Keywords: Monitoring configuration software, ForceControl DCS operator station, OPC, integrated gateway, distributed ForceControl I. Background Since 2000, the domestic monitoring configuration software products, technologies, and market have developed rapidly, with increasingly expanded application areas and a growing number of users and application engineers. This fully reflects the development trend of "civilianization of industrial technology." Monitoring configuration software is an important component of industrial application software, and its development is constrained by many factors. Ultimately, the driving force of applications plays the most crucial role in its development. Regarding the impact of the continuous emergence and rapid development of new technologies on monitoring configuration software, some believe that with technological advancements, general-purpose configuration software will exit the market. For example, some automated devices directly embed "Web Server" real-time screens for central control room operators to access. The author does not agree. The diversity of user requirements determines that no single product can encompass all user screen requirements. End-user needs for the human-machine interface of the monitoring system cannot be fixed in a single mode. Therefore, end-user monitoring systems always require "configuration" and "customization." This is the main reason why monitoring configuration software cannot exit the market: the demand exists and continues to grow. Monitoring configuration software emerged and developed against the backdrop of the information society, along with the continuous advancement of industrial IT technology. Within the entire industrial automation software family, monitoring configuration software belongs to a fundamental tool platform. The impact of monitoring configuration software on industrial automation, informatization, and social informatization is profound, driving changes in the entire social production and lifestyle, and these changes continue to evolve. Therefore, as a new phenomenon, configuration software is still in a period of rapid development. Currently, there are no dedicated research institutions to study, summarize, and discuss its theory and practice, let alone an independent, specialized theoretical research institution. In the past five years, technologies closely related to monitoring configuration software, such as OPC, OPC-XML, and fieldbus, have also developed rapidly, providing strong support for the development of monitoring configuration software. II. Latest Developments in Monitoring Configuration Software 2.1 Monitoring configuration software is increasingly becoming a key area of ​​competition for automation hardware manufacturers. In the entire automation system, the proportion of software is gradually increasing. Although configuration software is only a part of it, due to its strong penetration and scalability, it has eroded the market share of many dedicated software programs in recent years. Therefore, monitoring and configuration software has a high degree of industrial relevance and serves as a crucial bridge for automation systems to enter high-end applications and expand market share. Driven by this idea, Siemens' WinCC has achieved great success in the market. Currently, internationally renowned industrial automation manufacturers such as Rockwell, GE Fanuc, Honeywell, Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric, and Invensys have all developed their own configuration software. The proportion of monitoring and configuration software in DCS operator station software is increasing daily. Following FOXBORO, DCS systems such as Eurotherm, Delta V, and PCS7 have all adopted general-purpose monitoring and configuration software as operator stations. At the same time, domestic DCS manufacturers have also begun to try using monitoring and configuration software as operator stations. ForceControl, a domestic configuration software represented by ForceControl Technology, has also achieved good results in this regard. In universities and research institutions, an increasing number of people are engaged in research on monitoring configuration software technologies. Looking at domestic automation industry academic journals, research topics centered on configuration software and closely related new technologies are on the rise. The presence of numerous researchers is a vital and active factor in the development and innovation of configuration software technology, and will undoubtedly accumulate many technological achievements. Both technological achievements and researchers follow a pyramid-like structure, transitioning from basic to advanced levels. These researchers and their research results provide valuable experience and insights for monitoring configuration software vendors in developing new products, broadening their perspectives. Linux-based monitoring configuration software and related technologies are developing rapidly, with vendors like ForceControl Technology launching mature products, which will have a profound impact on the configuration software industry landscape. 2.2 Integration and Customization From a software scale perspective, most monitoring configuration software has over 1 million lines of code, no longer falling into the category of small software. From a functional perspective, data processing, data management, and statistical analysis functions are becoming increasingly powerful. As a general-purpose software platform, monitoring configuration software offers great flexibility in use. However, many users actually need "foolproof" application software, meaning that engineering applications can be completed with minimal customization. To cater to both "general" and "specialized" needs, monitoring configuration software has expanded with numerous components to perform specific functions, such as batch management, accident tracing, temperature control curves, oil well dynamometer diagrams, protocol forwarding components, ODBC Router, ADO curves, expert reports, universal report components, event management, and GPRS transparent transmission components. 