1) What
does a Fully Configured FIN system
consist of?
FIN
Server running Windows XP
with the following minimum
specifications:
Intel ® 1.86 GHz, L2/dual-core
processor, 2 GB RAM
17 inch monitor
[2] 160GB SCSI Hard Drive
[1] External Ethernet Drive
for back up
[2] Ethernet NICs
Microsoft ® Office, Small
Business Edition
Norton ® Anti-Virus
Battery back up UPS with USB
communications to pc to provide
for an orderly shutdown of
operating system.
One FIN Client install (additional
clients can be purchased at
anytime)
Engineering
services:
Establish communications to factory
floor equipment
Setup of all data points
Testing of all data points
Start up
On-site training using your FIN
system
Return
to top of page 
2)
Can I just buy the FIN software,
and not a fully configured system?
Yes,
now we offer either "Fully
Configured FIN" or "FIN
Software Only".
"FIN
Software Only" is for applications
that consist of PLCs (or other intelligent
devices that support communications).
You will need to provide your own
dedicated data collection computer
(specifications below), and the
DDE or OPC I/O server for the PLC.
For
100 to 300 data point system:
P4
(or equivalent) processor,
2.0 GHZ, 512MB RAM, 80 GB
HD, Network Interface Card,
Windows ® XP
*Dedicated for only data collection
For
500 data points and larger system:
P4
(or equivalent) processor,
3.0 GHZ, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB
SCSI HD, Network Interface
Card, Windows ® XP
*Dedicated for only data collection
Return
to top of page
3)
What is involved in configuring
"FIN Software Only?
The
FIN software includes a Data Point
Editor. After configuring the I/O
Server, use the Data Point Editor
to identify the points that are
to be collected. The Data Point
Editor is used to assign each data
point a name, description, address
location, scaling and display formatting.
Once
the data points have all been configured,
you are ready to go. The FIN software
screens come pre-configured. You
don't have to create any graphics!
Return
to top of page
4)
How does FIN get the data?
This
is where the Factory Floor Experts
at FIN come in. Every system is
different, in some cases all the
data points already exist in an
intelligent device (such as a PLC).
In this case, FIN simply talks to
the PLC or the device (via commercially
available OPC or DDE I/O servers).
Any PLC modifications necessary
are included in a Fully Configured
FIN System's cost and performed
by FIN's engineers. In other cases,
the data points may exist in legacy
equipment, or not tied into any
intelligent device, then, we may
add Ethernet I/O modules to collect
the data. Serial devices, other
microprocessors, or external databases
are also no problem for FIN. We
can write custom communication drivers
or poll data from other sources.
A
critical part of a Fully Configured
FIN System is a plant review. A
FIN engineer visits your facility
and determines the best way to collect
the data you need.
Once
the data points are identified,
FIN will design the best method
of collecting the data.
Return
to top of page
5)
I already have a Wonderware , Intellution
, Cimplicity , Iconics , RSview
, CiTect , SCADA package, why do
I need FIN?
SCADA
packages are not designed to collect
data. Their primary function is
to control the process or machinery.
Most only store limited information
for 1 to 4 weeks.
FIN
brings your machine and process
data to the office in a format that
everybody can understand and utilize.
You never know when you'll need
to go back and look at data.
FIN
comes pre-configured, and the fully
configured FIN requires NO IN HOUSE
ENGINEERING. In order to get the
same information from a SCADA package
would require additional software
components, MANY engineering hours,
and possibly hiring consultants
(i.e. $$$$).
FIN
can work WITH your existing SCADA
package, leaving it free to allow
the operator to control the process---
what it was designed to do.
Exporting
reports and data to Excel can be
very cumbersome in most off-the-shelf
packages. It is just a click of
the mouse with FIN.
Trending
can also be difficult to configure
with other packages, but FIN's "drag-and-drop"
trending and auto scaling of ranges
allows anyone to start trending
data in seconds.
Return
to top of page
6) What
if I want to add a data point to
the installed system?
FIN
software includes a Data Point
Editor. Data Points can be
added, deleted or modified.
Points can be added, provided
that the communications connection
to the device is already established
-- in other words, that FIN
is already gathering data
from the device, such as a
PLC. If the point is from
a new device, a new I/O server
(or other hardware) may need
to be added in order to establish
communications with that device.
Return
to top of page
7)
What if I want to delete a data
point from the installed system?
Using
the Data Point Editor, you can delete
points. You must realize that deleting
points would also cause FIN to stop
collecting data from that point,
so this should be done with much
consideration.
