Connect Wonderware Historian to PLC through HMI

Hi, I'm rather new to Siemens PLC's and Wonderware Historian.

We'd like to connect Wonderware Historian to S71500 PLC through Simatic IPC477E HMI.

The Historian runs on a seperate server that is not on the same network as the PLC, so we can't go direct.

The HMI's second ethernet port is configured to the same network as the wonderware server. 

My question is...does the HMI run anything by default that wonderware can connect to or do we have to run some 3rd party server like TopServer or Kepserver on the HMI?

What HMI software is running on the Siemens IPC?

It's running Simatic WinCC. If that doesn't sound right, where would I find it?

iLikeWaffles

It's running Simatic WinCC. If that doesn't sound right, where would I find it?

 Siemens has several different products, all under the name of WinCC. There's WinCC Advanced, WinCC Professional, WinCC Scada V6.x/7.x, or WinCC Unified.

Some act default as OPC DA server, some need a license for this. Some can act as OPC UA server, but with additional licenses. If you want to connect from another PC, I would recommend only to use OPC UA. But all depends on what protocols your client software supports.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful. 

I'm not sure where to find the version. I do see a folder that says WinCC RT Advanced, which is the runtime loader. Not sure if this is the OS version. The loader just loads the runtime EXE.

Also...in services I see OpcEnum, as a manual service, which is not running. Not sure how else to check if there's an OPC server running/available. 

iLikeWaffles

Thanks for the info. Very helpful. 

I'm not sure where to find the version. I do see a folder that says WinCC RT Advanced, which is the runtime loader. Not sure if this is the OS version. The loader just loads the runtime EXE.

Also...in services I see OpcEnum, as a manual service, which is not running. Not sure how else to check if there's an OPC server running/available. 

If it's WinCC Advanced, it can be enabled in the source project, that the WinCC Runtime acts either as OPC DA (DCOM) oder OPC UA server. After enabling it, the project must be downloaded to the Runtime PC. For OPC UA there may be additional steps needed if you want to use certificates and/or authentication.

I believe, it doesn't require an additional license, as I can't find anything in the Siemens mall. I've used the OPC DA server only in WinCC flexible PC Runtime, there was an extra license needed to use this option in Runtime.

If you have access to the source project, I'd just test it. If it need's a extra license, a popup will show up in runtime with the license-option you need (if you need one).

Thanks for the info again Thomas!!!

So I heard back from the manufacturer of the machine and it is running WinCC Advanced, V16.

They will enable OPC server for me. 

I guess my next questions are....

1. Once enabled, will all the PLC tags be available to the Wonderware Server? 

2. I've never used OPC UA and we don't need certs/auth, which one would be better. Doing some reading on it now.

Hello

you do not need a license for OPC Server in WinCC Adv RT

Bye Murof

Do I definetly need the OPC server on the Siemens HMI to be enabled for Wonderware Historian to see tags? Is there anything else available by default? I've attached a list of the servers in Wonderware Historian.

I'm assuming if OPC is enabled on the Siemens HMI, I would use FSGateway or Gateway? 

I'm having issues connecting to the OPC server on the panel.

Can the OPC UA server work on the second ethernet port of the panel? We cannot access the server by it's hostname (or the main ip). Is this the only way it works?