2.3 Vertical Integration: Functional Extension Upward and Downward Configuration software occupies a central position in the monitoring system, possessing relatively complete interfaces both upwards and downwards. Therefore, the ability to penetrate upper and lower application systems is inherent to configuration software. Specifically: Upward, its management functions are becoming increasingly powerful, possessing some MIS, MES, or scheduling functions in conjunction with real-time databases and their management systems. Alarm management and retrieval, historical data retrieval, operation log management, and complex reports are particularly common functions. Downstream, network management (or node management) capabilities are increasingly being developed: On different nodes equipped with the same configuration software, after setting addresses or computer names, they can automatically access each other's databases. This function of the configuration software is similar to that of the OPC specification, IEC 61850 protocol, and fieldbuses such as BACNet, reflecting the increasingly sophisticated development trend of its network management capabilities. Software PLC and embedded control functions: In addition to configuration software directly including software PLC components, software PLC components are also sold as separate products bundled with hardware to form PAC controllers. These software PLC components generally run on embedded Linux operating systems. OPC service software: The OPC standard simplifies interconnection and communication between different industrial automation devices and has become a widely recognized interconnection standard both internationally and domestically. Configuration software possesses both OPC Server and OPC Client functionalities. If the abundant device drivers within the configuration software are packaged into a separate OPC Server package and sold according to user needs, it both enriches the software product offerings and meets user requirements in this regard. Matrikon, a Canadian company, primarily develops and sells various OPC Server software and has become a leader in this field. Monitoring configuration software vendors possess a large number of device drivers, giving them a unique advantage in customizing OPC Server software development; 3D Force Control's Multi-OPCServer product falls into this category. Industrial communication protocol gateways: These are special gateways, belonging to the data link product category in industrial automation. While the OPC standard is suitable for data communication between computers and industrial I/O devices or desktop software, industrial communication protocol gateways are suitable for protocol conversion in applications requiring network segment isolation, unattended operation, and strong data confidentiality between different industrial I/O devices or between computers and I/O devices. There are manufacturers in the market that specialize in the development and sales of industrial communication protocol gateway products, such as Woodhead and Prolinx. However, configuration software vendors can easily turn their rich I/O drivers into communication gateways by extending a protocol forwarding module, minimizing the risk and cost of development. Multi_OPCServer and the communication gateway pFieldComm are both derivative products of ForceControl configuration software. 2.4 Horizontal Expansion: Expanding Monitoring, Management Scope and Application Areas Wherever real-time data communication (whether bidirectional or unidirectional), real-time dynamic graphical interface display, necessary data processing, and historical data storage and display are involved, there is a potential demand for configuration software. Besides the well-known industrial automation field, the following areas have become new growth points for monitoring configuration software in recent years: Plant Asset Management (PAM). Emerson's AMS is a representative of this type of software. According to ARC, the global PAM business volume will reach $1.9 billion by 2009. PAM (Property Management Analytics) encompasses a wide range of technologies, but its common feature is the real-time acquisition of equipment operating status, accumulating various equipment parameters (such as operating time, maintenance frequency, load curves, etc.), timely detection of potential equipment problems, prediction of equipment lifespan, provision of equipment maintenance suggestions, and real-time comprehensive diagnostics of the equipment. Advanced control or optimized control systems. With the widespread adoption of industrial automation systems, many users have begun to introduce advanced control or optimized control systems to improve control quality and accuracy. These systems include adaptive control, (multivariable) predictive control, model-free controllers, robust control, intelligent control (expert systems, fuzzy control, neural networks, etc.), and other control software based on new control theories. A common feature of these control software programs is the control algorithm; monitoring and configuration software is mainly used to solve problems related to the human-machine interface of the control software and real-time data communication with the control equipment. Industrial simulation systems. Simulation software provides users with an environment almost identical to the real object for operating simulated objects. Simulation software not only saves significant training costs but also provides intelligent