Automatic detection and monitoring of network stations
SINEMA Server is especially suitable for operating and maintenance personnel in process and production plants who are responsible for round-the-clock uninterrupted operation of the automation systems and networks.
All the collected network data can be displayed via a Web-based interface on every PC in the network with the help of a browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox). No other software need be installed to display the network data.
SINEMA Server continuously represents the device status and connection status from the network graphically in different colors, and indicates difficulties before they become problems. In this way, operators can see immediately if a device has failed or a connection is overloaded.
Looming failures of network components indicated by an increase in the number of error message frames are also detected and displayed graphically.
Additional information about the network stations, the connection, or an event can also be displayed.
Standardized diagnostics of Ethernet, PROFINET and IWLAN devices
SINEMA Server uses standardized Ethernet protocols such as ICMP (InternetControlMessageProtocol), DCP (Discovery andConfigurationProtocol) and SNMP (SimpleNetworkManagementProtocol) for detecting and diagnosing network devices.
Network stations and their connections are automatically detected and continuously monitored by entering the IP scan ranges and the SNMP passwords.
As delivered, essential vendor-neutral and standardized data (type, status and number of interfaces and connections from SNMP-MIBs) is detected, as well as other information specific to Siemens devices, such as the status of the redundancy manager in the case of SCALANCE X and wireless signal information in the case of SCALANCE W.
The device information is read out automatically at pre-defined intervals and saved in a database.
The current data can be clearly sorted and displayed at any time in list form and as a property dialog for each device.
Fault detection in the network
- Failure of devices and interfaces/ports
- Faults and failure of ring redundancy
- Malfunctioning of devices and interfaces/ports
- Overload of devices and interfaces/ports
- Loss of IP addresses
- Discovering new, unknown devices
- Discovery of new and modified interfaces/port connections (topology)
- Sporadic communication failures
- Duplicate IP addresses
Reporting and analysis of network events
SINEMA Server receives and generates network alarms and saves these with a time stamp in a message database. These messages are displayed in a table and contain all the important information about events on the network, such as the failure of devices and/or connections.
Filtering and sorting functions allow fast analysis of the data according to specific criteria such as source, priority, number of repetitions, and time stamp.
Alarm messages can be forwarded quickly and automatically by e-mail to those responsible (e.g. production and maintenance personnel) or via OPC to an HMI/SCADA system.
