I. Introduction to SIMATIC WinAC Industrial Control Virtual Environment
Brief introduction of the research subjects:
Currently, mainstream PLC suppliers all offer their own software PLC series, such as Siemens' WinAC, Beckhoff's TwinCAT, and AB's SoftLogix series. In this case, Siemens uses the Siemens WinAC RTX software PLC series to build an industrial control virtual system.
SIMATIC WinAC is a core component of PC-based control developed by Siemens, which expands the control range of SIMATIC S7. WinAC is a true control center, integrating PLC control, data processing, communication, visualization, and process control onto a single PC.
SIMATIC WinAC products are divided into two main categories: software-based and slot-based, including the following five types of products:
1. WinAC Basis (WinAC Basic Type)
WinAC Basis is a low-cost solution for applications where precise timing is not required, but there is a combination of large-scale, high-speed data processing and control tasks (control tasks refer to the control functions of the PLC) or other PC tasks.
2. WinAC PN
The first SIMATIC CPU to support the PROFInet communication standard, with performance similar to WinAC Basis. WinAC PN supports Component-Based Automation (CBA) and the PROFInet communication standard. Component-Based Automation and PROFInet provide an open standard for data exchange between machine and system units in complex tasks. Data exchange is configured using the SIMATIC iMap tool. WinAC PN is suitable for the following tasks:
• Coordination and connection between mechanical and workshop areas throughout the complex system
• Control system units or mechanisms can be integrated into a full range of complex systems.
WinAC Basis 4.1 has an option called WinAC PN, which enables WinAC Basis 4.1 to support PROFInet and CBA.
3. WinAC RTX (WinAC Real-time)
WinAC RTX provides a real-time subsystem for Windows 2000/XP, featuring "hard real-time" and "crash-resistant" characteristics. It is suitable for control tasks requiring high speed and precise timing, such as motion control and closed-loop control.
4. WinAC MP
WinAC MP is based on the WinCE operating system and the SIMATIC MP370 (a multi-functional panel) hardware platform. The MP370 is a hard drive-free and fanless design, while WinCE features real-time capabilities, enabling strictly deterministic operations. WinAC MP is used in harsh industrial environments and situations requiring the processing of large amounts of data.
5. WinAC Slot 412/416
It is inserted into a PC as a board, integrating components such as the CPU and memory for control tasks. It can be controlled independently of the PC. The board integrates one MPI/DP interface and one DP port. WinAC Slot is suitable for applications with high security and stability requirements. The performance of WinAC Slot 412/416 is similar to that of S7-412/416.
Use cases and applications:
Due to its powerful, open, and flexible interface, SIMATIC WinAC is an ideal platform for PC-based automation solutions.
• WinAC runs on a standard PC platform based on the Windows 2000/XP operating system.
• It has consistent code compatibility with SIMATIC S7, a unified programming environment, and the generated programs can also be used by SIMATIC S7.
• Provides methods such as OPC, ActiveX controls, and DCOM interfaces for exchanging data with other PC applications.
• Provides an open interface for control tasks that combine specialized hardware and software processes.
WinAC is suitable for the following tasks:
• Due to space and performance constraints, data processing, communication, visualization, and control tasks must be integrated onto the same PC platform.
• Tasks requiring high-performance data processing
• There must be specific process tasks to be performed within the coordination and control functions.
II. Research Applications of Virtual Industrial Control Environments
This project builds a virtual industrial control simulation system environment based on software PLC using WinAC RTX. This environment can simulate the operation of industrial production processes, generate industrial protocol data exchange traffic, and provide a basic environment for industrial data acquisition and industrial control security research and training.
III. Implementation Process (Research Content)
3.1 Research Environment
System environment: VMware Workstation 15 Pro, 32-bit Windows 7 Ultimate virtual machine system
WinAC software has relatively high requirements for the operating system. Common Windows systems often encounter errors or abnormal termination during the installation process. It is best to choose a genuine Windows system.
Software requirements for WinAC RTX 2010 installation
WinAC RTX 2010 supports the following operating systems:
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3
• Microsoft Windows XP Embedded, Service Pack 2
• Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 2009
• Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
• Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise
*Notice!
WinAC RTX only supports 32-bit operating systems.
3.2 Specific Steps
01
Install virtual machine operating system and file configuration
1.1 Create a virtual machine on VMware Workstation 15 Pro and install a 32-bit Windows 7 operating system, choosing either the Ultimate, Professional, or Enterprise edition.
1.2 After installing the operating system, open the .vmx file in the virtual machine's installation folder and add the following information:
ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000e"bios440.filename="FUJITSU211_314.ROM"
1.3 Download the files “FUJITSU211_314.ROM” and WINACRTX CARD.wld from the Siemens website and place them in the virtual machine installation directory.
02
Installation process of WinAC RTX 2010
Log in to Windows as an administrator and run the Setup.exe file on the installation disc to start the installation process. Select English as the installation language, check all the boxes in the installer as shown in Figure 1, and follow the installation prompts to complete the installation.
