Scalability with WinCC -
From single-user system to web-based solution

To be able to cope with growing requirements, you must be able to extend process visualization at any time without breaking with the original technology or needing to carry out complete reconfiguration. This means that security of investment is of the essence.

On this page:

	Client-Server solutions
	Central Archive Server solutions
	Redundant Server solutions
	Web-Client solutions
	Thin-Client solutions

Client-Server solutions

On-site PC-based visualization at machines or smaller plants is a typical WinCC flexible task. To cope with growing requirements, regarding functionality and quantities you can employ a WinCC single-user system with a corresponding number of system variables (Power Tags).
To face even more ambitious tasks you can build up a powerful Client-/Server system by employing the WinCC/Server option. The server option allows you to set up coordinated operator stations (multi-user system) from single-user systems at any time.

Fig. Simple Client-Server configuration

In this way, you can deploy a total of up to 12 WinCC servers and 32 WinCC clients per server in a contiguous plant configuration. This allows the overall application to be distributed among a number of servers, according to the physical plant structure ( e.g. body-in-white-shop, paint-shop etc.) or on a functional basis (e.g. alarm server, archive server etc.).

further information about WinCC/Server

Central Archive Server Solutions

Central data management, reliable, high-performance archiving and central backup mechanisms form the basis of a Archive Server solution. Integration in the SCADA world, data interfaces for access to archived data and analysis functions are the component parts.
The Option Central Archive Server (CAS) was designed for this purpose and is used to export the archived data of all servers in the system to a computer and manage it. Integration of CAS in the WinCC world means that the data remains available for the WinCC clients as well as for the WinCC standard interfaces.

Zentraler Archivserver mit abgesetzten Datenbanken und OPC Servern
Fig. Central Archive Server with remote databases and OPC servers

further information about WinCC/Central Archive Server

Redundant Server Solutions

The WinCC/Redundancy option gives the user the opportunity to operate two linked WinCC server PCs in parallel, in order to monitor each other. On the failure of one of the servers, the second server assumes control of the entire system. When the failed server resumes operation, the contents of all message and process value archives are copied back to the restored server. The automatic switch to the redundancy partner within the framework of WinCC/Redundancy is not only carried out in the case of a failed server, but also in the case of a faulty process communication.

further information about WinCC/Redundancy

Web-Client Solutions

The WinCC/Web Navigator makes monitoring and even operating a plant possible from the Internet or Intranet. The Web Navigator consists of a combination of Web Navigator Server and Web Navigator Client.
The web-server can be a WinCC single-user station or any station in a WinCC Client/Server configuration.

Web-Blient-Architektur mit WinCC/Web Navigator
Fig. Web-Client Configuration

A Web Navigator Server - depending on its license - can supply up to 50 clients with process screens, messages and current process data.

further information about WinCC/WebNavigator

Thin-Client Solutions

With Simatic WinCC you can implement client-server configurations, in which simply equipped Window PCs, rugged Windows CE-based terminals (e.g. SIMATIC THIN CLIENTS) or mobile handheld devices can be employed as operating stations. WinCC uses an innovative Thin-Client strategy that combines the advantages of the Web and terminal server technologies. Solutions of this type make minimal requirements of the hardware, since the application itself runs on the terminal server. Up to 25 Thin-clients can be connected to one terminal server. In this case, the clients only have the purpose of entering data and of sending this data to a terminal server. The terminal server carries out the actual processing (for instance updating process screens) and returns the resulting screen output to the client which then displays it on its monitor.