Emerson Exchange 365

Ed,

There are two main differences between the two licenses you listed in your question which can both be assigned to remote client sessions:

1) The VE2104S0000 has zero span of control, which basically restrict the amount of DSTs available for the specific remote session to zero which then limit what the remote user will be able to experience from an Alarms & Events point of view. Conversely, a Full Span of Control would allow the session to have access to all 30,000 DSTs in a system as detailed in the DeltaV Remote Client product data sheet. This is different than limiting the remote session to view only, which doesn't have impact on DSTs, but instead restrict the user to a view-only interface to the system (this latter being what the VE2110 license would provide you).

2) The VE2110 view-only license is only available for DeltaV v12.3 and higher.

If you still need to allow read and writes through the HMI for the tanker driver, then the VE2110 would not be a good alternative as it would restrict the user's experience to view-only.

I hope this is clearer.

Regards,

Alexandre Peixoto

In reply to Alexandre Peixoto:

Thanks Alexandre.

This will be in a v13.3 system.
The HMI will display one screen only and will require no input from the operator (in this case the tanker driver) who will only be using the screen for reference during offload.
So long as the VE2110 license allows me to show live controller data, would that not be sufficient?

In reply to Alexandre Peixoto:

Alexandre,

Can you point to additional documentation describing what could be done with Zero span vs. View-only?

You commented that "If you still need to allow read and writes through the HMI for the tanker driver, then the VE2110 would not be a good alternative as it would restrict the user's experience to view-only".

Just trying to make sure I can adequately describe what is possible in Zero span vs View only. This is important for the operations teams looking for specific functionality as well as the automation security teams ensuring our systems are secure.

In reply to Michael Moody:

Hi Michael,

A zero span of control license won't allow you to see or manage alarms as you will be lacking DSTs for that independent of the privileges you have as a DeltaV user.

The view-only license gives you the DSTs needed for the job, but takes out the control portion of it by enforcing a view-only session, again independent of the privileges you have as a DeltaV user. Obviously, this applies to supervision tools, not maintenance or engineering tools which will continue to run according to the privileges you have in the system.

In reply to Michael Moody:

There are two main aspects of an Operator station. One is the ability for the operator to take action, that is to write to control parameters to start stop motors, change setpoints, etc. The second is to have access to the Alarm System which provides actionable alerts of abnormal situations. The Zero Span of control provides the former, allowing for a user to manipulate control system parameters to the extent their DeltaV User privilege allow. In the case of a load in station, the user might be required to acknowledge prompts to initiate a product transfer or enter a validation code. If such actions involve writing to a control module then the Zero span license would provide this capability without requiring all the features of Full Span of control.

The View Only does not allow any user to write to any parameter. This would be suitable for remote access without the possibility of the user to manipulate any control parameter. This could also be used to provide additional view only screens to an Operator console. The Operator would have a Full Span license on his main Operator station, which can be up to 4 monitors. Additional monitors added with a View only license would allow them to keep additional overview screens visible while working on their main station's four monitors. Note that the Alarm lists need to reside on the station with the full span.

The other thing to note on the View Only license is that it does not come with Process History View. Zero Span and Full span licenses include PHV History client. This can be added to the View only license stations as required.

Note that Embedded Trends still work on View Only clients. This allows you to build Trend displays in Operate or Live to display historical data to a user on a view only station. PHV is required to view Alarm and Event history, but Embedded Trends can provide a good solution for continuous history trends.

Another alternative to view only displays is the DeltaV Mobile Webserver. I'm looking forward to the support for Live displays in the webserver. Today, Operate displays have a conversion tool to create Web pages for the webserver. DeltaV Live displays will publish as is to the Web server, as these are already HTML5. The advantage of the Webserver is that view only users do not require access credentials to the DeltaV system. As with the View only license, embedded Trends would provide historical trend data to the user.

I look at the View Only client as serving the same function as the Webserver. It can be used within the Control system itself as mentioned above. The Web server presents the most cybersecure access to system displays. View only requires RDP access through the various layers of the enterprise networks, with Jump servers to cross multiple Firewall boundaries. If the infrastructure is already there for remote support, adding View only sessions can be simple to deploy. Within the DCS environment, View only can serve for supplemental screen, such as central monitor walls, or remote information screens like the loading stations.

One last note. The view only, zero span and full span licenses can be assigned to RDP sessions or local physical computers (or VMs). The view only are typically used with Remote client servers so that one DeltaV workstation node is consumed to serve up to 10 remote clients.

And one last last note. DeltaV Engineering seat licenses cannot be assigned to a view only client station. These engineering seat licenses can be used to temporarily gain access to Engineering tools at the Operator Stations. Rather than purchase 5 Professional licenses and install them in 5 locations, one engineering seat floating license would allow a technician or engineer to have access to these tools where they need them, when they need them. The View only license however does not allow this floating seat to be used.

My biggest surprise was the lack of PHV in the view client, which we discovered after installation. We used the Embedded Trends to avoid the additional licensing costs. I was able to create a Trend Context display that replaces the PHV file to provide a Pop up Trend from the module faceplate. Turns out I much prefer the embedded trend as it does not require managing all those PHV files in the library and the pop up always works, even if PHV has 6 charts already open.

Andre Dicaire

In reply to Andre Dicaire:

Does the Zero Span of control provide full Batch Operation capability??, following Andre explanation I would say yes but wish to be sure.

Buy a maintenance license. Lowest cost, you get no alarms but if it’s view only your best price.