Brief description of station types

The station type configured on the PC to be used as IGSS server in a network where one or more operator stations are also present.

The station type chosen in a system with only one PC acting as both operator station and server.

This is a station type used in a redundant system. Selecting this station type sets up the Primary server in the network and this must be later paired with the corresponding Secondary server, which is the hot standby server.
The solution is used mainly in cases where data is collected from remote locations with only one communications line into the central server site feeding data to the Primary server. The feeder line can then be switched (software wise or hardware wise) from the Primary to the Secondary server in the network. This switching feature also enables altering the IGSS system on the Secondary server while the Primary server is running. When changes are complete, operator stations are switched to this server, which now becomes the Primary server.

The backup server station which is set up with a switch in event of Primary server failure. (See the description above for Server with A/B switch, Primary.)

The primary server in a normal, dualized system. Network connections to all the same PLCs as Server 2 in a dualized system.

The hot standby server station in a normal, dualized system. Network connections to all the same PLCs as Server 1 in a dualized system.

The station type selected to function as a control and monitoring station in the network from which plant personnel carry out their duties.

Under normal operation the station functions as an ordinary operator station as long as there's a connection between it and the IGSS server. If, however, the connection between the server and the operator station fails, then this station automatically restarts as Single User Backup and will go into one of the following modes:

Complete backup of the IGSS server: If the station has been configured in the System Configuration module without further underlying resources, then when it starts up in backup mode, it will assume the same function as the first server defined in the station tree. In other words, it will connect to the same nodes as the IGSS server originally was connected to and also fetch data from distributed drivers, if present.

Limited backup of IGSS server. To prevent selected PLC drivers present on the IGSS server from being activated when the Operator station goes into backup mode, open the System Configuration module, select the driver in question in the tree view on the left, click on the Advanced tab on the right, find the checkbox Single user backup and clear it.

Controlled backup of the IGSS server. If in System Configuration, driver and node resources have been set up for Operator Station, Single User Backup, then these will be activated when the station goes into backup mode. This type of operator station is thus able to activate more or fewer resources than are found on the IGSS server itself. If the backup station is to activate more drivers or nodes than the server, then these resources must be defined on the IGSS server as de-activated resources in order to be available for configuration purposes in the Definition module.

The station functions as an operator station and activates driver(s) for the PLC(s) to which it's physically connected. The station collects process data and sends this data on to the IGSS server. The distributed driver solution is typically chosen in cases where PLCs are located at remote locations thus making it impractical to cable the PLC directly to the IGSS server..