Server Redundancy for iFIX provides the reliability of two iFIX SCADA servers in a redundant configuration with automatic fail-over.

The Server Redundancy is required when your iFIX system includes processes that cannot run simultaneously on both servers. For example:

• SCADA and telemetry applications commonly share a single communications path to many RTUs or PLCs. OPC drivers running simultaneously on dual servers will fail by trying to compete for this single path.
  
  
• Event Schedules need to run on just one server in a redundant pair to avoid duplicated actions.
  
  
• Third party applications like Win911 Pager or OnDemand Load Control will create conflict by running on two servers simultaneously.

Server Redundancy Module manages software between two servers

Server Redundancy ensures critical software processes only run on their preferred server, avoiding the conflicts of them being run in two places at once. Both servers run as full iFIX servers in the normal way. SRM monitors both servers through either single or dual LAN connections. Failure of a server triggers SRM to start the missing processes on the remaining server. While iFIX alarms will alert users to the fail-over, the process itself is fully automatic.

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Additional Benefits of Server Redundancy

Automation Interface

The Server Redundancy Module provides an (OLE) automation interface. This allows it to be controlled from within the iFIX Workspace environment using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

Fail-over notification

iFIX alarms notify operators of fail-over incidents.

Fail-over recording

In an iPower system, or iFIX system running Catapult Events Module, the migration of process between servers is recorded in the Events list.

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