WInCC v7.5 - Simatic Shell

Hello,

I could use your support as I am racking my brain on this one.  Currently, I have a multi-user project with one client whose project runs off the server PC.  I can get the client to run by specifying a UNC path in the Autostart but I can not see the client or server PC's from the respective PC's through Simatic Shell.  Below is more pertinent information:

• Both machines are Windows 10 Pro 64-bit inside the same corporate domain.
• Both computers use the same login information.
  • The user account is in the administrator group and is also in the respective WinCC user groups.
• IP addresses are identical except for the last octet.
• Both machines are running WinCC v7.5, SP1, Update 2.
• I can ping each PC from each other without issue.  We have a DNS but added the computer names to the Hosts files.
• Network Discovery and File Print Sharing activated.
• Each PC has (2) network cards but the idled card is disabled for both PC's.
• The server package has the name of the server PC.

I really hope I am missing something simple but appreciate any information you can provide.

Thanks,

Mark

Georg,

Thanks for replying.  The currently unused network cards are disabled for the respective PC's so only the active network card populates the terminal bus.

Remote Communication is enabled.

I re-ran the Siemen's security program and allowed it to modify the registry and firewall settings again.  I also exported what was modified to a text file.  Oddly enough for the firewall settings not all settings that was listed in the text document showed up in the firewall exceptions specifically for the CC Agent and CC Server.  So I temporarily disabled the firewall for the client and server PC's without success.

At the moment, the client does successfully load the graphics from the server PC and they can actively changes screens, values and open/close valves etc.  I am not sure if there are any ramifications or not at having the project pointed through Simatic Shell.  For example, I obviously dont have the option to integrate the server package into the client but since it is a single client setup it does not appear to matter.

Thanks,

Mark

Hi Mark!,

if the server cannot see the client and the client the server the you cannot start the client project.

Try to insert on the simatic shell the mulicast proxy ip address from client on the server and on client

The ip-adress from server

Best regards

schufri

schufri,

Let me start off by saying THANK YOU and THANK YOU!!!!!

I have been dealing with this problem for sometime, however, I have been able to run the client project without going through the shell.  As soon as I added the client PC IP address in the proxy, it populated in the Simatic Shell.  

I do have one follow up question for you.  My interpretation of the Multicast Proxy is if I have client PC's that are not on the same subnet mask of the server PC then a proxy address would be required to direct traffic properly.

My current IP scheme, for example, was 10.4.120.1 and 10.4.120.2 for the client and server PC which also utilized the same subnet mask.  I also trace routed the hops from PC to the other and was only one hop.

Ultimately, my question is why did this work...LOL?

Thanks again,

Mark

Hi Mark !

You are right. The multicast proxy in general you have to add only if the computer is in different subnet

But I have seen also cases where the computer is in the same network and not shown in the Simatic Shell. There it helps only the insert the ip-adress to the mulicast proxy.

You have installed only the Update2. The newest update is the Update 4.

My be there are the problem is fixed.

Best regards

schufri