Databases in Experion
07 March 2024 13:49
Database Types
The databases used are of two types:
Standard Windows Databases and Honeywell Databases
Let us now look at the locations of Windows Databases:
• Active Directory: This is a Windows database and resides on a Domain Controller.
• Security Account Manager (SAM): This is also a Windows database. It resides on all non-domain
controller machines, including Servers, Stations, etc.
We shall now look at the locations of Honeywell Databases
Real Time Database (RTDB):
•The RTDB resides on Experion Servers. Each Experion Server in a cluster contains its own RTDB that
is replicated to the Console Stations in its cluster.
• Enterprise Model Database (EMDB): The EMDB is an SQL database that resides on an Experion
Server. There may be multiple Experion Server pairs within a system. Only one Experion Server pair
within the system will have the EMDB for that system.
• Engineering Repository Database (ERDB): This is also an SQL database and resides on Experion
Servers. It contains Controller related information.
• Quick Builder Database (QDB): This is an SQL database that resides on the Experion Server and
contains, among other things, SCADA related information.
• Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database (DAS DB): The Dynamic Alarm Suppression Database is also
an SQL database It resides on an Experion Server and contains alarm suppression information.
Active Directory (AD)
Let us look at the different types of information stored by these databases.
Active is a standard Windows database. Among other items, it contains
• Users and Groups - Consists of Users and Groups related information which is centrally managed
by a System Administrator on a Domain.
• Group policy objects
• Computers
• Subnets and various Sites
• DNSZones
The information contained in Active Directory is the same on all domain controllers in the domain.
Any change is replicated to all other domain controllers in the domain.
EPKS L1 P2 Page 1
Security Account Manager (SAM)
Security Account Manager (SAM)
• SAM is a standard Windows database It resides on each machine which is not a domain controller.
It contains Local Users and Groups.
• SAM is different on every node. This is because Windows assigns each user a different security
identifier (orSlD). Typically, the local users and groups created in each node's SAM are given the
same names and passwords that exist in other node's SAMs. This provides 'workgroup type' security.
Overview of Honeywell Databases
Let us look at various databases.
• There is one RTDB on
Experion Server.
• There is only ONE EMDB in the
entire Experion System. An
Experion System may be made
up of multiple Experion Clusters.
• There is one ERDB on every Experion Server. The ERDB contains configuration information for
C200, C200E, C300, UOC, and vUOC.
• There is one QDB on every Experion Server. It contains, among other things, configuration for
SCADA points and controllers.
• There is an IDB on each node where the Experion Support and Maintenance (ESM) Server has been
installed. It contains node configuration information, and can reside on an Experion Server, an
EPKS L1 P2 Page 2
installed. It contains node configuration information, and can reside on an Experion Server, an
Experion Application Server, or on a non- Experion node.
• There is one Dynamic Alarm
Suppression Database (DASDB) on every Experion Server. It contains alarm suppression information.
As seen, the Experion Server in cluster one contains an ERDB, a QDB, and an RTDB. These databases
will be on every Experion Server. Notice that the server also houses the EMDB for this system.
As with ALL servers, the server in cluster two also has an ERDB, a QDB, and an RTDB. Notice that it
also has an IDB. This indicates that the Experion Support and Maintenance (ESM) Server software
was installed on this server. Also notice that it does not Have an EMDB. Finally, the server in cluster
three has the same databases that are on every Experion Server, an ERDB, QDB, and RTDB. Notice
that this server also does not have
an EMDB. All three servers in the
system are communicating via
Real-Time Database(RTDB)
Let us sæ what a typical RTDB
contains:
The RTDB houses many Experion
configuration items. A few
examples are as follows:
• Users and Groups
• Stations, namely Flex and Conso
• Assets
• Channels, Controllers and Points
and many such components of
Experion
• Each Experion Server contains its
own RTDB. The same RTDB
resides on the redundant pair
however it differs on each pair
• The RTDB from the Experion
Servers is to the
Console Stations that are part of
that Experion Server's cluster.
Changes made to the RTDB from
the Console station are made in
the RTDB which is on the primary
Experion Server. Those changes,
appropriate, are replicated to the
RTDB on the Console Station.
• The RTDB is a Honeywell specific
database, and can be accessed
EPKS L1 P2 Page 3
database, and can be accessed
through the Station, and
Configuration Studio.
Enterprise Model Database (EMDB)
An Enterprise Model database
consists of:
• Servers (System Model) that is,
the boundary which defines the
Experion System
• Assets
• Alarm Groups
• Networking Equipment
The EMDB resides only on one
Server in the entire Experion
System
Note that if A and B are redundant
servers, the EMDB resides on both,
but the master copy is on server B.
There is an option during software
installation to choose which
Experion Server you want the
EMDB to be present on.
The EMDB is downloaded to the
RTDB of all the servers in the
svstem. The EMDB is Hon
Specific usage of a standard SQL database.
EPKS L1 P2 Page 4
