Experion Database Types:
Experion uses two types of databases: Standard Windows Databases and Honeywell Databases
1- Windows Databases.
1-1_ Active Directory:
Resides on a Domain Controller
Contains information regarding:
Users and Groups
Group policy objects
Computers
Subnets
Sites
DNS Zones
Information is replicated across all domain controllers in the domain.
1-2_ Security Account Manager (SAM):
Resides on all non-domain controller machines, including servers and stations.
Contains Local Users and Groups.
Each machine has a unique SAM database with different security identifiers (SIDs).
SAM accounts typically have the same names and passwords in different nodes, providing
"workgroup type" security.
2- Honeywell Databases.
2-1_Real-Time Database (RTDB):
Resides on Experion Servers.
Each Experion Server has its own RTDB that's replicated to the Console Stations in its cluster.
Contains Experion configuration items, including users, groups, stations, assets, controllers, and
points.
Changes made to the RTDB from a Console Station are applied to the primary Experion Server
and replicated to the Console Station’s RTDB.
Accessible through Station and Configuration Studio.
2-2_Enterprise Model Database (EMDB):
SQL database that resides on a single Experion Server pair within the system.
Contains server information, assets, alarm groups, and network equipment.
Master copy resides on one server within a redundant pair.
Downloaded to the RTDBs of all servers in the system.
Used through Configuration Studio.
2-3_Engineering Repository Database (ERDB):
SQL database that resides on Experion Servers.
Contains controller-related information, including configuration for C200, C200E, C300, UOC,
and vUOC controllers.
Master copy resides on one server within a redundant pair.
Downloaded to the RTDBs of the servers and directly to the controllers.
2-4_Quick Builder Database (QDB):
SQL database that resides on Experion Servers.
Contains information related to Quick Builder, including channels, controllers, points, stations,
printers, equipment, and EFM meters.
Downloaded to the RTDB of the local Experion Server.
2-5_Installation Database (IDB):
Resides on the Experion Support and Maintenance (ESM) Server.
Contains node configuration information.
May reside on an Experion Server, an Experion Application Server, or a non-Experion node.
2-6_Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database (DAS DB):
SQL database that resides on Experion Servers.
Contains alarm suppression information.
Accessed through an XML file.
### System Model:
Represents the limits of an Experion System.
Defined by specifying the servers that are part of the system.
Includes servers that are "external to the system" for DSA communication.
### Asset Model:
Defines all assets within the system.
Assets are assigned to operators and stations to determine their Scope of Responsibility.
Assets are hierarchical and similar to “units" in TPS.
### Alarm Group Model:
Groups unrelated points for alarming purposes.
### System Definition and Configuration:
Includes specifying the networking information of:
Nodes
Switches
Control firewalls
### Single Experion System: Contains One EMDB
Recommends one EMDB per system for all servers.
Distributed System Architecture (DSA) allows servers to share data, alarms, messages, and
history with each other.
### EMDB Entries Downloaded to RTDB:
Changes to the EMDB are synced to the RTDBs of all servers through Configuration Studio.
EMDB is offline, so changes must be downloaded to the online RTDB to be effective.
### System Repository (SR):
Allows the CDA service to resolve tag parameters by clients to handles.
SDA service uses handles to request data from controllers.
Experion uses a push model; runtime information is sent from the ERDB and Safety Manager
database to the SR.
### Quick Builder Database Replication:
Backup and restore functionality exists for Quick Builder database redundancy.
File Replication is used to transfer backup files from the primary server to the secondary server.
Database Types:
Two types of databases are used in Experion: standard Windows and Honeywell
Windows Databases:
Active Directory: located on Domain Controllers
Security Account Manager (SAM): located on all non-domain controller machines, including
servers and stations
Honeywell Databases:
Real Time Database (RTDB): Located on Experion Servers, replicated to Console Stations in the
same cluster
Enterprise Model Database (EMDB): SQL database located on one Experion Server pair within
the system
Engineering Repository Database (ERDB): SQL database located on Experion Servers, contains
controller-related information
Quick Builder Database (QDB): SQL database located on Experion Servers, contains SCADA-
related information
Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database (DAS DB): SQL database located on Experion Servers,
contains alarm suppression information
Active Directory Information:
- Active Directory is a Windows database that contains information on:
Users and Groups: centrally managed by a System Administrator
Group Policy Objects
Computers
Subnets and various Sites
DNS Zones
- All domain controllers in the domain share the same Active Directory information, changes are
replicated.
Security Account Manager (SAM):
SAM is a standard Windows database located on each machine that is not a domain controller.
Contains Local Users and Groups.