If prompted to install a license during installation, you can install the license file from the USB drive included with the WinAC RTX 2010 suite to your hard drive. Alternatively, you can skip this step and install the license through the license manager after installation is complete.
*hint!
RTX 2009 Runtime: A Real-Time Extension for Windows
Windows Logic Controller RTX V4.6: Soft PLC
WinAC TimSync V4.2: WinAC Time Synchronization
Automation License Manager
Changes to the system after installing WinAC RTX 2010:
• A Station Configuration Editor icon has been added to the desktop to launch the PC Station configuration interface.
• Add Simatic PC based control WinLC RTX to the Windows program group to launch the WinLC RTX operation panel program.
• SIMATIC NET and SIMATIC SoftBus have been added to Windows Device Manager. Step 7, WinCC Flexible RT, OPC Server, etc., installed on the same PC can communicate with WinLC RTX via SoftBus.
• A new option, Set PC/PG Interface, has been added to the Windows Control Panel.
03
Starting and stopping WinLC RTX
WinLC RTX is the core software of WinAC, a PLC. To open the WinLC RTX operator panel program, follow these steps: Windows Start® Programs® Simatic® PC Based Control® WinLC RTX. See the figure for the operator interface.
In the interface shown in the diagram, the ON indicator light in area 1 illuminates after "Start Controller" and turns off after "Shut Down Controller". The BATF indicator light is currently inactive and remains off.
The indicator lights in Zone 2 show the WinLC RTX running status and fault indications during operation.
The RUN and STOP buttons in area 3 function the same as the mode selection switch on the S7-300/400, allowing you to switch the WinLC RTX running mode by clicking the mouse.
The MRES button in area 4 is used to reset the memory area, i.e., clear the Step 7 program, reset the memory area (I, Q, M, T, C), load the default system configuration, and delete all active or open communication tasks. When the operation interface is opened for the first time, WinLC RTX is in startup state, in STOP mode, i.e., the ON indicator in area 1 of Figure 2 is lit, and the STOP indicator in area 2 is lit. You can select the Shut Down Controller under the CPU menu in Figure 25 to shut down WinLC RTX, equivalent to powering off the S7-300/400. The Start Controller is used to start WinLC RTX, equivalent to powering on the S7-300/400. After the initial startup, WinLC RTX is in STOP mode. You can switch the WinLC RTX running mode using the RUN and STOP buttons in area 3 of Figure 2, as shown in the running interface below.
04
WinAC RTX Internal Architecture
Figure 4 shows the internal architecture of WinAC. WinAC RTX consists of two parts. One part runs in the RTX real-time subsystem and is used to execute the control program written by Step 7 for WinAC RTX. It has the highest priority. The other part runs in Windows and serves as the communication interface between Windows and RTX. It provides WinAC RTX with good openness. That is, Step7, WinCC Flexible RT, WinCC, OPC Server, etc. installed on the same PC can communicate with WinAC RTX through PC Internal (Soft Bus). Moreover, users can use WinAC ODK to develop applications that interact with WinAC RTX under Windows using development environments such as Visual Studio.
The CP card assigned to WinAC RTX as a Submodule on the PC can be used as a fieldbus master to extend remote I/O. CP cards not assigned to WinAC RTX can be used with SIMATIC NET software as an interface for applications such as OPC Server to communicate with external SIMATIC controllers, but cannot connect to remote I/O.
05
WinAC RTX configuration
After installing WinAC RTX 2010, opening the Station Configuration Editor will show that a WinLC RTX component has been added to slot 2, as shown in Figure 5, the PC Station editing interface. Like the OPC Server component, the WinLC RTX component can be inserted into any slot on the PC Station virtual backplane (Note: in Step 7 V 5.4 SP4, it can only be inserted into slots 2-18), as long as it matches the hardware configuration in Step 7 V5.X or TIA Portal. Inserting the WinLC RTX component into a slot on the PC Station virtual backplane is equivalent to installing the S7-400 CPU into a slot on a passive backplane.
Double-click the WinLC RTX component icon to open the WinLC RTX component properties dialog box, as shown in the WinLC properties interface below.
06
Hardware configuration for WinAC using Step7
For WinAC, the correct configuration information cannot be uploaded from the PC station to Step7; the hardware configuration must be completed manually in Step7. The WinAC hardware configuration created in Step 7 should match the configuration in the PC station configuration editor.
1. Insert SIMATIC PC Station
Launch SIMATIC Manager, create a new project, and insert a "SIMATIC PC Station" under this project, as shown in the figure below.
In the hardware configuration window, select the hardware catalog on the right, then select WinLC4.1 and drag it to the second slot on the left (the slot number corresponds to the index number in the PC station configuration editor), as shown in the following figure:
Let's take an example: write a program in Step 7 and run online monitoring.
IV. Reference Links
https://blog.csdn.net/weixin_34167819/article/details/93649314
https://support.industry.siemens.com/tf/ww/en/threads/138/?page=0&pageSize=10
