Database Types in Experion Systems

Database Types

• Experion uses two types of databases:
  • Standard Windows Databases
  • Honeywell Databases

Windows Databases

• Active Directory:

  • Resides on a Domain Controller.
  • Contains information regarding:
    • Users and Groups
    • Group policy objects
    • Computers
    • Subnets
    • Sites
    • DNS Zones
  • Information is replicated across all domain controllers in the domain.

• Security Account Manager (SAM):

  • Resides on all non-domain controller machines, including servers and stations.
  • Contains Local Users and Groups.
  • Each machine has a unique SAM database with different security identifiers (SIDs).
  • SAM accounts typically have the same names and passwords in different nodes, providing "workgroup type" security.

### Honeywell Databases

• Real-Time Database (RTDB):

  • Resides on Experion Servers.
  • Each Experion Server has its own RTDB that's replicated to the Console Stations in its cluster.
  • Contains Experion configuration items, including users, groups, stations, assets, controllers, and points.
  • Changes made to the RTDB from a Console Station are applied to the primary Experion Server and replicated to the Console Station’s RTDB.
  • Accessible through Station and Configuration Studio.

• Enterprise Model Database (EMDB):

  • SQL database that resides on a single Experion Server pair within the system.
  • Contains server information, assets, alarm groups, and network equipment.
  • Master copy resides on one server within a redundant pair.
  • Downloaded to the RTDBs of all servers in the system.
  • Used through Configuration Studio.

• Engineering Repository Database (ERDB):

  • SQL database that resides on Experion Servers.
  • Contains controller-related information, including configuration for C200, C200E, C300, UOC, and vUOC controllers.
  • Master copy resides on one server within a redundant pair.
  • Downloaded to the RTDBs of the servers and directly to the controllers.

• Quick Builder Database (QDB):

  • SQL database that resides on Experion Servers.
  • Contains information related to Quick Builder, including channels, controllers, points, stations, printers, equipment, and EFM meters.
  • Downloaded to the RTDB of the local Experion Server.

• Installation Database (IDB):

  • Resides on the Experion Support and Maintenance (ESM) Server.
  • Contains node configuration information.
  • May reside on an Experion Server, an Experion Application Server, or a non-Experion node.

• Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database (DAS DB):

  • SQL database that resides on Experion Servers.
  • Contains alarm suppression information.
  • Accessed through an XML file.

### System Model

• Represents the limits of an Experion System.
• Defined by specifying the servers that are part of the system.
• Includes servers that are "external to the system" for DSA communication.

### Asset Model

• Defines all assets within the system.
• Assets are assigned to operators and stations to determine their Scope of Responsibility.
• Assets are hierarchical and similar to “units" in TPS.

### Alarm Group Model

• Groups unrelated points for alarming purposes.

### System Definition and Configuration

• Includes specifying the networking information of:
  • Nodes
  • Switches
  • Control firewalls

### Single Experion System: One EMDB

• Recommends one EMDB per system for all servers.
• Distributed System Architecture (DSA) allows servers to share data, alarms, messages, and history with each other.

### EMDB Entries Downloaded to RTDB

• Changes to the EMDB are synced to the RTDBs of all servers through Configuration Studio.
• EMDB is offline, so changes must be downloaded to the online RTDB to be effective.

### System Repository (SR)

• Allows the CDA service to resolve tag parameters by clients to handles.
• SDA service uses handles to request data from controllers.
• Experion uses a push model; runtime information is sent from the ERDB and Safety Manager database to the SR.

### Quick Builder Database Replication

• Backup and restore functionality exists for Quick Builder database redundancy.
• File Replication is used to transfer backup files from the primary server to the secondary server.

