Machine Connect

What is Machine Connect?

The Machine Connect application is middleware used to collect data from local enterprise systems (sensors, SCADA, DCS, and other hardware/software) and reliably transport that data to the cloud for use within Utility Cloud. Machine Connect Online is similar to Machine Connect except hosted in the cloud instead of locally and currently hosts the OPC interface. Machine Connect's main use case is interfacing with internet-based SCADA (for example integration with Mission SCADA), sensors, and IoT devices.

Who should be using it?

Machine Connect is used to send data to Utility Cloud from a local system automatically on a regular basis when the local system is not able or configured to push data directly to the Utility Cloud API.

If your system is able to POST to a RESTful API, you can learn more about our API here.

Available Interfaces

• Allen-Bradley PLCs
• Allen-Bradley (RSVIEW32)
• GE Proficy Historian (GE PROFICY HISTORIAN)
• GE Proficy iFIX (GE PROFICY IFIX)
• OPC (MISSION SCADA)
• Wonderware (WONDERWARE)

Machine Connect Setup

1. Configure both the asset class and workflow class according to the required steps for your integration as described below.
2. Create a work schedule from the Work Scheduler page for the using the above asset class and workflow along with the frequency Machine Connect should submit data from the defined tags on.
3. Create an asset in the account you created your work schedule in using the above asset class to connect to Machine Connect.
4. Create a new user specifically for use in connecting Machine Connect to Utility Cloud. This user should not be used as a traditional user who logs into Utility Cloud.
5. Install and configure Machine Connect.

The frequency in your work schedule should be set to be no more than every 15 minutes.

Installing Machine Connect

1. Download Machine Connect here.
2. Extract the zip file and copy all extracted files to a disk location you will run the application from (such as c:\MachineConnect).
3. Open Windows Task Scheduler;
4. Select the Task Scheduler Library, right-click, then select Create Task. 
   

   

5. In each tab, set the below configurations:
   1. In the General tab, add a Name for your task and select Run whether user is logged in or not. This option assumes that on startup your PC will automatically login with your current user and is the common configuration for SCADA or machines with HMI or other software designed to start on boot.
      

      

   2. In the Triggers tab, select New and set Begin the Task to At Startup, Repeat task every to 1 minute, and duration to Indefinitely, then select OK.
      

      

   3. In the Actions tab, select New. Then, ensure Action is set to Start a program and enter the location of the Machine Connect application under Program/script, then select OK.
      

      

   4. In the Conditions tab, ensure all options are cleared, then select OK.
      

      

   5. In the Settings tab, select Allow task to be run on command, Run task as soon as possible after a scheduled start is missed, and If running the task does not end when requested, force it to stop, then select OK. 
      

      

6. Once all settings are configured in each tab, select OK to save your new task.
7. Restart your PC. Within a minute of logging in, Machine Connect will launch
8. Enter your Username, Password, and the Asset ID (asset key in Utility Cloud itself) of the asset Machine Connect will perform work against. 
   

   

9. Select start. Machine connect will begin communicating with Utility Cloud and retrieve the asset attributes from your asset and instructions for collecting data from the Work Schedule.
   

   

If Machine Connect is successful in retrieving data, you will see the audits and reports folders created in the same location you saved Machine Connect with the workflows.json file reflecting the scheduled workflow for the asset you chose.

Allen-Bradley PLC Network Interface

If you would like to configure Machine Connect to send data from your Allen-Bradley PLC Network:

1. Create a new point type asset class to represent the “System”, ensuring that it is associated with a business line. No attributes are required for this asset class..
2. Create a new asset using the above asset class. Note the "asset key" shown in the attributes section of the asset details page. This will be used later when you install Machine Connect.
3. Create a new workflow to collect data using Machine Connect. You'll need to create one workflow for each collection of data points collected at a given frequency (for example "Hourly SCADA data" or "15 Minute Data"). When creating, ensure the Machine Connected setting is enabled and that the workflow is associated with the business line and asset class above.
4. In your new workflow, create one workflow field for each tag you'd like Machine Connect to query using the below formats.

Workflow Class Fields

SLC/PLC5/Micrologix:

Key Examples:

• AB Legacy|192.168.125.15|1|F211:202
• AB Legacy|192.168.125.15|1|F211:236

• AB Legacy|192.168.125.17:999|2|F21:237

ControlLogix:

If you would like to configure Machine Connect to send data from your Allen-Bradley RSVIEW32:

1. Create a new point type asset class to represent the “System”, ensuring that it is associated with a business line.
2. In your new asset class, add the required asset class fields described below.
3. Create a new asset using the above asset class. Note the "asset key" shown in the attributes section of the asset details page. This will be used later when you install Machine Connect.
4. Create a new workflow to collect data using Machine Connect. You'll need to create one workflow for each collection of data points collected at a given frequency (for example "Hourly SCADA data" or "15 Minute Data"). When creating, ensure the Machine Connected setting is enabled and that the workflow is associated with the business line and asset class above.
5. In your new workflow, create one workflow field for each tag you'd like Machine Connect to query using the below formats.

Asset Class Attributes

Field Type	Required	Key	Name	Description	Default Value
TEXT	Yes	MC_INTTYPE	Interface Type	Defines the interface type.	RSVIEW32
TEXT	Yes	MC_APP	Application	Defines the DDE Application Name	{application name}
TEXT	Yes	MC_TOPIC	Topic	Defines the DDE Topic	{topic}

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Workflow Class Fields

Field Type	Required	Key	Name	Description	Default Value
TEXT	Yes	{tagName}	{tag_name}	Friendly name for the tag

RSVIEW32 is expecting the key value to represent the data point item.