Different on every node, Windows assigns a different security identifier (SID) to each user.
Provides 'workgroup type' security.
Honeywell Databases:
Real-Time Database (RTDB):
Each Experion Server contains its own RTDB.
The RTDB is replicated to all Console Stations in the server's cluster.
Changes made to the RTDB are replicated to the primary Experion Server and then to the
Console Stations.
Can be accessed through Station and Configuration Studio.
Enterprise Model Database (EMDB):
Located on only one Experion Server pair in the entire system.
Contains information about:
- Servers (System Model)
- Assets
- Alarm Groups
- Networking Equipment
- Downloaded to the RTDB of all servers in the system.
- Can be accessed by Configuration Studio, and changes must be downloaded to the RTDB to be
effective.
Engineering Repository Database (ERDB):
Contains control strategies for various controllers (C200, C200E, C300, UOC, vUOC).
Portions of the ERDB are downloaded to the server's RTDB, and other portions are downloaded
directly to the controller.
Quick Builder Database (QDB):
Contains information about:
- Channels
- Controllers
- Points
- Stations
- Printers
- Equipment
- EFM Meters
Downloaded to the local Experion Server's RTDB.
System Repository (SR):
Allows the CDA service to resolve tag.parameters to handles.
Handles are used to request data from controllers.
Runtime information is pushed from ERDB and Safety Manager database to the SR.
Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database (DASDB):
Contains alarm suppression information.
Located on each Experion Server.
System Model
Represents the limits of a system.
Defined by specifying the servers that are part of the system.
Allows DSA communication between all servers defined in the EMDB, regardless of system.
Asset Model:
Defines all assets within the system.
Assets are assigned to operators and stations to determine their scope of responsibility.
Similar to 'unit' in TPS.
Typically structured in a hierarchical tree.
Alarm Group Model:
Allows grouping of unrelated points for alarming purposes.
System Definition and Configuration:
Typically includes specifying networking information of nodes, switches, control firewalls, etc.
DSA Architecture:
Distributed System Architecture (DSA) allows servers to share data, alarms, messages, and
history.
Changes to the EMDB are replicated to the RTDBs of all servers.
Backup & Redundancy:
The SQL server has a backup and restore functionality for Quick Builder database redundancy.
File Replication is used to transfer backup files from the primary server to the backup.
Database Types:
- Experion uses two types of databases: standard Windows and Honeywell.
Standard Windows Databases:
Active Directory: resides on a Domain Controller.
It centrally manages users, groups, computers, subnets, sites, and DNS zones.
Changes to Active Directory are replicated to all domain controllers.
Security Account Manager (SAM): resides on all non-domain controller machines.
It contains local users and groups.
Each machine has a unique SAM database.
Honeywell Databases:
Real Time Database (RTDB) resides on each Experion Server.
RTDBs are replicated to Console Stations in the same cluster.
Contains crucial information such as users, groups, stations, assets, channels, controllers, and
points.
Enterprise Model Database (EMDB) is an SQL database residing on one Experion Server pair.
Manages the system model, assets, alarm groups, and networking equipment.
EMDB contents are downloaded to the RTDB of all servers.
Engineering Repository Database (ERDB) is an SQL database residing on Experion Servers.
Contains configuration information for C200, C200E, C300, UOC, and vUOC controllers.
Portions of the ERDB are downloaded to the RTDB and controllers.
Quick Builder Database (QDB) is an SQL database residing on Experion Servers.
Contains configuration for SCADA points and controllers, built using Quick Builder.
Data is downloaded to the RTDB of the local Experion Server.
Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database (DAS DB) is an SQL database residing on Experion Servers.
Contains alarm suppression information.
System Model:
Defines boundaries of an Experion system by listing participating servers.
Allows communication between servers, even if they are in different systems.
Asset Model:
Defines all assets within the system, assigning them to operators and stations.
Determines the scope of responsibility for operators.
Alarm Group Model:
Allows grouping of points that are not related for alarming purposes.
Single Experion System:
A single EMDB resides on one server within the system.
Distributed System Architecture (DSA) enables data sharing between servers.
ERDB:
Contains control strategies for C200/C200E, C300, UOC/vUOC, and ACE controllers.
Portions are downloaded to RTDB and controllers.
System Repository (SR):
Used by the CDA service to resolve tag parameters and request data from controllers.
Employs a push model, receiving runtime information from ERDB and Safety Manager database.
Quick Builder Database (QDB):
Contains information created with Quick Builder: channels, controllers, points, stations, printers,
equipment, and flow meters.
Uses file replication for backup redundancy.
matically replicated to all servers.
