VMware Support and Configuration
VMware is an officially supported and tested environment for running the Plant Applications Server and Clients. Support for VMware ESXi Server version 5.0 and above is provided. Advanced features of VMware (such as VMotion, VMware VMFS, clustering support, high availability, and so on) are not supported.
- A maximum of five VMware images running on sufficient hardware is supported
- One computer running Proficy Historian
- One or more computers running the Plant Applications clients (these may be the same computers as the Proficy Historian computers or a single computer)
General VMware Information
For information regarding VMware specifications and requirements, see http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_30_20_installation_guide.pdf.
Due to the wide range of parameters associated with the hardware, configuration, memory settings, third-party software installations, and the number of virtual machines running, GE recommends that you visit the VMware web site to help you determine the hardware requirements for configuring your virtual environment. Start by looking at the VMware Compatibility Guide, provided by this link on the VMware web site: http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php
Time Zone Support
The following table represents Plant Applications constraints and indicates whether other applications must be running in the same time zone as the Plant Applications server.
| Application | UTC Mode | Non-UTC Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Applications Web Server | Not supported – must use Proficy DataMart | Same time zone |
| Proficy DataMart | Same time zone | |
| SQL Server | Same time zone | Same time zone |
| Plant Applications Clients (including Web Clients) | Any time zone | Same time zone |
| Proficy Historian | Any time zone | Any time zone |
| Other Historians | Any time zone | Same time zone |
VMware Licensing
When installed on a VMware image, you must use a keyless license (not a HASP key) for Plant Applications.
Local Language Support for VMware
All the computers interacting with a Plant Applications server must be set to the same code page (also known as the “Language for Non-Unicode Programs”) as the Plant Applications Server.
Performance for VMware
It is critical that sufficient hardware is allocated to support multiple Plant Applications installations on a computer.
WAN Performance for VMware
Plant Applications is designed to run on-node or in a high-speed, low latency LAN environment. Performance issues can be expected when running it across a low-speed or high latency WAN. If Plant Applications is being used for production control, then network downtime will cause production downtime. Therefore, it is critical that reliability, throughput, and latency of the network connections are carefully managed.
Computer
- Model: Dell PowerEdge 2950
- System type: ACPI Multiprocessor PC
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, Service Pack 2
- Internet Explorer 6.0.3790.3959
- VMware Workstation 6
- Allocated Memory per Virtual Machine: 4 GB
Mother board
- CPU Type: 4x DualCore Intel® Xeon 5050, 3000 MHz
- Mother Board Name: Dell PowerEdge 1950
- Chipset: Intel Greencreek 5000X
- Memory: 8192 MB (DDR2-533 Fully Buffered ECC DDR2 SDRAM)
- BIOS Type: Phoenix (05/17/06)
- Communication Port: Communications Port (COM1)
- Communication Port: Communications Port (COM2)
Data Stocking
- IDE Controller: Intel 631xESB/6321ESB Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 269E
- Storage Controller: Dell SAS 5/i Integrated Controller
- Hard Disk Drive: 2X MAXTOR ATLAS10K5_300SAS SCSI Disk Device (300 GB, 10000 RPM, Serial Attached SCSI)
- Hard Disk Drive: 2X MAXTOR ATLAS10K5_300SAS SCSI Disk Device (300 GB, 10000 RPM, Serial Attached SCSI)
- CD-ROM: HL-DT-ST CDRW/DVD GCC4244 (DVD:8x, CD:24x/24x/24x DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Additional VMware Notes
GE cannot guarantee the performance of the Plant Applications software in a virtualized environment due to the wide range of parameters associated with the hardware, configuration, memory settings, third-party software installations, and the number of virtual machines running - all of which can affect performance. Therefore, GE cannot provide support related to the performance of the Proficy software running on a virtual machine if it's determined that the issue is related to the virtual environment. Also, GE does NOT provide support or troubleshoot a customer's virtual machine infrastructure. It is the responsibility of you, the customer, to ensure that the performance of the Plant Applications software and any third-party applications (especially those not recommended by GE) are adequate to meet the needs of your run mode environment. GE does not support issues related to functionality that is not available as a result of running in a virtual machine infrastructure. Examples include the functionality of card level drivers such as those for the Genius® family of drivers, the Allen-Bradley® DH/DH+ drivers, the Cyberlogic's MBX® Driver for the SA85 card, as well as functions requiring direct video access. Check with the vendor of your third-party application for support statements regarding that third-party product's ability to run in a virtualized environment.