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Higher system availability
A graded concept is available for effective early detection of potential failures and minimization of actual downtimes. It consists of software developed specifically for the SIMATIC IPCs, which enables system availability to be individually increased according to the safety requirements.
Reduced costs
Special backup mechanisms reduce the risk of data loss and allow the introduction of new concepts at initial or repeated commissioning.
The remote control and automatic self-diagnostics options reduce travel expenditure and time spent on on-site service calls,
allowing service measures to be planned more efficiently. Downtimes are minimized or eliminated altogether.
The SIMATIC IPC software products thus help to significantly reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the installation according to the motto: "Small effort, great effect".
The following components are available:
Orchestration and maintenance – ORCLA:
SIMATIC IPC ORCLA simplifies the commissioning, operation and maintenance of SIMATIC Industrial PCs. It enables customers to perform tasks more efficiently while focusing on application development and integration into your OT/IT infrastructure. The ORCLA product family is based on independent components and takes a modular approach. This allows customers to activate and use only the functionality that is really needed. Optional modular software components include diagnostics via OPC UA with ORCLA Remote Diagnostics, system hardening based on specific security settings and measures with ORCLA Protector, and advanced management of firmware settings with the ORCLA Firmware Agent. The basic ORCLA Core and Online Services products are available to our customers free of charge to take advantage of efficient software provision that is aligned with your business goals.
SIMATIC IPC ORCLA Core
- As the main software, the client helps manage the IPC through an intuitive web interface.
- Notifies, downloads, and installs the latest drivers and firmware for the selected IPC.
- Provides an option to restore the operating system to install the Siemens-verified base image, even when the device is started for the first time.
- Downloads the contents of user manuals and documentation for the selected IPC.
- Creates recovery devices for offline installations.
- Continuously monitors the status of IPC hardware components, such as fan speed, temperature, and RAID status, and visualizes the respective sensor data. Detects errors and signals them immediately via alerts on the web interface and through Windows notifications.
- Creates a configurable PC restart option in the event of a watchdog alarm.
SIMATIC IPC ORCLA Online Services
- Provides services over the Internet to enable the efficient use of ORCLA through an interactive web interface.
- Allows an IPC to be registered for a user to use ORCLA. At the same time, it is also easy to deregister the device.
- Provides access to basic details of your registered devices, such as serial numbers, firmware versions, or device specifications.
- Provides centralized online storage for drivers, firmware, device documentation and operating system base images that a user can access over the Internet.
SIMATIC IPC ORCLA Remote Diagnostics
- Enables remote monitoring of diagnostics data from your own applications via OPC UA.
- Possibility to export diagnostics data to an Excel file format.
SIMATIC IPC ORCLA Firmware Agent
- Allows you to define the boot behavior according to customer requirements.
- Makes it easy to access and modify BIOS data or OEM-specific SMBIOS fields.
- Allows you to set passwords, create hashes, and store password changes with certificate to increase BIOS security.
- Helps to edit the setup settings (BIOS configuration) via the command line or via the user interface.
- Provides a mechanism for inserting an individual or a customer-specific boot logo.
- Allows you to configure a secure start-up, add or remove certificates, display information.
SIMATIC IPC ORCLA Protector
- Provides a comprehensive security solution to physically harden IPCs in an OT environment by providing policy options that can be customized to meet the customer's needs.
- Actively monitors for brute force attempts and protects IPCs from unauthorized access.
- Helps create security policies to activate an allowlist of trusted applications, selectively disable USB ports, and enable kiosk mode to limit IPC functionality to a single specific application.
Tools & applications:
SIMATIC IPC Image & Partition Creator
- Software tool for preventive data backup of hard disk contents
- High-speed restoring of system and data partitions with bit accuracy; user software and special installations are also backed up
- Secure processing of hard disk partitions
- Creation of bootable and password-protected USB flash drives
- Secure deletion of data storage media
SIMATIC IPC DiagMonitor
- Diagnostics and alarm software for monitoring SIMATIC IPCs
- Comprehensive monitoring of temperature, fan speed, hard disk (SMART, RAID, CompactFlash, CFast, SSD), watchdog
- Operating hours counter for preventive maintenance
- Event logging and task planning
- Data exchange via OPC UA, email, text messages or SNMP
SIMATIC IPC FirmwareManager
- Display of the firmware information
- Updating the firmware
- Setting the booting behavior
- Display of the SMBIOS data
- Setting the password parameters
- Editing the setup settings (BIOS configuration)
- Insertion of a boot logo
- Setup of Secure Boot
Software packages
Software packages with SIMATIC WinCC (SCADA, Advanced, Professional) are available for many SIMATIC IPCs.
Additional software packages with SIMATIC S7-1500 Software Controller CPU 1507S are available for the IPC227E and IPC277E. Ordering the automation software together with an industrial PC results in significant price savings.
Operating systems:
SIMATIC Industrial OS
Apart from the hardware, the operating system is the most important internal component of a computer. It can come supplied with user programs or simply provide the application resources. The SIMATIC Industrial OS with its Linux-based operating system not only constitutes an alternative to the Microsoft Windows operating systems also available for the SIMATIC IPCs, it also offers a suitable solution to the challenges listed above.