800xA Minerals Training

Chapter 2 System 800xA Architecture

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 2 System 800xA Architecture .......................................................................................................................................... 1
2.1 General Information............................................................................................................................................................. 2
2.1.1 Objectives ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1.2 Legend .......................................................................................................................................................................... 2
2.2 System Overview................................................................................................................................................................. 3
2.2.1 800xA Base Platform.................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.2.2 Use of Standards ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
2.3 Aspect Object Concept ........................................................................................................................................................ 6
2.3.1 Aspects and Objects...................................................................................................................................................... 6
2.3.2 Intuitive Navigation ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
2.3.3 Aspect Integrator Platform............................................................................................................................................ 8
2.3.4 Aspect Framework........................................................................................................................................................ 9
2.4 System Topology ............................................................................................................................................................... 10
2.4.1 Domain Server ............................................................................................................................................................ 11
2.4.2 Aspect Server.............................................................................................................................................................. 11
2.4.3 Connectivity Server .................................................................................................................................................... 11
2.4.4 Application Server ...................................................................................................................................................... 11
2.5 Network Structure.............................................................................................................................................................. 12
2.5.1 Plant Network ............................................................................................................................................................. 13
2.5.2 Client/Server Network ................................................................................................................................................ 13
2.5.3 Control Network ......................................................................................................................................................... 13
2.5.4 Single Node System.................................................................................................................................................... 14
2.5.5 Redundancy ................................................................................................................................................................ 15
2.5.6 Remote (Thin) Client .................................................................................................................................................. 16
2.6 Configuration Wizard ........................................................................................................................................................ 17
2.6.1 How to Connect/Disconnect Clients ........................................................................................................................... 17

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CH112-02 System Architecture - RevB

2.1 General Information

2.1.1 Objectives
On completion of this chapter you will be able to:

Tell how 800xA fits into the IIT strategy

Describe the network structure in an 800xA architecture

Describe the functionality of the major components

Explain the concept of Aspects and Objects

Explain the Client/Server principles

2.1.2 Legend

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Indicates a key name.

Indicates when you go from one menu to a sub-menu.

Bold

Indicates a menu name or an option in a menu, or file structures

Indicates dialog box buttons, tabs, instructions etc.

Indicates start/explanation of student activity

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2.2 System Overview

The Industrial IT System 800xA is a comprehensive process automation system. It
covers operation and configuration of continuous and batch control applications.
The System 800xA products have been developed incorporating Information
Technology with the experience and know-how collected over decades of successful
deliveries and customer installations.

Process and
Logic Control
Asset
Optimization
Motor Control
Centers

System
800xA

S88 Production
Management

Information
Management

Instrumentation
& Drives

Safety

Advanced Control
And Industry Solutions

System 800xA provides a secure, reliable, control environment with minimum time
and effort through built in security features such as access control, user authentication,
and audit trail capability.
Working within a common engineering environment, 800xA Engineering supports a
consistent information flow from design, through installation and commissioning, to
operation and maintenance.

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Within System 800xA there are a number of Core Functional Areas. These are:

Operations

Engineering

Control and I/O

Production Management
- Batch Management
- Manufacturing Management

Information Management

Safety systems

Asset Optimization

Device Management

2.2.1 800xA Base Platform

The foundation of the System 800xA products and system solutions is the concept of
Aspect ObjectsTM, which enables enterprise wide information availability, browsing,
and navigation in a unified way.
From a software architecture perspective, the foundation of the 800xA system is the
800xA Base Platform.

Batch
Information Asset
Field Device
Management Management Optimization Integration

Other Aspect Systems

Common Operations, Engineering, & Information Management

AC800M

Advant

Harmony

Melody

Other OPC

Controllers are connected to the system through connectivity components, which are
bundled together and offered as options to the 800xA System. Connectivity packages
provide access to real time data, historical data, and alarm and event data from
different types of controllers.

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The 800xA system provides connectivity to 800xA controllers as well as controllers

from earlier system offerings:

AC 800M

Advant Master AC 400 & AC 100

Symphony Harmony Infi-90

Symphony Melody / AC870P

Freelance / AC 800F

DCI System Six

MOD 300

Safeguard

PLC Connect (connection to any OPC Server)

2.2.2 Use of Standards

System 800xA uses standard hardware, operating system software and protocols. This
allows data to be obtained not only from ABB systems but from a variety of sources
such as other brands of control systems or from lab entries.
It also allows making this data available to ABB and other manufacturers systems
such as historians and maintenance management programs.

