System Migration: Wonderware to FactoryTalk Historian
Project Drive
A diatomaceous earth processing company had two facilities with Wonderware Historian installations on older server hardware. After years of exposure to an extremely harsh environment, the server at one of the facilities catastrophically failed. We were able to recover historical data from the machine and exported it to FactoryTalk Historian. The Wonderware Historian configuration was migrated to FactoryTalk Historian and the data was imported with no loss of data. Prior to hardware failure at the second site, we migrated their historical data in a similar way to FactoryTalk Historian.
Solution
Corso Systems was familiar with the company's existing setup as we had originally implemented it. We worked on new server hardware at each facility and installed all of the necessary software components. From there, we exported all of the Incuity components and imported them into VantagePoint, configured communications between FactoryTalk Historian and various PLCs, and configured communications between VantagePoint and FactoryTalk Historian.
Next, we went through the existing Wonderware InSQL/Historian configuration and set up all of the tags to be imported into FactoryTalk Historian. Once imported, we verified that data was coming across correctly from the process. Finally, we exported data from the existing Wonderware InSQL/Historian server and developed scripts to automatically import the data into FactoryTalk Historian.
The client was now able to use the new VantagePoint and FactoryTalk Historian system to view new data and all data that had been collected on the old system with a seamless transition. This allowed the customer to decommission and remove the old servers at each facility.
Benefits
Reduced risk of data loss
All facilities on the same software platform
Improved backup strategies
Reduced licensing and support costs
Decreased risk of data loss
No data loss at either facility
Implemented and tested more robust backup strategies
Project Details
Industry: Mining
Location: Lovelock, NV and Vale, OR
Services: Database management, Technology Migration, Process Analytics
Technology
Wonderware Historian
Wonderware Historian Client
FactoryTalk Historian
FactoryTalk VantagePoint
SQL Server
Focus
Recover from hardware failure
Migrate historic data with no data loss
Implement and test new backup strategies
Reverse-engineer existing functionality
Develop system using new hardware and software
Implement system and train personnel on its operation