Return
to top of page
8)
How do I go about getting a quotation
for a FIN system?
For
FIN Software only, please contact
the sales department for pricing.
For a Fully Configured FIN system,
we will ask you several questions
regarding approximately how many
data points you want to monitor
(FIN pricing is structured based
on data points from 100 to over
3500), and how many people would
like to have access to the data
(number of clients). Then we will
ask you about the existing control
systems and instruments. At that
point, we can give you a budgetary
quotation.
Due to the nature of data collection
and the variety of equipment on
typical factory floors, in most
cases we need to visit your facility
to look at your equipment. Part
of our expertise and knowledge is
knowing the factory floor, and providing
the best solution for collecting
the data. Our "Plant Review"
is currently FREE of charge for
serious inquiries. Upon completion
of the survey, we will send you
a detailed proposal including all
engineering and hardware required
to collect the data you need. We
can even recommend what points we
think you should collect.
It is simple, leave the data collection
to the experts… FIN!
Return
to top of page
9)
What are the minimum requirements
for the Client Station(s)?
Windows
® NT, 2000 or XP operating
system
Pentium ® 3 processor,
128 MB RAM, 10 MB of free
HD space
Return
to top of page
10)
What about upgrades and support?
You
will get one free year of telephone
support and upgrades with your FIN
software. After a year, you can
renew your support on a yearly basis
for a nominal fee.
Support for Fully Configured FIN
systems includes weekly health checks,
telephone support, access to our
customer website, and upgrades.
After a year, you can renew your
support on a yearly basis for a
nominal fee. Upon renewal, you will
receive a new removable drive to
back up your data for the coming
year.
Return
to top of page
11) What
if I already have all the points
in an existing software package
such as Wonderware , Intellution
Cimplicity , Iconics , RSview ,
CiTect or another database?
If
your data is already pulled from
the plant floor into a database,
we can usually obtain the data easily
from that software package. In most
cases, this requires little or no
additional engineering.
FIN can, in most cases easily obtain
data from any database that is ODBC
or OLEDB compliant.
Please consult a FIN engineer to
discuss your application.
Return
to top of page
12)
Is all of the data stored on my
computer all the time?
Yes,
the data is always there on
your FIN server, so you can
retrieve it whenever you need
it. We store the data points
every second on the dual hard
drives (provided as part of
a Fully Configured FIN system)
and then compress the data,
in order save disk space.
A 160 GB hard drive can store
7 years of data for a typical
500 point system made up of
250 digital and 250 analog
data points. Similarly, the
historical data generated
by a 200 point system can
be stored for over 16 years!
All Fully configured FIN systems
ship with an external Ethernet hard
drive. The system will be configured
to back up the data once per day,
so you never lose your data. Not
only is the data stored on dual
hard drives, but the back up drive
gives you TRIPLE redundancy! Upon
renewal of your FIN yearly subscription,
a new removable drive will be sent
to you, so you can securely store
the previous year's data.
All FIN servers (supplied
with Fully Configured FIN)
are also shipped with a DVD
+/-RW drive that will allow
you to back up your data onto
DVDs as well.
The data collected can also
be easily saved to a network
drive using Windows Explorer
®.
Return
to top of page
13) What
happens when I run out of disk space
or my hard drive crashes?
The
FIN software monitors critical computer
system points. One of these points
is hard drive disk free space. You
can set up an alarm to alert you
when the free space falls below
a specified number. Utilizing this
feature will insure that you never
lose any data.
Return
to top of page
14)
We need to insure that our data
can not be changed. Will FIN meet
this requirement?
Yes!
The data collected by FIN can never
be modified. It stays in its originally
collected state.
Return
to top of page
15) What if I
want to automatically generate reports?
The
Fully Configured FIN comes with
our "Report Server" software.
The Report Server allows you to
automatically generate reports that
have been configured in a FIN client
and post them to a web page on the
FIN server. (Report Server is not
included with FIN Software only.)
Return
to top of page
16)
Do I need to purchase a FIN Client
to view reports that are posted
on the web page?
No,
anybody who has Internet Explorer
® and access to the FIN
Server computer can view the
reports.
The reports can also be copied and
pasted into other software packages
such as Microsoft Excel ®
Return
to top of page
17)
Do I need to know how to create
web pages to use the Report Server?
No,
you simply need to identify the
report, time for the report to run,
and the interval you would like
to run the report.
The web page is already created
on the FIN Server. Once the reports
are enabled, they are automatically
posted on the page. No web design
required!
Return
to top of page
* - Excel®
is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation