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GE Proficy Historian Interface

If you would like to configure Machine Connect to send data from your GE Proficy Historian:

1. Create a new point type asset class to represent the “System”, ensuring that it is associated with a business line.

2. In your new asset class, add the required asset class fields described below.

3. Create a new asset using the above asset class. Note the "asset key" shown in the attributes section of the asset details page. This will be used later when you install Machine Connect.

4. Create a new workflow to collect data using Machine Connect. You'll need to create one workflow for each collection of data points collected at a given frequency (for example "Hourly SCADA data" or "15 Minute Data"). When creating, ensure the Machine Connected setting is enabled and that the workflow is associated with the business line and asset class above.

5. In your new workflow, create one workflow field for each tag you'd like Machine Connect to query using the below formats.

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Asset Class Attributes

Field Type	Required	Key	Name	Description	Default Value
TEXT	Yes	MC_INTTYPE	Interface Type	Defines the interface type.	GE PROFICY HISTORIAN
TEXT	Yes	MC_OLEDB	OLE DB Connection String	Defines the connection string.	Provider=iHOLEDB.iHistorian.1

• To connect an OLE DB client to a Historian server on a local connection (both software packages are on the same PC), use the below connection string:

Provider=iHOLEDB.iHistorian.1

• To connect an OLE DB client to a Historian Server on a remote PC, use the below connection string:

Provider=iHOLEDB.iHistorian.1;PersistSecurity Info=False;USER ID=[Username];Password=[Password];Data Source=[Target]

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Workflow Class Fields

Field Type	Required	Key	Name	Description	Default Value
TEXT	Yes	{tag_name}	{tag_name}	Friendly name for the tag

GE Proficy Historian is expecting the key value to represent the full tag name as queried from the IHRAWDATA table;

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GE Proficy iFIX Interface

If you would like to configure Machine Connect to send data from your GE Proficy iFix:

1. Create a new point type asset class to represent the “System”, ensuring that it is associated with a business line.

2. In your new asset class, add the required asset class fields described below.

3. Create a new asset using the above asset class. Note the "asset key" shown in the attributes section of the asset details page. This will be used later when you install Machine Connect.

4. Create a new workflow to collect data using Machine Connect. You'll need to create one workflow for each collection of data points collected at a given frequency (for example "Hourly SCADA data" or "15 Minute Data"). When creating, ensure the Machine Connected setting is enabled and that the workflow is associated with the business line and asset class above.

5. In your new workflow, create one workflow field for each tag you'd like Machine Connect to query using the below formats.

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Asset Class Attributes

Field Type	Required	Key	Name	Description	Default Value
TEXT	Yes	MC_INTTYPE	Interface Type	Defines the interface type.	GE PROFICY IFIX

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Workflow Class Fields

Field Type	Required	Key	Name	Description	Default Value
TEXT	Yes	{node}.{tagName}.{field}	{tag_name}	Friendly name for the tag

GE Proficy iFix is expecting the key value to be in the format {node}.{tagName}.{field}.

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Wonderware Interface

If you would like to configure Machine Connect to send data from Wonderware:

1. Create a new point type asset class to represent the “System”, ensuring that it is associated with a business line.
2. In your new asset class, add the required asset class fields described below.
3. Create a new asset using the above asset class. Note the "asset key" shown in the attributes section of the asset details page. This will be used later when you install Machine Connect.
4. Create a new workflow to collect data using Machine Connect. You'll need to create one workflow for each collection of data points collected at a given frequency (for example "Hourly SCADA data" or "15 Minute Data"). When creating, ensure the Machine Connected setting is enabled and that the workflow is associated with the business line and asset class above.
5. In your new workflow, create one workflow field for each tag you'd like Machine Connect to query using the below formats.

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Asset Class Attributes

Workflow Class Fields

Field Type	Required	Key	Name	Description	Default Value
TEXT	Yes	{tagname}|{datatype}	{tag_name}	Friendly name for the tag

 Wonderware is expecting the key value to be in the format {tagname}|{datatype} with {datatype} being one of the following data types: “INT”, “DISC”, “FLT”, “DIFF”, “STR”.  If your datatype is "STR" you can specify a length by using an additional underscore after the "STR" (i.e. "MTP_%R2221|STR_5" where 5 defines the length.)

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OPC-UA Interface

If you would like to configure Machine Connect or Machine Connect Online to send data from OPC:

1. Create a new point type asset class to represent the “System”, ensuring that it is associated with a business line.
2. In your new asset class, add the required asset class fields described below.
3. Create a new asset using the above asset class with the values for each asset class attribute described below. Note the "asset key" shown in the attributes section of the asset details page. This will be used later when you install and configure Machine Connect.
4. Create a new workflow to collect data using Machine Connect. You'll need to create one workflow for each collection of data points collected at a given frequency (for example "Hourly SCADA data" or "15 Minute Data"). When creating, ensure the Machine Connected setting is enabled and that the workflow is associated with the business line and asset class above.
5. In your new workflow, create one workflow field for each tag you'd like Machine Connect to query using the below formats.

If you use local Machine Connect, you can select Force Workflow Capture to make sure that a workflow report is created with data from the OPC UA server. If you use cloud-based Machine Connect Online you will need to wait for the next workflow capture.

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Asset Class Fields

Asset Field Values

Workflow Class Fields

NodeId will come from the OPC UA Desktop Client such as UAExpert.

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