Windows 2003 / XP
Internet Explorer
Visual Basic
ActiveX Controls
OPC - OLE for Process Control
Microsoft Component Object
Model (COM)
Profibus
Fieldbus Foundation

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2.3 Aspect Object Concept

A central problem in plant operations, as well as asset life cycle management, is the
need to organize, manage, and have access to information for all different aspects of a
great number of plant and process entities.
The Aspect Objects architecture is a cornerstone of the Industrial IT concept. It
provides:

A consistent, scalable concept that integrates Process Control & Automation,

Substation Automation and Safety products.

Information-centric navigation a consistent way to instantly access all

information without having to know how and by which application the
information is handled.

2.3.1 Aspects and Objects

These entities, or real world objects, are of many different kinds. They can be physical
process objects, like a valve, or more complex, like a reactor. Other examples are:
products, material, batch procedures, manufacturing orders, and customer accounts.

They are called Aspect Objects

Each of these real world objects can be described from several perspectives. Each
perspective defines a piece of information and a set of functions to create, access, and
manipulate this information.
Examples are: graphic, alarm, trend, report, order definition, mechanical layout etc.

We call this an Aspect of the object.

It is necessary to be able to implement these aspects using many different applications,

both existing and new, from ABB, third parties and customers. It is desirable to be
able to do this without changes to the applications.
It is not reasonable to require that all these different applications be aware of each
other. Still, the applications must cooperate to provide an integrated view and
functionality of the object.
Examples are: Graphics Builder for graphics, Auto CAD for mechanical layout, SAP
for order handling etc.

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These applications are called Aspect Systems, which implements one or several
Aspect types.

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2.3.2 Intuitive Navigation

Quick access to displays and information is provided with web browser tools.
Favorites, history lists, shortcuts, and hot keys provide navigation through a process
production facility quickly and accurately. Use of the right mouse button provides
access to additional details via a context menu

Objects
Alarm

Aspects
Machine Drawing

EngineeringSpecification
Live-Video

ABB extends the automation reach by integrating information from a wide range of
ABB applications, other automation systems, and business systems into System
800xA on common displays. This single window provides users a much broader view
of the facility giving rise to access all necessary data from which to make an informed
decision

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2.3.3 Aspect Integrator Platform

The Aspect Integrator Platform is a software package that integrates all Industrial IT
enabled products via their Aspect Objects, irrespective of where they may reside in the
network.
You need only enter data once for use throughout the system, and real-time
information about each object is just a click away.

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2.3.4 Aspect Framework

Two main concepts are central to the Aspect Object architecture: the concept of
Aspect Objects, and the concept of Afw Services.

Aspect systems
Aspect Framework
(Afw)
Connectivity components

Based on these concepts, a framework is defined, with rules and conventions for how
to add functionality to the server and workplace layers, and for how to connect
functions in the control layer to the server layer. This framework is known as the
Aspect Framework (Afw).

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2.4 System Topology

The 800xA system functionality is divided into a core system and a set of options. The
options represent functions that can be added to the system based on the needs of the
process that should be controlled.

Operator / Engineering
Workplace(s )

Client/Server Network

Server(s )

Control Network
Controller(s )
Fieldbus

Field devices

Servers run software that provides system functionality, Workplaces run software that
provides various forms of user interaction.
Server classes are deployed on nodes. A node is a network addressable machine (a
PC). For very small installations, one single node (PC) can carry all these server
classes as well as the client part(s) of the product(s).
Server configuration and selection are important factors for system performance.

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2.4.1 Domain Server

Small systems can run without a Domain Controller. In this case the nodes and users
are handled by a Windows Workgroup. The configuration of users and security must
then be done on all nodes separately within the Workgroup.
The user handling in a Windows Domain is done from a central location the Domain
Server. Every domain must have at least one domain server, but for resilience a
domain should have multiple domain servers.

2.4.2 Aspect Server

The Aspect Server is the intelligence of the system, hosting the aspect directory and
other services related to object management, names, security, etc.
There is only one Aspect System per Automation network, which can be based on
single or redundant Aspect Servers with a normal maximum of 3 Aspect Servers using
a 2 out of 3 (2oo3) configuration.
Examples of services are:

Aspect Directory

File Set Distribution (FSD)

Structure and Name Server (SNS)

2.4.3 Connectivity Server

The Connectivity Server provides access to the controllers and other data sources
throughout the network. Several groups of Connectivity Servers may exist in a system,
each serving one set of data sources.
Examples of services are:

OPC Data Access

OPC Alarm and Event

OPC Historical Data Access

System messages

2.4.4 Application Server

Run various types of system applications, such as:

Batch Management

Asset Optimization

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2.5 Network Structure

The Aspect Object architecture assumes a system of computers and devices that
communicate with each other over different types of communication networks, as
illustrated conceptually here.
The Operator Workplace uses either dedicated client computers or client/server
machines allowing both client and server applications to run in one PC for larger
configuration.

