Ignition is an Integrated Software Platform for SCADA systems released by Inductive Automation in January 2010. Ignition features an OPC-UA server with an expansive suite of fieldbus connectivity extensions, a data historian with support for a variety of common database systems, two frontend platforms designed for creating Human-Machine Interfaces - a desktop application (Vision) and a web application (Perspective), and a rich API designed to support third-party modules. The Ignition platform has three main components: the Ignition Gateway, the Designer, and the runtime clients. Independent modules provide separate functionality in any or all of the platform components. Ignition SCADA modules provide features such as: Real-Time Status Control, Alarming, Reporting, Databases, Data Acquisition, Scripting, Scheduling, MES, and Mobile support.
Awards Ignition received the 2011 Duke's Choice award at the JavaOne conference in San Francisco, CA on October 4, 2011. Oracle recognized the impact of Ignition as a significant Java-based product in Industrial Automation.
Ignition received a 2011 Readers Choice award from Automation World in the SCADA and Information management categories.
Ignition Modules
SQL Bridge
SQL Bridge is an OPC based Middleware product that bridges the gap between industrial PLCs and SQL Databases. It is a drag and drop application that does not require scripting or programming for configuration.
Transaction groups are used to log data, synchronize PLCs, track downtime and manage recipes. Such groups support stored procedures, flexible execution scheduling, and triggering for precise control and monitoring. Data logging can be achieved with transaction groups or SQLTags History.
Store-and-Forward is an engine that buffers SQL database writes to memory and caches them to a local disk when an external database connection is unavailable. Upon reconnection the data is forwarded to the server in aggregated time-efficient batches.
The SQL Bridge module was created in January 2010 to replace the final version of FactorySQL in the 4.x.x series.
Vision The Vision module is one of the two main visualization modules of the Ignition SCADA platform.
The Ignition Vision Runtime or Client is a Java application typically launched as an application on a client computer. It acts as the HMI interface for end users and can be used to view realtime or historical process data or control industrial applications. It can be launched one of two ways. As a Windowed application, where it acts like a normal application, or in Full Screen mode, where it occupies the whole screen without borders or toolbars, typical of an industrial Touchscreen application. The Vision module is based on Java Swing, and is capable of running code on the client computer directly, allowing direct access to hardware such as serial ports and RFID Readers.
Perspective The Perspective module is the other main visualization module of the Ignition SCADA platform.
Perspective is a React based web frontend for Ignition that runs on an integrated Apache Tomcat instance inside the Ignition gateway. It can be used by end users on any Webkit based browser to view realtime or historical process data or control industrial applications. It can be launched on any browser by entering the gateway URL, or launched via the Perspective Workstation tool on a computer that will open it in a dedicated window in a similar way to Vision. Perspective is based on HTML5 and CSS, allowing integrators to design fully responsive SCADA applications with the same methodology as a conventional web developer would use.
Reporting
The Reporting module creates dynamic reports. Reports may be generated from existing Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files or created from scratch. Data is introduced through the Ignition platform, providing access to any SQL database or OPC source. The Reporting Module supports: images, graphs, tables, and a variety of basic shape tools. Reports are viewed through Ignition's web-based system. The Reporting Module allows data aggregation and referencing between table and chart objects as displayed in the image screenshot.
SMS Notification Module The Ignition SMS Alarm Notification Module enables both alarm notification and acknowledgement via text messages. By adding the SMS Notification Module to Ignition, alarm notifications can be sent and acknowledged via text messaging. SMS notification is an efficient and immediate method that makes it easier for users to respond. This module requires the Alarm Notification Module and a Sierra Wireless AirLink RV50 with a data and SMS cellular plan (not included in the module).
Twilio Notification Module The Twilio Module enables alarm notifications to be sent and acknowledged though the Twilio messaging platform in the same manner as the SMS Notification Module.
OPC-UA The OPC-UA Ignition module is an Eclipse Milo OPC server that supports modular drivers for PLCs and other devices and network connections. Before moving to Milo, the Ignition OPC-UA engine was the first 100% native Java OPC UA stack.Bond, Andrew Free OPC-UA Server Unlocks Linux's Potential, 3/2010 The OPC-UA module includes a Quick Client that allows users to read and write PLC register values via an AJAX web page hosted on the Ignition Gateway.
Current included drivers include:
Modbus Driver Simple UDP and TCP Drivers BACnet Driver Allen-Bradley Driver Suite Siemens S7 Driver DNP3 Driver Omron FINS Driver IEC 61850 Driver Mitsubishi Driver
-Allowing users to connect to a multitude of devices such as PLCs, lighting control, generators, flow meters, bar code scanners, HVAC and switchgear etc.
OPC-COM The OPC-COM Module supports connections to local and remote OPC-DA servers. It works on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. It has been tested for interoperability with third party OPC-DA servers at several OPC Interoperability conferences.