Database Types

• Two types of databases are used in Experion: standard Windows and Honeywell
• Windows Databases:
  • Active Directory: located on Domain Controllers
  • Security Account Manager (SAM): located on all non-domain controller machines, including servers and stations
• Honeywell Databases:
  • Real Time Database (RTDB): Located on Experion Servers, replicated to Console Stations in the same cluster
  • Enterprise Model Database (EMDB): SQL database located on one Experion Server pair within the system
  • Engineering Repository Database (ERDB): SQL database located on Experion Servers, contains controller-related information
  • Quick Builder Database (QDB): SQL database located on Experion Servers, contains SCADA-related information
  • Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database (DAS DB): SQL database located on Experion Servers, contains alarm suppression information

Active Directory Information

• Active Directory is a Windows database that contains information on:
  • Users and Groups: centrally managed by a System Administrator
  • Group Policy Objects
  • Computers
  • Subnets and various Sites
  • DNS Zones
• All domain controllers in the domain share the same Active Directory information, changes are replicated.

Security Account Manager (SAM)

• SAM is a standard Windows database located on each machine that is not a domain controller.
• Contains Local Users and Groups.
• Different on every node, Windows assigns a different security identifier (SID) to each user.
• Provides 'workgroup type' security.

Honeywell Databases

• Real-Time Database (RTDB):
  • Each Experion Server contains its own RTDB.
  • The RTDB is replicated to all Console Stations in the server's cluster.
  • Changes made to the RTDB are replicated to the primary Experion Server and then to the Console Stations.
  • Can be accessed through Station and Configuration Studio.
• Enterprise Model Database (EMDB):
  • Located on only one Experion Server pair in the entire system.
  • Contains information about:
    • Servers (System Model)
    • Assets
    • Alarm Groups
    • Networking Equipment
  • Downloaded to the RTDB of all servers in the system.
  • Can be accessed by Configuration Studio, and changes must be downloaded to the RTDB to be effective.
• Engineering Repository Database (ERDB):
  • Contains control strategies for various controllers (C200, C200E, C300, UOC, vUOC).
  • Portions of the ERDB are downloaded to the server's RTDB, and other portions are downloaded directly to the controller.
• Quick Builder Database (QDB):
  • Contains information about:
    • Channels
    • Controllers
    • Points
    • Stations
    • Printers
    • Equipment
    • EFM Meters
  • Downloaded to the local Experion Server's RTDB.
• System Repository (SR):
  • Allows the CDA service to resolve tag.parameters to handles.
  • Handles are used to request data from controllers.
  • Runtime information is pushed from ERDB and Safety Manager database to the SR.
• Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database (DASDB):
  • Contains alarm suppression information.
  • Located on each Experion Server.

System Model

• Represents the limits of a system.
• Defined by specifying the servers that are part of the system.
• Allows DSA communication between all servers defined in the EMDB, regardless of system.

Asset Model

• Defines all assets within the system.
• Assets are assigned to operators and stations to determine their scope of responsibility.
• Similar to 'unit' in TPS.
• Typically structured in a hierarchical tree.

Alarm Group Model

• Allows grouping of unrelated points for alarming purposes.

System Definition and Configuration

• Typically includes specifying networking information of nodes, switches, control firewalls, etc.

DSA Architecture

• Distributed System Architecture (DSA) allows servers to share data, alarms, messages, and history.
• Changes to the EMDB are replicated to the RTDBs of all servers.

Backup & Redundancy

• The SQL server has a backup and restore functionality for Quick Builder database redundancy.
• File Replication is used to transfer backup files from the primary server to the backup.

Database Types

• Experion uses two types of databases: standard Windows and Honeywell.

Standard Windows Databases

• Active Directory resides on a Domain Controller.
  • It centrally manages users, groups, computers, subnets, sites, and DNS zones.
  • Changes to Active Directory are replicated to all domain controllers.
• Security Account Manager (SAM) resides on all non-domain controller machines.
  • It contains local users and groups.
  • Each machine has a unique SAM database.