characteristics that physical systems lack. Simulation system developers specialize in simulation module algorithms, but may not have an advantage in real-time dynamic graphics display and real-time data communication. ForceControl® monitoring configuration software and simulation software are integrated through a high-speed data interface, and its application in teaching and scientific research simulations is becoming increasingly widespread. Power grid system informatization construction. Power automation is an important application area for monitoring configuration software. Electricity is a fundamental industry of the nation, and its informatization construction is multi-layered, thus determining multi-layered demands for configuration software. Intelligent buildings: The main needs of property management are energy management (energy saving) and security management. This management model requires that intelligent building devices must be networked to effectively solve the problem of information silos, reduce manpower consumption, improve emergency response speed, and extend equipment lifespan. The intelligent building industry has a strong demand for energy metering, power distribution, security & access control, and fire protection systems connected to IBMS servers. Public safety monitoring and management: Public safety hazards can lead to inadequate emergency response to sudden events, easily causing the paralysis of urban public facilities, mass casualties, and other serious disasters. Public safety monitoring includes: monitoring of toxic gas concentrations and fire alarms in municipal engineering projects such as civil defense (stations, squares). Hydrological monitoring: including real-time monitoring of water levels, rainfall, sluice gate positions, and dams. Health status monitoring of major structures (such as bridges): timely detection of potential hazards and prediction of accidents. Power and environmental monitoring of computer rooms: In industries such as telecommunications, railways, banking, securities, and customs, as well as important national government departments, the normal operation of computer servers is essential for business and administrative processes. Therefore, computer rooms storing these servers have become key monitoring areas. Monitoring includes: UPS operating parameters and status, battery pack operating parameters and status, air conditioning unit operating status and parameters, leakage monitoring, generator set monitoring, environmental temperature and humidity monitoring, environmental combustible gas concentration monitoring, access control system monitoring, etc. Real-time monitoring of urban hazardous sources: monitoring the locations where hazardous sources are stored and their movement. Preventing the uncontrolled flow of radioactive and highly toxic substances. Three-dimensional pollution monitoring of land and resources: real-time monitoring of pollutants related to agricultural production in soil and atmosphere, establishing a three-dimensional real-time monitoring network. Real-time monitoring and scheduling of urban pipeline systems: including monitoring of water supply networks, gas networks, heating networks, etc. III. Applications and Market Environment Changes Closely Related to Configuration Software Configuration software has become an essential component of industrial automation systems, namely, a "basic unit" or "basic element." As a result, large automation companies have invested heavily in developing configuration software with their own intellectual property rights, hoping to generate a large volume of sales and profits by relying on the strong market. Currently, the monitoring configuration software with a high market share at home and abroad is GE Fanuc's iFix, Wonderware's Intouch, Siemens WinCC, Citech, and LabView. Mainland Chinese manufacturers are mainly Force Control and Asia Control, and there are 5-10 other manufacturers engaged in monitoring configuration software business. In the domestic market, the high-end market is still monopolized by foreign products. Domestic products have begun to seize some high-end markets, and their share is gradually increasing. (1) Changes in the Configuration Software Product Itself As a general-purpose tool software, configuration software has always been in a "bridging" position in automation systems. In projects involving industrial informatization, if real-time data acquisition is involved, users will first consider trying configuration software. For this reason, configuration software is applied in almost all industrial informatization projects. The diversity of applications has placed many new demands and challenges on the performance indicators, usage methods, and interface methods of configuration software. These demands have had a significant impact on the system architecture of configuration software, playing a crucial role in promoting its development. Functional evolution: While still primarily based on the human-machine interface, data acquisition, historical databases, alarm management, operation log management, access control, and data communication forwarding have become its basic functions; functional components are showing a trend towards differentiation, integration, and functional subdivision to adapt to the diverse needs of different industries and user levels. Adoption of new technologies: The IT trend in configuration software is evident, with a large number of the latest computing, communication, and multimedia technologies being used to improve its performance and expand its functionality. Emphasis on efficiency: In reality, some configuration work is very cumbersome, and users hope to quickly generate their own project applications through templates. Graphical templates, database templates, and device templates allow users to quickly generate