Module Architecture
MES Module Layer MES Modules are separately licensed Ignition plug in modules that generally provide higher level functionality with less user development. MES Modules are designed to provide specific functionality and can be industry specific. Current modules available are: Downtime OEE, SPC, and Scheduling . The Changeover Management and Track & Trace / Genealogy Modules have been announced as upcoming as of January 2013.
HMI/SCADA Module Layer The HMI/SCADA Module Layer contains mainstay products of the Ignition Platform. Vision is the main visualization module, SQL Bridge is a bidirectional OPC to SQL database historian and transaction manager, Reporting generates dynamic Pdf reports, and Mobile allows access to HTML 5 compatible devices such as iPads, iPods, Android, Smartphone, and Tablets.
Platform Layer The Platform Layer includes the following core functionality to all modules: OPC-UA Client, Database, Web Server, System Logging, Licensing, Unified Development Environment, Auditing, Authentication, Module API, Alerting Core Functionality, Database Connectivity, Python Scripting Engine, Realtime Tag Database, Store & Forward, and Redundancy.
History FactorySQL
FactorySQL was an OPC based Middleware product by Inductive Automation that bridged the gap between industrial PLCs and SQL Databases. FactorySQL was a drag and drop .NET application that ran as a Windows service. FactorySQL version 1.0 was released in 2003 and deprecated at version 4 in 2010 with the release of IgnitionBond, Andrew Free OPC-UA Server Unlocks Linux's Potential , 3/2010 Inductive Automation offered the OPC-UA module for free.
FactorySQL was initially written to be a drag and drop OPC to SQL data logger. Functionality was introduced to become a Transaction Manager and Industrial Historian. FactorySQL introduced SQLTags support with version 4.1 in December 2007.
FactorySQL configuration was done with standard Groups. This unit of configuration would morph from a historical logger, real-time status and control synchronizer, downtime tracker, recipe manager, etc. The group configuration defines the database connection, table, timing options, triggering options, and "direction". Direction defines whether read or write operations come from or go to the OPC server from the SQL database. "Bidirectional" allows a change from either side to be written to the other. Groups contain Items. Items are dragged from an OPC browsing tree or manually created. Each item represents a fully qualified OPC path along with a column name in the SQL database. Items also contain scaling options, OPC information, and other modes of operation.
Features listed from vendor web site: Easy Browsing Browse OPC servers from navigation tree. Drag & Drop Configuration Drag and drop tags from OPC browser to groups Bi-Directional Data Transfer Transfer data between PLCs and Databases, with a full range of options: timers, counters, triggers, and handshakes Built in Email Alerts Simple Group Visualization Visual indication of group status including running, stopped, or error status Stored Procedure Group Map OPCdata to and from SQL stored procedure parameters. Block Data Group mirror large blocks of OPC data in an SQL database through the use of array read and writes. Remote Configuration Group configuration over the network via TCP connection. Supports Most PLCs and Database Systems Support nearly every OPC compliant PLC and ODBC compliant SQL database. Redundancy Supports primary and backup failover modes. SQLTags Proprietary means to "turn any SQL database into a high-performance industrial tag database".
FactoryPMI
FactoryPMI was a Java based SCADA product by Inductive Automation containing three main components: the runtime, gateway, and designer. The FactoryPMI designer began as a form of Sun's Bean Builder. FactoryPMI version 1.0 was released in 2003 and deprecated at version 3.3 in 2010 with the release of Ignition.Bond, Andrew Free OPC-UA Server Unlocks Linux's Potential , 3/2010
The FactoryPMI Runtime or Client is a Java application typically launched from a web browser. It acts as the HMI interface for end users and can be used to view realtime or historical process data or control industrial applications. The runtime can be launched one of three ways. As an Applet inside a web browser, via Java Web Start, or in Full Screen Exclusive mode, where it occupies the whole screen without borders or toolbars, typical of an industrial Touchscreen application. The Gateway is a web page configurable, customized version of the Apache that uses JGroups multicasting for clustering. It runs a servlet that uses a single port to mediate client requests. It supports SSL/TLS and compresses communication between gateway and clients. The FactoryPMI Designer is a WYSIWYG IDE that is used to create SCADA applications. Like the runtime, is a Java Web Start application. The FactoryPMI designer began as a form of Sun's Bean Builder and has grown to facilitate industrial applications and incorporate Jython as the scripting engine.
Features listed from vendor web site. Unlimited Clients FactoryPMI allows an unlimited number of clients to connect from anywhere using web launched distribution. Web Launched Uses Java Web Start deployment technology. Active Directory Authentication Supports Microsoft Windows Active Directory authentication. Instant Change Deployment Saved changes in the FactoryPMI Designer are automatically pushed to all running FactoryPMI Clients. Clustering Connect two or more FactoryPMI Gateways to create a redundant cluster. Client load-balancing automatically spreads traffic over the entire cluster for a scale-out model. Powerful Scripting Language FactoryPMI uses the popular Python scripting language, enabling you to create advanced projects and fulfill custom requirements. Powerful Charts and Tables SQLTags Proprietary means to "turn any SQL database into a high-performance industrial tag database".
Versions