Honeywell Databases

• Real Time Database (RTDB) resides on each Experion Server.
  • RTDBs are replicated to Console Stations in the same cluster.
  • Contains crucial information such as users, groups, stations, assets, channels, controllers, and points.
• Enterprise Model Database (EMDB) is an SQL database residing on one Experion Server pair.
  • Manages the system model, assets, alarm groups, and networking equipment.
  • EMDB contents are downloaded to the RTDB of all servers.
• Engineering Repository Database (ERDB) is an SQL database residing on Experion Servers.
  • Contains configuration information for C200, C200E, C300, UOC, and vUOC controllers.
  • Portions of the ERDB are downloaded to the RTDB and controllers.
• Quick Builder Database (QDB) is an SQL database residing on Experion Servers.
  • Contains configuration for SCADA points and controllers, built using Quick Builder.
  • Data is downloaded to the RTDB of the local Experion Server.
• Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database (DAS DB) is an SQL database residing on Experion Servers.
  • Contains alarm suppression information.

System Model

• Defines boundaries of an Experion system by listing participating servers.
• Allows communication between servers, even if they are in different systems.

Asset Model

• Defines all assets within the system, assigning them to operators and stations.
• Determines the scope of responsibility for operators.

Alarm Group Model

• Allows grouping of points that are not related for alarming purposes.

Single Experion System

• A single EMDB resides on one server within the system.
• Distributed System Architecture (DSA) enables data sharing between servers.

ERDB

• Contains control strategies for C200/C200E, C300, UOC/vUOC, and ACE controllers.
• Portions are downloaded to RTDB and controllers.

System Repository (SR)

• Used by the CDA service to resolve tag parameters and request data from controllers.
• Employs a push model, receiving runtime information from ERDB and Safety Manager database.

Quick Builder Database (QDB)

• Contains information created with Quick Builder: channels, controllers, points, stations, printers, equipment, and flow meters.
• Uses file replication for backup redundancy.

Database Types

• Two types of databases are used in Experion: Standard Windows Databases and Honeywell Databases

Windows Databases

• Active Directory resides on a Domain Controller, manages information such as:
  • Users and Groups
  • Group Policy Objects
  • Computers
  • Subnets and Sites
  • DNS Zones
• Security Account Manager (SAM) resides on non-domain controller machines, and contains:
  • Local Users and Groups

Honeywell Databases

• Real-Time Database (RTDB)
  • Resides on Experion servers.
  • Each Experion Server in a cluster has an independent RTDB that is replicated to Console Stations.
  • Contains configuration items related to:
    • Users and Groups
    • Stations (Flex and Conso)
    • Assets
    • Channels, Controllers, and Points
• Enterprise Model Database (EMDB)
  • An SQL database that resides on a single Experion Server pair within a system.
  • Contains information about:
    • Servers (System Model)
    • Assets
    • Alarm Groups
    • Networking Equipment
  • The EMDB is downloaded to the RTDB of all Experion Servers in the system.
• Engineering Repository Database (ERDB)
  • An SQL database residing on Experion Servers, containing information about:
    • C200, C200E, C300, UOC, and vUOC controllers
  • Portions of the ERDB are downloaded to the RTDB of the server and to the controllers.
• Quick Builder Database (QDB)
  • An SQL database residing on Experion servers.
  • Stores information built using Quick Builder, including:
    • Channels
    • Controllers
    • Points
    • Stations
    • Printers
    • Equipment
    • EFM meters
  • The QDB is downloaded to the RTDB of the local Experion Server.
• Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database (DAS DB)
  • An SQL database residing on an Experion Server, containing alarm suppression information.

System Model

• Represents the limits of an Experion system defined by the servers included in that system.
• Allows for communication between servers within and outside the system through Distributed System Architecture (DSA).

Asset Model

• Defines assets within the system and assigns them to operators and stations, determining their Scope of Responsibility.
• Typically structured in a hierarchical tree.

Alarm Group Model

• Allows grouping of unrelated points for alarming purposes.

Single Experion System Architecture

• A recommended architecture uses clusters of servers in one system, with a single EMDB.
• The EMDB is present on one server in the system.
• DSA enables servers to share data, alarms, messages, and history.
• Changes to the EMDB are automatically replicated to all servers.