When you open ClearSCADA for the first time you are offered the opportunity to browse through the SCADA LifeCycle environment which describes every step in the end to end process. The figure below is a screen capture of this environment.
Figure: Screen capture of the SCADA LifeCycle demo environment within ClearSCADA.
The lifecycle of a SCADA system starts with the Design Phase where issues related to system network architecture, scalability and reliability are tackled for the first time. In this stage of the cycle ClearSCADA offers a state-of-the-art client/server design, optimized for wide area network and RTU communications, open architecture and protocol standards and advanced redundancy options.
During the Build Phase ClearSCADA offers engineers the Integrated Development Environment (IDE), that includes a highly effective collaborative development environment where engineers share the entire system at the same time. This feature is made possible by ClearSCADA’s non-compiled system design and a built-in exclusive control function that ensures two people are not working on the same element simultaneously. It is during this phase that engineers take advantage of ClearSCADA’s incredibly efficient replication features that use templates and instances to automatically populate large networks with redundant objects.
The Operation Phase is where the rubber hits the road. Using either the full function ViewX client or the zero configuration WebX client, ClearSCADA offers complete control of your SCADA environment. Using vector graphics-based visualization, displays can zoom with incredible accuracy exposing new layers with details on specific equipment found deeper in the SCADA network. To manage data quality, ClearSCADA database objects have attribute sets that store tag value, data quality, alarm limits, overrange indications, time-stamps, previous values and statistics. Also benefiting the operation phase is the industry’s best graphing functions including configuration-less trending where you just select and click to view current trends on any point. Rounding off the long list of features dedicated to the operational phase of your SCADA system are advanced alarming specifications, automatic and customizable report generation, flexible and easy security functions and more.
The final chapter of the SCADA lifecycle is the Maintenance Phase where network expansion, additional server and client installation and license monitoring take place. To accommodate network expansion ClearSCADA offers object based templates which can be manipulated with simple drag and drop actions. For management requirements the system includes tools to remotely access a server or a cluster of servers. Of course all maintenance actions are done with no disruption to the system, no loss of data, full security control and a historical log of all changes made. Also, if you are encountering problems within the SCADA network, embedded diagnostic tools allow you to diagnose problems locally or remotely.
In summary, ClearSCADA has been designed as a full function SCADA platform that provides advanced features for all phases of the SCADA system lifecycle.