Domain
Server(s)

Application
Server(s)

Workplaces
Client/Server Network

Aspect
Server(s)

Connectivity
Server(s)

- Single
- 1oo2
- 2oo3

- Single
- 1oo2

Control Network
Controllers

Fieldbus
Field devices

System communication in the IndustrialIT System is based on Ethernet and TCP/IP

networks.
For smaller systems and for systems where network separation is not desired, the
Client/Server Network and Control Network can be combined in one Automation
System Network.
The 800xA system uses a central licensing mechanism. One designated computer,
typically the domain controller, should contain the central licensing server (CLS).

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2.5.1 Plant Network

The Plant Network can be dedicated for process automation purposes or be a part of
the plant intranet already available on a site.
Further connection of the plant network to the Internet or any other type of external
network should be performed in accordance with adequate network security practices.

2.5.2 Client/Server Network

The Client/Server network is used for communication between servers, and between
client Workplaces and servers.
Via a router, the client/server network can be connected to a plant intranet, and via a
firewall to the Internet. For performance and integrity reasons, connection of foreign
systems directly to the control and client/server networks should be avoided. The
Client/Server Network can optionally be made redundant.
For any installation larger than a Single Node system and small systems that use
Windows workgroup, the 800xA system nodes must reside within a dedicated
Windows 2000 domain. This requires you to set up a domain controller and DNS
server. All other 800xA system server and client nodes must be configured to be
members of the domain.

2.5.3 Control Network

The Control Network is a local area network (LAN) optimized for high performance
and reliable communication, with predictable response times in real time. It is used to
connect controllers to the servers. Controllers are nodes that run control software.
Controllers and Connectivity Servers are connected to the control network. The
control network can optionally be made redundant.
Field buses are used to interconnect field devices, such as I/O modules, smart sensors
and actuators, variable speed drives, PLCs, or small single loop devices, and to
connect these devices to the system, either via a controller or directly to a server.

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2.5.4 Single Node System

A Single Node System is intended for very small applications, where all 800xA server
and workplace functionalities reside in a single PC.

Aspect Server
Connectivity Server
Workplace (Client)

Automation Network
Controllers

Fieldbus
Field devices

The system has only one PC node, within which all servers as well as the client
applications are installed. Only a few controllers can be connected and applications are
small.

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2.5.5 Redundancy
System 800xA provides the highest degree of fault tolerance to meet the most
demanding application needs for maximum system uptime. Optionally redundant I/O,
controllers, control networks, fieldbus networks, Connectivity Servers, Aspect
Servers, and Operator Workplaces with automatic switchover provide the required
functional integrity to meet the most demanding process needs.

Connectivity Server(s)
Control Network
Upper CPU

Lower CPU

CEX-Bus
ProfiBus DP

CEX-Bus
RCU Link
ProfiBus
DP-V1

ModuleBus
Optic Cable

Redundant ModuleBus
Solution
Redundant I/O Module

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2.5.6 Remote (Thin) Client

Remote Clients enables remote access to an 800xA system from a standard PC without
ABB-specific software installed. Only the Internet Explorer is required to access the
data.
The Remote Client provides operation capabilities and access to historical
information. Configuration capabilities are limited on the remote client.

Internet

Thin Clients

Firewall
Thin Clients

Router
Firewall

Citrix
Server(s)

Application
Server(s)

Workplaces
Client/Server Network

Aspect
Server(s)

Connectivity
Server(s)
Control Network

Controllers

Fieldbus
Field devices

Remote client server functionality is achieved using Windows Terminal Services in an

application server node. Optionally these services can be provided using a Citrix
server as shown in the example above.

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2.6 Configuration Wizard

The Configuration Wizard is the central place to:

Create/Delete an 800xA system

Start/Stop an 800xA system

Add extensions to the system

Manage the 800xA users in the system

Connect/Disconnect clients and servers

2.6.1 How to Connect/Disconnect Clients

Clients as well as Servers can be connected/disconnected from the Aspect Server only.
To connect a client, follow these steps:
1. Double click on the icon Configuration Wizard on the desktop.
2. Select System Administration and click Next.

3. Select your system and click Next.

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4. Select Nodes and click Next.

5. From the next menu you can add/remove clients and servers. Refer to the separate
course T305 / Administration and Installation for more information.

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