What's New in the 10.97.3 Release

The ICONICS Suite 10.97.3 release includes the following new features and enhancements.

Security and FDA

  • Change authorization—Adds another layer of security on top of standard security. You can now require authorization of run-time value changes and recipe management by Performer and Verifier roles that are defined in the security configuration for groups and users. There is a new Authorization tab in Global Settings that you use to configure single or double authorization for writing process points, data sets, and methods, and managing recipes. When a user tries to perform an operation that requires authorization, an Authorization dialog is displayed where a Performer and, optionally, a Verifier authenticates with their credentials and enters a comment. After the users have been verified, the operation is performed and new GenEvents are generated. You can log these events to provide a complete auditable list of operation changes.
  • Password management and log-in enhancements
  • Support for SAML 2.0 single logout and digitally signed outgoing requests. Learn more

Alert Sierra modem integration

Using an Alert Sierra configuration, you can enable remote notifications of process data and facilitate acknowledgment of alarms, sending and receiving SMS messages through Sierra Airlink Wireless modems. Alert Sierra works with BridgeWorX and CFSWorX, streamlining the process of handling alarm data. Learn more

Software License Recovery Mode

Software license recovery mode provides a 30-day extension that matches your current valid license in case you lose your license. For example, if hardware changes or VM host changes cause the loss of your license, then licensing will enter recovery mode. You must have a valid license in order for recovery mode to work. You should contact ICONICS as soon as possible to obtain a valid replacement license to avoid interruption to your production system. Learn more

BACnet

  • BACnet with SC is now the default when installing version 10.97.3.
  • New BACnet stack provides standard connectivity and Secure Connect (Beta) support.
  • BACnet trends—Built-in support for BACnet trends in Hyper Historian.
  • Device backup and restore—New support for the device backup and restore feature for the configuration of a BACnet controller.

Hyper Alarm Server

  • Beep off command—You can now silence alarms that are configured as audible alarms on all connected client stations (backward compatible with AlarmWorX64 Server).

  • Custom type functions—In some cases, alarm type expressions can become very complex with logic when repeatedly used in alarm type definitions. As a result, these expressions become hard to read and maintain. Custom functions allow you to structure evaluation logic in an easy way, and they are available in the same way as standard expression functions.

    Based on the function evaluation implementation, the following custom function types are available:

    • Expression based—Simple to create, but there are limitations given by the expression engine evaluation.
    • .NET Framework library code—Use to create advanced evaluation logic. This function type is more advanced and requires .NET Framework development tools and software development skills.
  • Multilevel acknowledge support—When enabled, an alarm can be acknowledged multiple times. Based on the configuration, new Acknowledge description text is either merged with the previous one or replaces it (backward compatible with AlarmWorX64 Server).
  • Adjustable inputs are the replacement for the AlarmWorX64 feature. AlarmWorX64 allowed alarm server clients to modify configuration values in the configuration database via process points exposed in the server's address space. This concept didn't work correctly when alarming was configured as a redundant system. In Hyper Alarm Server, the adjustable inputs keep modified values in a separate SQLite database, and the configuration database holds only default values. However, modified values can be merged back to the configuration database as new default values. This must be done on request in the Workbench configuration tool. Redundant servers keep modified values in sync.

Hyper Alarm Logger

Standalone data collectors—Unlike in-process collectors, standalone controllers can be located on the same network node as the actual source of alarm messages. Since data collectors support a safe way to deliver received alarm messages to the logger node (store and forward communication buffers), this topology eliminates loss of alarm messages caused by network disconnections.

ReportWorX

  • New approval workflow—An operator can now generate and review a report, and mark it for approval. A supervisor can check the report and approve it automatically. When the report is approved, a signature is automatically added to the report. Learn more
  • Integrated audit log support—ReportWorX can now automatically generate a report using the data logged by Workbench in the Audit Log. The Audit Log data is exposed as a standard data set, and you can also use it to create GraphWorX64 screens, in AnalytiX-BI, and in BridgeWorX64. Learn more

AlertWorX Alarm Filtering

AlertWorX email and SMS now support alarm subscription filters. It is now possible to select specific alarm criteria, such as high-severity alarms or a specific alarm area, when configuring AlertWorX alarm subscriptions. Using this feature, you can easily limit the number of SMS or email messages that are sent.

Mitsubishi FA Safety CPU

You can now import Safety CPU projects and GX Works3 projects that are protected by a password into the Mitsubishi Electric FA Connector. Learn more