target programs through "copying." Configuration software focuses on improving data processing and throughput capabilities: In addition to conventional real-time data communication and human-machine interface functions, configuration software faces severe challenges in terms of real-time data storage and retrieval of more than 10,000 points and concurrent access to the historical database system by more than 100 C/S or B/S clients. As the application depth increases, this requirement will become more and more common. Bundled with control system hardware: Configuration software achieves seamless integration with automatic control equipment, "tailor-made" for hardware. This shows that the penetration capability of configuration software is gradually strengthening. Automation systems have never been able to do without software support, and overall solutions are beneficial to the sales of hardware products and also to manufacturers controlling sales prices. For example, the DCS dedicated version of ForceControl® has been bundled with many DCS systems at home and abroad. (2) Another reason for the increase in demand for configuration software is the change in other application environments of configuration software. The intelligence level of sensors, data acquisition devices, and controllers is getting higher and higher, and the demand for real-time data browsing and management is rising. Some users even require to supervise the manufacturing process of orders in their own offices. The emergence of organizations like OPC, and the rapid development of fieldbus, especially industrial Ethernet, has greatly simplified the interconnection of heterogeneous devices and the development of I/O device driver software. I/O driver software is also gradually moving towards standardization. Through nearly a decade of development, domestic monitoring configuration software companies, represented by companies like ForceControl Technology, have matured in terms of technology, market, and service, forming a relatively strong market and technological foundation, and possessing the resources to compete with foreign rivals. The emergence of new technologies will eliminate a number of manufacturers that cling to outdated practices and lack innovation. Those manufacturers that focus on user needs, dare to innovate, and continuously adopt new technologies to meet the growing potential needs of users will gradually gain the initiative in the market and become the leaders in the configuration software and related industrial IT product market. Development Potential: Although the market potential for configuration software is huge, gaining access to this market is not easy. On the one hand, users' requirements for configuration software are getting higher and higher, and their application levels are also improving, correspondingly increasing their demands for software quality; on the other hand, configuration software vendors should proactively develop new functions and products with potential demand. Therefore, a huge market does not mean that all vendors engaged in configuration software development have equal opportunities; opportunities always belong to a few outstanding vendors. 1.2 To Adapt to New Demands: The Distributed Architecture of Future Monitoring Configuration Software As mentioned earlier, monitoring configuration software systems are typically over 1 million lines of code. Such massive software systems must adopt a distributed architecture in their structural design. Distributed systems are not exclusive to monitoring configuration software; many large software systems are currently distributed systems. It is necessary to revisit the old topic of "distributed" in configuration software because applications with a scale greater than 5000 points almost always require distributed applications. It should also be emphasized that the problem is not a lack of distributed architecture products in configuration software, but rather a lack of products that can truly withstand the test of distributed applications. 1.3 Current Problems in the Development of the Domestic Monitoring Configuration Software Industry Software is the core and soul of automation systems, and configuration software has a high degree of penetration and industry relevance. Whether viewed horizontally or vertically, configuration software is increasingly penetrating every corner of an automation system, occupying an increasing share. Configuration software is increasingly reflecting the value of automation systems. Although software is the core and spirit of automation systems, configuration software is far from fulfilling this role. The connotation and extension of configuration software are constantly evolving, and its role in automation systems will gradually approach this standard. The diagram below is a typical schematic of an automation system software structure; the darker areas represent the scope covered by ForceControl 6.0. It can be seen that ForceControl software is striving to cover a wider range of automation software applications. (Figure 1-3) Therefore, domestic monitoring and configuration software vendors bear the future hope and core competitiveness of the national industrial automation industry in automation systems. To shoulder this responsibility, monitoring and configuration software vendors must possess core competitive capabilities at each level of software shown in the diagram above, establishing sufficient voice and initiative in the market. Huawei, a Chinese company, has set an example for us. As long as subsequent technological innovations, extending the software product line, and meeting the ever-growing needs of users, while maintaining a strong foundation of original innovation, China's industrial automation software industry will surely create a Huawei miracle in the industrial IT world.