22/2/2018 36265 - FactoryTalk View Machine Edition: Data Logging Best Practices

FactoryTalk View Machine Edition: Data Logging Best Practices

36265 | Date Created: 10/02/2006 | Last Updated: 02/20/2018
Access Level: TechConnect

Question
What are best practices for Data logging in FactoryTalk View Machine Edition?

Environment
FactoryTalk View ME
PanelView Plus Terminal
PanelView Plus 6 Terminal
PanelView Plus 7 Terminal

Answer
FactoryTalk View Machine Edition Data Logging Best Practices - Understanding Data Logging.

This information is applicable only to the native Data Logging of FactoryTalk View Machine Edition and does not apply to the DataStore or
DataStore Plus ActiveX controls.

If you need additional best practices technical notes, see 36745 - FactoryTalk View Machine Edition Best Practices TOC
(//rockwellautomation.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/36745).

Note: Testing has shown that a current, typical application will run faster and have less memory constraints on the 6.x platform.

Data Log Model features

Logs tag data to a storage file during runtime
Historical Trending

Data Log Model (Design Time)

Studio allows the creation of multiple Data Log Models. However, only 1 Data Log Model can be configured during runtime.
Default maximum data points in this datalog are 1000 (configurable see performance considerations below):
The model will not log data for string tags, array tags, parameters or expressions, and you cannot use tag placeholders in your data log model.
External CompactFlash / SD Card path is configured as \Storage Card2\log
USB drive path is configured as \USB Storage\log

Note: Only 2711P-RCx, which is the RA CompactFlash card have been tested/supported.

Data Log Model (Runtime)

The data log will run as a continuous background task.
Once the data log starts, it cannot be-stopped during runtime by the operator.
If the data log fails on startup, it will never start. A warning message is logged to diagnostics when the data log starts or fails.
If diagnostics is not configured, you have no indication whether the data log started or not.
If a write fails to a remote data log or external CompactFlash card or USB flash memory, the data log will stop and never re-start. For example, if the CF card is removed
while data logging, it will try to reconnect 3 times within a few seconds and stop if not reconnected.
RSView ME / FactoryTalk View ME doesn't support dynamic log file creation during runtime.
The DataStore Plus ActiveX does allow dynamic log file creation for VersaView CE platforms.
For additional information, refer to Technote 35155 - DataStorePlus ActiveX Control for RSView Machine Edition. (/app/answers/detail/a_id/36265/page/2#)
Best practices for a PanelView Plus 400-600 terminal is to data log to a external CF card or remotely.
The PanelView Plus 400 – 600s are limited to 32 Mb for internal storage memory.
The data log file can consume a max of ~4.5 Mb for 300,000 data points
For version 7.0 and above the data log file can consume a max of ~15.6 Mb for 1,000,000 data points

Viewing Data Log Files

File Viewer provides a one step file conversion process.
For additional information on viewing these files, refer to Technote:
823751 - RSView Enterprise File Viewer Utility to Read and Save ME, SE Datalog Files, ME Alarm Log Files, and dBASE Files.
(//rockwellautomation.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/823751)
The log file is viewable in Excel or DBF with the File Viewer utility. Keep in mind that Microsoft Excel only supports a 64000 row limit (data log may be more than 64000
rows).

Remote Data Logging

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22/2/2018 36265 - FactoryTalk View Machine Edition: Data Logging Best Practices
The remote PC is required to be a member of a Domain. Remote Data Logging to a workstation will not work.
The PanelView Plus/VersaView will be prompted to authenticate when the data log initiates.
Pre-authentication can be done from the ME configuration screen.
RSView ME / FactoryTalk View ME does not accept specific IP addresses of any remote computer. For example: Custom Logging Path \\10.10.10.10\logs or as
\\MY_PC\logs will work.

Why Remote Data Log?

The Log files are easily available for viewing on the PC.
Data log memory consumption occurs on the PC, not the PanelView Plus/VersaView CE terminal.

Log Triggers
With FactoryTalk View ME version 8.00: The native FactoryTalk View ME Data Log supports a 10ms minimum scan rate. Therefore, the maximum guaranteed precision
the Data Logger can provide is at 20ms for the data.
Logging too fast can cause performance related issues. For example, logging 100 tags as 100ms can cause a buffer overflow.
Data logging is a background task. Best practice is logging at the slowest possible rate desired by the process being monitored.
Increase datalog time to at least 300ms if logging 100 tags or reduce tag count to 40.
On change, logging will update based on any tag configured in the model.

Data Logging Runtime Performance

Performance Considerations
The max number of data points possible for Firmware 6.10 and below is 300,000 records, Firmware 7.00 has increased this to 1,000,000 records.
FIFO principal is used on the created Data Log File.
The max number of data points will consume ~ 4.5 Mb of internal storage space. The data log write buffer will also consume 4.5 MB of RAM.
Limit the maximum number of data points being logged to what is required.
RSView ME / FactoryTalk View ME will write data every 30 seconds to the data log. If the buffer fills up before 30 seconds it will write data to the log immediately.
Data Log Memory is allocated on startup of the application.
Fast logging rates can affect overall application performance.
The HMI is required to Multi-task by data logging and update display information.
Additional background tasks include Alarming, Global Connections, and Information Messages.

CPU Utilization
As the number of data points logged increases, the terminal CPU utilization at the time of opening a Graphic Display containing a Trend object connected to a Data Log will
increase along with the time to open the Graphic Display. Typical CPU utilization for a 300,000 record Data Log is around 20%. Graphic Display opening time is around 15
seconds.

Best Practices for Optimizing Performance & Memory

Data Log Model (Design Time)
Limit data logging to required tags only.
Limit the maximum number of data points being logged to what is required.
Log tag data at the slowest possible rate desired by the process being monitoring.

Data Log Model (Runtime)

PanelView Plus 400-600 terminals should data log to an external CF card or remotely.
Remote data log whenever possible.
Configure all application to display warning messages in Diagnostics to alert the operator when the data log starts or stops.

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