

Re-Use Existing Clients

The client hardware used can be from almost anyplatform. Windows 3.11, Windows CE, Linux, UNIX, ora workstation running Win 9x, NT, or 2000 are allsupported. This allows you to reuse your existinghardware and save money and time. Instead of shuttingdown the plant to replace the existing hardware andnetwork cabling, the existing system can be used.

System Performance

The performance of the server has a direct impact onthe performance of the resulting Wonderware products.The server must be sized and set up correctly.Wonderware has performed massive scalability andconcurrency testing on InTouch to validate its use in athin client environment—and to insure that customerswill enjoy the same high performance levels and ease ofuse they’ve always experienced with InTouch. If anapplication requires more than 25 nodes, simply installanother server.

Citrix Support

Citrix MetaFrame is available as an add on option toWindows NT and 2000 Terminal Services. This permitsthe use of non-Windows operating systems for clients,including UNIX, Linux and Macintosh. Citrix supportstheir own terminal protocol (ICA) and their own set ofTerminal Services tools.

Network Load Balancing

Microsoft and Citrix support network load balancing,which is important in implementing mission-criticalapplications. Network Load Balancing enhances theavailability and scalability of applications. It redirects theconnection from a failing or offline server to a backup.After maintenance is completed, the offline computercan transparently rejoin the cluster. There are manymethods of deploying system redundancy. Pleaseconsult your Wonderware, Microsoft, or Citrix Web-sites for the latest information.

Remote Access

Another benefit of using terminal services in remotecontrol or shadowing of applications is that if asupervisor or operator is at home and an operatorproblem occurs, designated users can dial in via aremote access server (RAS) and request simultaneouscontrol of the session.

Terminal Services also supports wireless clients rightout of the box, for easy mobile access to InTouchapplications. Virtually any wireless remote device thatsupports a Terminal Server protocol can be used to gainaccess to a terminal server over any TCP/IP connection.

Network Load Balancing

Wireless Access

Internet access is easy, too, using Microsoft’s newTerminal Services Advanced Client (TSAC), whichprovides almost the same functionality as the fullTerminal Services client, but is designed to deliver thisfunctionality over the web. Clients need only have anInternet Explorer 4 or greater browser installed.

IndustrialSQL Server and ActiveFactory Support

The thin client InTouch 7.1/7.11 release supportsActiveFactory client tools to allow you to analyze andview your information from an InSQL server. ActiveFactoryclient tools can run on the terminal server.

Communications

Inter-nodal communications are enhanced withmodifications to Wonderware’s SuiteLink™ protocol tosupport session communications. In all cases, this is transparent to the user. InTouch will automatically detectthat it is communicating inter-session rather than inter-node.Three new QuickScript functions have also been introducedto enhance support for Terminal Services, including:

▼ TseGetClientld() – Returns a string version of theclient ID (the TCP/IP address of the client).

▼ TseQueryRunningOnConsole() – Returns a non-zerointeger value if the View application is running on aTerminal Server Console.

▼ TseQueryRunningOnClient() – Returns a non-zerointeger value if the View application is running on aTerminal Server client.

In addition, a console application run locally on theserver—which refers to an application run locally on acomputer rather than within a Terminal Serversession—should be designated to manage NetDDEcommunications with plant floor devices. NetDDE isnot supported within Terminal Server sessions.

Terminal Services for InTouch 7.11 can also leverageNetwork Application Development (NAD) capabilities.This allows you to dedicate memory space on theserver for maintaining local history data and retainedtags, so that data can be accessed properly forrunning an application.

I/O Server Support

Terminal Services for InTouch V7.1/7.11 supports allstandard InTouch I/O Servers that have been certifiedWindows 2000 Compliant.

I/O Servers can be deployed in a variety of means. TheI/O server can be run from a terminal server or fromseparate node, the same as they operate today.

Security

Terminal Services can be fully locked down so that allan operator sees is InTouch. Each user can bepresented only with what he or she needs, based ontheir login. Terminal Services for InTouch leverages theNT security system so that you can assign privileges tospecific groups and users.

Enhanced Development Tools

New benefits accrue to InTouch developers as well,since Terminal Services also supports clipboard cuttingand pasting between sessions. Using TerminalServices, authorized developers now can call up oneversion of WindowMaker locally, then call upWindowMaker in a session and cut-and-paste—and allthe associated links go with it.

Specifications

Server Hardware Requirements

CPU1 Physical Virtual NumberMemory2,3 Memory4 of Clients

Pentium III 384 MB 960 MB 5450 MHz

Pentium III 1024 MB 2560 MB 15500 MHz

Pentium III 2048 MB 5120 MB 25700 MHz

1. Multi-processors can improve performance

2. Add 128 MB of RAM for Windows 2000 Advanced Server

3. Memory requirements depend on application loadand the number of users connected. RDP will need40-60 MB per user running InTouch, while ICA willrequire slightly more.

4. Virtual memory (page file size) should be at least250% of the physical memory.

Operating Systems SupportedSP2 or Advanced Server

Citrix MetaFrame 1.8 running on top of Windows 2000

Terminal Protocols SupportedMicrosoft RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) 5 or greater

Citrix Metaframe (ICA) 1.8a or greater

Hard Disk Space• One or more hard disks with a minimum of 2 GB on

the partition that will contain the system files.

• The use of RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks)will help prevent the loss of data and server downtime.

Networking10/100 MBPS network adapter card on a network thatuses the TCP/IP protocol.

Peripheral Devices • Hard Disks. Disk speed is critical for terminal server

performance. SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)disk drives, especially drives compatible with fast SCSIand SCSI-2, have significantly better throughput thanother types of drives.

• Network Adapters. A high-performance networkadapter is recommended, especially if users requireaccess to data that is stored on network servers orclient/server applications, such as WonderwareInTouch. Using multiple adapters can significantlyincrease network throughput.

RDP Client Hardware RequirementsThere will be some performance considerationsdepending on the model of the client being used and theapplications to be supported. In general, users maydeploy any terminals that support either RDP protocols(Windows CE, Embedded NT, 3.1/3.11, 95/97/98/ME,2000 and XP). Wonderware only supports Linuxhardware under the ICA protocol.

PN 15-0071 Rev. 6/02

Contact Wonderware or your local Distributor for information about software products for industrial automation. Wonderware • 26561 Rancho Parkway South, Lake Forest, CA 92630 • Tel: (949) 727-3200 • Fax: (949) 727-3270

www.wonderware.com

© 2002 Invensys Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in anyform or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,recording, broadcasting, or by any information storage and retrievalsystem, without permission in writing from Invensys Systems, Inc. All other trademarks noted herein are owned by their respective companies. Wonderware, FactorySuite, InTouch, and Avantis are registered trademarks of Invensys Systems, Inc. ActiveFactory,ArchestrA, FactoryOffice, InTrack, InControl, InBatch, IndustrialSQL Server, MaintenanceSuite, QI Analyst, SCADAlarm and SuiteVoyager are trademarks of Invensys Systems, Inc. Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.