1.4.2   SCADA Nodes - System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 2000 (Professional and Server), Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista Business or Vista Ultimate. (See notes 1 and 2 below.)

NTFS File System - NTFS provides Security and it is faster. FAT provides no security and is not appropriate for the SCADA node.

Hardware: Pentium III, Pentium IV, Celeron or Athlon processors are recommended for the Project Node and SCADA nodes. SCSI Hard Drive recommended if Data Logging to SCADA Node. The hard drive disk controller will be the limiting factor on most systems depending on the number of tags data logged.  

Network Addressing: Fixed IP Address or network address.   See section 2.3.1 About Addresses for more information.

Web Browser: Optional.  Needed for configuration Tool. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0, 7.0, or 8.0. (ASP enabled). Medium Security Zone setting to allow ActiveX control.

Display Resolution:  1024 x 768 or higher (recommended).  Lower resolutions also supported.

USB or Parallel Port: D25 pin parallel port (LPT1 - ECP mode required) or USB port required for License Hardkey.

Serial Port: If using RS-232 or RS-422 it is recommended to have an actual serial port.  Using a Serial to USB converter is not recommended because errors on the serial device are often masked by the USB driver interface.

Communications Service: Microsoft TCP/IP Protocol.

Communications Speed: T1 or DSL is recommended. 
(33 Kb/sec, 56 Kb/sec, 128 Kb/sec and ADSL supported)

User Security Privileges:
For Windows 2000 and XP, Standard Users (i.e. a member of the Power Users) can install and run the SCADA node. Restricted Users (i.e. a member of Users) cannot install, but can run the SCADA node.

WebAccess supports Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

Firewall Security (recommended): If using a connection through a Firewall, two additional TCP Ports assigned by your system administrator are required. These are in addition to Port 80, the HTTP port, which must also be opened (or a third port assigned for HTTP).

IIS -  Internet Information Server (optional, not recommended).  The WWW Service (web server) is not needed on the SCADA Node. Normally users connect via the Project Node and are redirected to the SCADA node. Optionally users can connect directly to the SCADA node using a local file and manually entering the SCADA Node information as described in section 16.1.3 bwView.htm. Optionally install IIS on the SCADA node to allow an alternate method of allowing users to connect (a type of redundancy) if the Project Node or main web server is not available.

SMTP Server (optional, not recommended). The SMTP service is not needed on the SCADA Node if using Email Alarm Notification, Email of Scheduled Reports or MAIL commands. WebAccess  normally uses and external SMTP Server (for example the corporate email server or ISP) to forward email from SCADA Nodes. Optionally, you can allow the SCADA node to forward email directly.

Note 1 - about Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
Windows XP requires service pack 2 (SP2) or later.
2003 Server requires service pack 1 (SP1) or later.
Windows 2000 requires service pack 4 (SP4) or later.

Note 2 - Windows Vista Home, Windows XP Home, Windows 98 and Windows ME are not supported as a SCADA node.