Hardware Category and System Limits

The Desigo CC software has a Hardware Category parameter that it uses to define system limits (the maximum number of System-Browser-tree objects that a project can have). The Hardware Category can be set to:

  • EP = (embedded computer) maximum 10000 objects
  • MS = (small or medium sized server/FEP) ≤50000 objects
  • LS = (large-sized server maximum) >50000 and ≤150000 objects

Desigo CC then monitors how close a project is operating to those system limits, and

  • Generates an alarm if the maximum permitted number of objects is exceeded.
  • Prevents you from performing imports that would exceed the system limits.
  • Warns you when you are approaching the system limits.

This avoids instability that may arise from overloading the hardware.

By default, the hardware category is set to MS (≤50000 objects), but you may need to adjust this value to EP or LS to match the actual scale (number of field devices and subsystems, and so forth) of the installation you are configuring.

The System Description document (A6V10415500) details the criteria for determining the system dimensioning, and the hardware requirements for each category.

For instructions, see Configuring Hardware Category and System Limits.

Hardware Category and System Limits Properties

In Engineering mode, when you select the Main Server object in System Browser, information about the hardware category and system limits displays in the Extended Operation tab.
The various properties and commands of the Main Server object, which also include those relating to the hardware category and system limits.

If the project only slightly exceeds the maximum system objects for its hardware category, contact Customer Support to increase the System Objects Limit for that category.
However, if the number of objects is significantly above the limit, the project must be adjusted to a higher category, which may also require an upgrade of the computer hardware. Contact Customer Support for assistance.

 

 

Details of these properties are provided in the following table.

 

Property

Description

Commands

System Objects

Total number of objects currently configured in the system. This value is automatically checked and updated every 60 seconds.

-

System Objects Limit

Maximum number of objects the project can have. Its value is determined by the Hardware Category.

-

Hardware Category

System Objects Limit

EP

10000

MS (default)

≤50000

LS

>50000

and

≤150000

System Load

Loading of the system with respect to the system limits.

  • If the number of objects is within the system limits and also below the Notification Threshold, the System Load property displays in the Extended Operation tab only, and indicates Normal.
    NOTE: Import operations that would not exceed the Notification Threshold are carried out directly.
  • If the number of objects is within the system limits but above the Notification Threshold, the System Load property displays in the Operation and Extended Operation tabs, and indicates Warning.
    NOTE: In case of an import operation that would exceed the Notification Threshold, a warning message informs you of how close you will come to the limit and lets you choose whether to proceed.
  • If the system limits are exceeded (for example, because of objects auto-discovery), the System Load property displays in the Operation and Extended Operation tabs, and indicates Alarm. Also, an alarm occurs in the system.
    NOTE: In case of an import operation that would exceed the system limits, an error message informs you that the import operation will not start.

-

Hardware Category

System limits (maximum permitted objects) and should be set to match the actual hardware category (EP, MS, or LS) of the installation, as specified in the System Description document.

  • Apply: You can change the hardware category by selecting a different value from the drop-down list.

Notification Threshold

Safety threshold with respect to the system limits. See System Load, above.

-

Other Properties

The following properties are also available in the Extended Operation tab:

  • System Properties: Total number of the properties available in the project.
  • Drivers Properties: Total number of properties handled by the drivers.
  • Alarm Properties: Total number of properties that can generate alarms.
  • Text Records: Total number of string entries in the project database.
  • Value Records: Total number of numeric values entries in the project database.
  • List Records: Total number of arrays (complex data structure entries) in the project database.