Overview
LogMate is a software application that collects, displays, and analyzes plant alarm and event information.
It provides several important services to a manufacturing operation:
- Accurate analysis and evaluation of alarm and operations performance
- Timely assessment of manufacturing disruptions and incidents
- Storage and retrieval of plant knowledge and operator assistance documentation
- Automated performance reporting and alarm notification
- Alarm design workflow and change management/control
Architecture: Secure and Flexible
LogMate AMS system designs can acommodate differences in IT policy,
network robustness, and security issues. LogMate components can
be installed on a
single
computer or
distributed
across many systems - a modular architecture that adapts to your
needs and requirements.
LogMate AMS consists of three main modules:
These three modules work together as the basis of a LogMate installation. All three modules may be installed on one computer or may be split in any combination. The ability to separate the modules allows LogMate to adapt to different infrastructures or use policies.
Capture and Web Services modules are TiPS products. The SQL Server module is a Microsoft product.
The Capture module collects alarm and event data from the plant and parses it into a target database. Capture can collect from many different data sources simultaneously. Editable "filter" files are responsible for defining how data is parsed into fields. Filters may be customized prior to startup or at any point afterward. Changes to the filter may be made retroactive if desired. Capture employs extensive data integrity and buffering mechanisms to ensure a complete and accurate data archive.
LogMate licensing considers each source of alarms and events to be a single "Port". Ports are listed and managed from within the Capture interface. Connections between Ports and data sources can use various communication methods, including:
- OPC A&E
- OLE DB / ODBC
- TCP/IP
- ASCII file mirroring
- Serial (COM)
- SNMP / UDP (Syslog) / NT Event Log / Ping (network infrastructure status)
OPC A&E and OLE DB are more current communication methods, though others may be necessary for legacy systems. For instance, if LogMate Capture is located in the same general vicinity as the data source, data may be transferred across a point-to-point serial connection. If serial data must be transmitted over longer distances, Serial-to-Ethernet converters allow serial data to be transmitted across an IP-based network, directly to a LogMate TCP/IP Port.
Following some basic configuration Capture is capable of maintaining the target databases without any need for administrative intervention. Capture can be run as a service, running completely in the background without need for hands-on attention. Capture status can be monitored via the thin-client interface and Capture can optionally be configured to send status messages to a LogMate database.
Fully functional SQL Server licenses are available through normal purchasing channels. As an alternative, a free, limited functionality version (the core SQL Server data engine minus administrative interfaces) is included in the TiPS LogMate distribution or is downloadable online. The functionality and performance of LogMate is not affected by different SQL Server versions, however the free versions are restricted in total database capacity. Upgrades of SQL versions do not affect the LogMate product.
The web services module enables user interaction with the program via thin-client web browser interface. It mediates browser interactions with the SQL Server module. Client access from workstations is through a standard load of Internet Explorer 5.01 or higher.
Capture
The LogMate AMS Capture module collects event data from connected
systems and processes it into a database. A single Capture module
can collect data from a multiple systems, or Capture "nodes" can
be assigned to individual areas or operator stations.
SQL Server
LogMate AMS uses a standard Microsoft SQL Server® database
engine for storage and processing of collected data. SQL Server
was selected for numerous reasons:
- Speed - SQL Server suffers little performance loss under heavy loads or volumes. Data is processed and available to browser clients in real-time.
- Low maintenance - All setup and maintenance is integrated into LogMate AMS. You will not be required to become a "certified SQL administrator".
- Alignment with automation trends - Many automation vendors are standardizing on SQL Server for data storage.
- Low cost - SQL Server is one of the least expensive databases to implement and maintain.
- Scalability - SQL Server can be implemented on a very small or very large scales. LogMate AMS includes a base version of the SQL Server database engine that can be seamlessly scaled when necessary.
- Hardware requirements - Hardware requirements for a SQL Server system are reasonable. Large scale systems work best with high-capacity hardware, but minimum requirements are very realistic.
- 21 CFR Part 11 compliance - SQL Server includes authorization and electronic tracking features that support a 21 CFR Part 11 compliance initiative.
Web Services
LogMate AMS client applications are built on the Microsoft .NET®
ASP framework, leveraging the speed and stability of .NET and the
ability to use a true thin-client interface. The Web Services module
generates the LogMate pages that are displayed in browser windows
LogMate AMS uses standard Microsoft IIS® (Internet Information
Services®) technology, typically included with all versions
of Microsoft Windows® 2000 Professional® and Server®,
XP Professional®, and Server 2003®.
True Thin-Client Interface
LogMate AMS is a
true thin-client application. Simply open
a standard Internet Explorer® browser and log on. There are
no plug-ins, no downloads, nothing loaded on the client at all.
Products
