Creating and Using Virtual DPUs

Powerful Tool for Design, Simulation, Testing and

Training
WARNING
Off-line Uses of Virtual DPUs (VDPUs)

• Remember the warning! Not on the same network.

• Test a proposed configuration change in an live but simulated

DPU. NO process I/O to jury rig. No risk to process.
• Observe a configuration to follow control strategy
interconnections.
• Learn how to use maxDPUTools and configure function
blocks before your maxDPU upgrade is delivered.
• Present live data to a new or revised graphic before the
configuration is installed to the process.
• Simulation for training purposes. Present upset scenarios.
On-line Uses of Virtual DPUs

• Calculate and alarm for data that is linked into the DCS.
- maxLINKS
- maxOPCServer
• Store, Calculate or alarm for custom applications.
- maxMiscellaneousCalcs
- Visual Basic applications
- Visual C++ applications
• Present live data to a new or revised graphic before the
configuration is installed to the process.
Requirements to Run VDPUs

• The host machine must be a maxSTATION.

• Although it is possible to run multiple VDPU in one station,
some of the reasons to run them are easier to use if only one
is active per host.
• Avoid confusion with maxDPUs and points in maxDPUs.
• A copy of maxDPUTools must be able to communicate with
the VDPU.
Documentation that Applies to VDPUs

• 278594 Auxiliary Functions (Release 4.x) discusses using

the Startup Configuration tool to initialize a VDPU
• 278707 Virtual DPU Simulation discusses use of VDPUs for
training simulation. This is a worthwhile read for any
application even though it’s scope is focused on many
VDPUs and use in a simulator system
• 278605 maxDPU Auxiliary Functions discusses use of the
VDPU backup program that allows virtual DPUs to run as
pairs the same way that maxDPUs docs
• 278589 Atoms is the source book for function blocks
maxDNA Control Blocks

• Atomic Blocks
• Standard Blocks
• Custom Blocks
maxDNA Control Blocks

Atom Categories
Categorizing the atoms is somewhat arbitrary. Various attempts have been made
within the system and for purposes of description.
-Input/Output
Buffers (Bufs)
- AIB AOB DIB DOB RTD TC

•AlarmTag related
• There are three atoms capable of alarming. They are the analog tagger, the digital
tagger and the alarm reporter.
• If the atom that being used has been given a tagname that Tagname will be used in
the alarm list.
- ATAG DTAG QUALFRCE
maxDNA Control Blocks

Discrete Logic (DesLog)

-Basic Gates
NOT AND OR XOR
-Comparisons
GT LT EQ NE
-Triggers
EDGEANY EDGEFALL EDGERISE FSTOUT
-Flip Flops
-RESETDOM SETDOM NODOM
-Timers
TON TOFF TPULSE
-State Logic (StLog)
-DEVLOG SEQMSTR SEQSTEP
maxDNA Control Blocks

Analog Math Functions (AnlFunc)

-Basic Math
ABS ADD MUL DIV MOD EXP POW SQRT

-Control Math with In1 Forceback

CTLADD CTLMUL CTLDIV1 CTLDIV2

-Special Functions
CALC FUNCGEN LEADLAG SIGSEL

Modulating Control Logic (ModLog)

- AUTOMAN LIMITER PID FEEDFWDPARTMEM
- PARTMSTR PATOUT CTLSEL CTLCOMB
maxDNA Control Blocks

-Steam

FLOWCOMP LVLCOMP STMPROP

-Group

ALMRPTR GRP USROBJ

-Testing

CMPT
Start a VDPU the First Time

• Need to start a blank VDPU.

• Down load a configuration.
• Snapshot a configuration to an MXT file.
• Configure the maxSTATION Startup.
Startup Configuration Tool
Command Line Syntax

• C:\mcs\atoms\maxdpu4e.exe /exp /sim /eu

/n PHLXP024 /f C:\custom\configs\PHLXP024.mxt
/ip 172.16.1.22

- Path to launch the maxDPU program

- exp – exports the points to other stations using RRS
- sim – places the buffers in simulation mode
- eu – allows all buffers to accept percent scale inputs
- n – the station tag name of the VDPU
- f – the path to the MXT database to be loaded
- ip – the IP address of the VDPU
- Refer to the 278707 VirtualDPUSimulation document
Download Configuration from maxDPUTools
Snapshot a Configuration to an MXT File

• Snapshot button saves the file to c:\custom\configs\”VDPU

name”\”Scenario name”.mxt if that path and file exist.
• Use the SaveAs button the first time and select the path
Configure the maxSTATION Startup

• Do you want a specific configuration to load by default?

• Release 4 must use the administrator account and

StartupConfig.
• Release 3 may edit c:\custom\sbp\startup.ini as engineer.

• Add the loading of the MXT file to the VDPU initialization.

• /f c:\custom\configs\operating\PHLXP024.MXT will be part of
the startup record.
Build Shortcuts to start VDPUs with MXT files

• On the desktop right click and

select new then shortcut.
• Browse to the file
c:\mcs\atoms\maxDPU4F.exe.
• Enter the VDPU name as the
name of the shortcut.
• Edit the shortcut’s properties.
• Add the command line
switches that would be in the
startup.ini or the Startup
Configuration utiltiy.
• Save the changes.
Tools to View, Change and Save.

• Up load to & Down load from maxDPUTools.

• On-line changes with Point Browser.
• Change inputs with TestSBP.
• maxVUE Editor and graphic objects.
• Snapshot the VDPU to an MXT file.
• Collect process history with maxSTORIAN.
• View process history with maxVUE Trends and Reports.
• Event Collector and Event Query.
• Everything a maxDPU can do except read an I/O module –
and simulate that.