Allen Bradley Data Historian

Moving data from an AB PLC to an open database for historical logging and offline analysis.

Use Cases  Allen Bradley Data Historian

Goals

To move data from one ore more Allen Bradley PLCs in one or more enterprise locations into an open database such as Microsoft SQL Server for historical logging and analysis. The solution must support unreliable or sporadic network connectivity.

Supported Allen Bradley Controllers

AB Logix:

  • ControlLogix
  • CompactLogix
  • GuardLogix
  • Micro800

AB Classic:

  • MicroLogix
  • SLC 500
  • PLC-5

Open Databases or Logging Targets

  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Oracle
  • Access
  • MySQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • Cassandra
  • MongoDB
  • SQL Azure
  • MariaDB
  • SQLite
  • CSV files

OAS Components Used

This example Use Case utilizes the following OAS Platform Components and can be deployed in many different configurations to achieve the best performance and reliability:

Solution Description

Allen Bradley controllers can be connected directly to the OAS Universal Data Connector using the Allen Bradley Connector. This achieves the fastest data transfer and supports native features of the controllers. Data points are then mapped to Tags within the OAS service and are then available to all components of the OAS Platform. Using the OAS Data Historian, Tag values are mapped to fields and tables within the target database. Logging can be configured in unlimited logging groups and unlimited targets, each set with different intervals and triggers.

Logging directly from PLC to open database

When deploying an enterprise logging solution with the OAS Platform where multiple physical locations are involved, you can also choose to deploy an instance of the OAS Universal Data Connector on each location’s network, ensuring all data points are capture, buffered, and logged even when network connections to the enterprise are down.

Logging from multiple sites with PLCs and local OAS services for data buffering

 

Data Historian Features

Data Logging Types:

  • Continuous: Log continuously as fast as 100 nanoseconds.
  • Event Driven: Log one record based on trigger.
  • Data Change: Log a record for each value change.
  • Snapshot: Go back in time to record data prior to an event.
  • Time of Day: Log one record at a specific time each day.

Store and Forward:
No data loss on network failure or database fault.
100 Nanosecond Resolution:
Unique data handling of data from controller buffer to record values as fast as the controller can process values.
Open Format:
Data is logged to databases in an open format to access directly from any third party reporting system.
Log data to SQL Server, Oracle, Access, mySQL, Azure SQL, PostgreSQL, Cassandra, MongoDB, MariaDB, SQLite, and CSV files.
Automated Setup:
Utilize One Click Allen Bradley together with One Click Database to automatically setup logging of all data from the controller. Or utilize programmatic setup of Tags and Data Logging with a .NET application.

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