What Is the Difference between Lookout Client, Server, and Runtime Copies? Primary Software: LookoutPrimary Software Version: 6.0 Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A Secondary Software: N/A
Problem: I am trying to order a Lookout system, but I am not sure what to buy. What is the difference between the Lookout packages? How can I determine which package will best suit my needs? Solution: Lookout comes in several different forms: the Development/Runtime Server, the Runtime-Only Server, and Runtime Client. You can also purchase client connection licenses. The difference between the clients and servers, and the runtime and development versions is explained below. Client vs. Server In Lookout, a server package contains driver objects. Driver objects include PLCs like Modbus or Allen-Bradley. Client packages only include display objects, like Pots and Sliders. A Lookout client should not be accessing hardware directly, this is why the client process does not include any drivers. For example, a server process would access your PLC object through a Pot. If you wanted your client to also access the PLC, the client would not use a PLC object. On the client, you would create a client pot that would connect to the server pot. The server pot then controls the PLC. So, controlling the PLC from the client actually looks like this: Client Pot -> Server Pot -> PLC. Additional tasks server and client processes should perform: Server process should: - communicate with devices - log data to Citadel database - execute control loops and control logic - define alarms - implement security (primarily network security) Note: Server process may also contain an operator interface and administer control security. The operator interface is usually used for troubleshooting purposes only. You can learn about different between network and control securities in the Lookout help. Client process should: - communicate with the server process - contain operator interface (allows to display/control the system) - view server's alarms - implement security (primarily control security) - synchronize the system time with the server Note: Client process should not perform any of the tasks the server process has assigned. In fact the Lookout client package does not support the 'server features' such as logging to Citadel or hardware communication. Development/Runtime vs. Runtime-only A development/runtime system allows you to create and edit your Lookout process files. A runtime-only system only allows you to run a process that was created on a development system. If you have a runtime-only system, and your process file has problems, you will need to edit the process file on a development machine. The runtime-only package will not allow you to make any edits or corrections. Client Connection Licenses When you have a client-server relationship (meaning that a client machine is monitoring or controlling data from the server machine), you will need a client connection license. The client connection license is installed on the server and the server needs one client connection license for each client that is connected. You need a client connection license regardless of which type of server you are using: runtime-only client, web client or another server (such as a redundant back up system). If you have already purchased client licenses and are upgrading the entire Lookout Development System, your client licenses can be carried over. Client Applications If your client is only looking at the server (i.e., it does NOT have its own hardware to control), then you can use a client version of Lookout. The runtime-only client and webclient of Lookout are both free. You can either develop the client process on the Lookout server copy or you can purchase an additional Lookout server license to specifically develop the client (for example a 50 I/O Development/Run-Time Server). Only server installations have development capabilities. Regardless of which client you decide to use, you will have to purchase a client connection licenses and install them on the server. The Enterprise packages include a server and four client connection licenses are obsolete and are now sold as two separate parts: development/run-time or run-time server and a set of 4 client connection licenses. Scenario: I will have a server process and four clients. The clients will only be looking at data from the server. What do I need to buy? You should buy one runtime\development server, and a package of four client connection licenses. You can use the runtime/development server for creating and running the server process. You can use the runtime client (free) for each of the client machines. The client processes and be developed and tested on the server and then distributed to the clients. If you want to keep your development license for developing other projects, you could also purchase a runtime-only server. This is not absolutely necessary for this scenario, because the development/run-time server could be used in running the process after it has been developed. For more information, please see the Lookout Products and Services pages, or contact a member of the National Instruments sales team. Related Links:
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Report Date: 02/15/2000 Last Updated: 08/04/2007 Document ID: 1UE69ARM |
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