What are the options for remote maintenance of a WinCC flexible Runtime system (Panel/PC) via the Internet (WAN)?

Introduction:
Using the options WinCC flexible / Sm@rtAccess and Sm@rtService you can also access a WinCC flexible Runtime system via the Internet. The connection can be made on the basis of an ISDN or DSL network.

Sample application:
Your customer wants you to set up external teleservicing of an operator panel in order to be able to access the operator panel via the Internet if there is a fault and if necessary, change the parameters via the operator panel and monitor the system values online.

The following questions arise concerning implementation of the configuration/task depicted:

• How do I connect the panel to the WAN (Wide Area Network)?
• Which hardware components are required?
• What is the IP address of the panel to be accessed?
• How reliable is the connection?
• What settings have to be made?

Answers to these questions and basic know-how are available in the following document.

Basic Know-how ( 650 KB )

Requirements for the operator panel:

• HMI operator panels with Ethernet interface
• HMI operator panel based on WinCC flexible
• HMI Runtime with the option "WinCC flexible /Sm@rtService" or "WinCC flexible /Sm@rtAccess"

Solutions:
In order to implement the configuration depicted you must first define the dimensions of the network connection (analog/ ISDN/ DSL) on the service PC/operator panel concerned. You can then branch to practical examples of implementation via the links in the following table.

1. Service PC communicates with an operator panel

PC (Service/Maintenance) <--> Operator Panel (Machine/System) (point-to-point)
Service/Maintenance	Internet Service Provider	Operator Station Machine/System
PC communicates with WAN via analog modem ( 978 KB )	For example: Arcor, AOL, T-Online, Freenet, RTLnet	Operator panel communicates via ISDN with router ( 4760 KB )
PC communicates with WAN via ISDN modem ( 1336 KB )		Operator panel communicates via DSL with router ( 4722 KB )
PC communicates with WAN via DSL modem ( 1309 KB )

The service engineer is linked to the Internet via a modem connection.
The operator station of the machine/system is linked to the Internet via a router.

2. Communication between two operator panels
   If two operator panels are to be linked together directly via the Internet, both operator panels are connected to the Internet via a router.
   The links in the following table branch you to practical examples of implementation.
   

PC/Panel (Operator Station 1) <--> PC/Panel (Operator Station 2) (point-to-point)
Operator Station Machine 1	Internet Service Provider	Operator Station Machine 2
Operator panel communicates via ISDN with router ( 4760 KB )	Panel communicates via router (ISDN, DSL)	Operator panel communicates via DSL with router ( 4722 KB )

3. Service PC communicates with n operator panels
   If several operator panels of a system are connected to the Internet via a router connection, it is possible to have different types of connection.

   This document considers two types of connection:

a) Communication between two networks on the basis of a standard router connection (port forwarding).
For this type of connection the standard functionality of the components implemented (router, PC etc.) is generally sufficient.

b) Communication between two networks based on a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
The characteristics of a VPN are high transmission reliability and high transparency when accessing the remote network.
Router requirements are higher and additional software is required.

The table provides practical examples of implementation for port forwarding and VPN.

PC (Service/Maintenance) <--> n Operator Panels (Machine/System) (point-to-point)
Service/Maintenance	Internet Service Provider	Operator Station Machine/System
PC communicates with WAN via analog modem ( 978 KB )	For example: Arcor, AOL, T-Online, Freenet, RTLnet	Port Forwarding ( 1279 KB )
PC communicates with WAN via ISDN modem ( 1336 KB )
PC communicates with WAN via DSL modem ( 1309 KB )		VPN ( 2899 KB )

Further information:
You can find further information on this topic in the following entries.

Functions of the TS Adapter IE	24532849
Which settings do you have to make on the TS Adapter IE to transfer a WinCC flexible project via Teleservice?	26999934
Cluster FAQ entries: Industrial Ethernet network components (security) -- Setting up and parameterizing hardware -- Initializing and parameterizing modules	24533194

Keywords:
Remote access, Remote diagnosis