iFix and Terminal Services
A Deployment Guide
Copyright © 2007-2010
Automation Control Products
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
www.thinmanager.com
Rev. 2 – December 22, 2009
iFix and Terminal Services Deployment
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction.......................................................................................... 3
1.1. Topics............................................................................................. 3
2. Network Configuration............................................................................ 3
3. Deployment Choices............................................................................... 5
4. Microsoft Pre-planning............................................................................ 6
4.1. Relaxed Security .............................................................................. 6
4.2. Disable DEP ( Data Execution and Prevention ....................................... 7
4.3. Application Compatibility Script .......................................................... 7
5. IFix Installation ..................................................................................... 8
5.1. Restart after Installation.................................................................... 9
6. iFix Licensing .......................................................................................10
6.1. Virtual Keyboard .............................................................................11
7. iFix System Configuration for Terminal Services ........................................12
7.1. Launch iFix.....................................................................................13
7.2. SCADA Configuration .......................................................................17
7.3. Path Configuration...........................................................................18
7.4. Network Configuration .....................................................................19
8. Profile Manager ....................................................................................23
9. Launching from within ThinManager ........................................................28
9.1. Hide the Startup Screen ...................................................................30
10. Additional Microsoft Configurations..........................................................31
10.1. Add Users to Remote Desktop Group..................................................31
10.2. End Disconnected Sessions...............................................................33
User Account ..........................................................................................33
Terminal Server Settings ..........................................................................35
10.3. Set Relaxed Security........................................................................37
10.4. Apply Group Permissions..................................................................38
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iFix and Terminal Services
1. Introduction
iFix is a SCADA (System Control and Data Acquisition) software. It was developed by
Intellution and is now part of the GE Fanuc Proficy series of industrial software.
This tech note is a simplified deployment guide for ThinManager users. Although it
was prepared with the help of iFix users and specialists, it is a mere aid and not the
definitive source for information. Please refer to official iFix documentation for
questions and details.
A special thanks goes to Scott Crider of Advantage Industrial Automation.
1.1. Topics
Network Configuration
Deployment Choices
Microsoft Pre-planning
iFix Installation
iFix Licensing
iFix System Configuration
Profile Manager
Launching from within ThinManager
Additional Microsoft Configurations
2. Network Configuration
IFix is designed to pull data out of PLCs and factory-level sensors, present the data
in a form usable by humans, and save the data for further usage. iFix is designed to
function with a “two-box” system.
The first box is a SCADA (Systems Control And Data Acquisition) computer.
This is a PC that gathers the I/O and data from the PLCs and machinery and
runs the iFix database. This computer provides the data and values to the
system.
The second box is a View Node. This is a computer that pulls the data from
the SCADA node and displays it on screens for the operator.
In a terminal services environment the terminal server acts as the View node. Each
client that connects to a terminal server will start a session and launch a view node
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within the session. The sessions on the terminal server run the operator screens
populated with data from the SCADA node.
Sample iFix Network with Thin Clients
In a ThinManager system dual terminal servers can be setup to provide redundancy
and failover. This allows the operator screens to keep running with current data if a
terminal server fails.
Details about failover can be found on our Failover Tech Note at
http://www.thinmanager.com/TechNotes/Failover/Failover_main.shtml
.
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3. Deployment Choices
How iFix will be deployed and used influences how iFix is configured.
Generic Deployment Model– All users use a common SCU file to launch a
commonly configured application.
Specialized Deployment Model – Each user runs a unique environment and
each user requires a specially configured SCU file.
This article will assume a generic deployment but will point out where changes need
to be made to deploy a specialized configuration.
The generic deployment can be designed to launch a Main Menu with navigational
buttons to allow the user to select the needed screens or the welcome screen can
have scripts added that launch the desired screens based on the node name of the
client.
Consult your iFix documentation for details.
