The System Configuration module is used by the system designer to set up individual stations (Single-User, Server or Operator Stations) of the IGSS System, configuring all stations from one access point on the IGSS server.

The System Configuration module is also used to set up and enable communication between IGSS and the data collection devices, typically PLC machines and also to define and configure the communication drivers and the IGSS system for use.

The system designer can use the System Configuration module to define the system-wide data collection and data reduction settings, setting up the intervals which the data collection devices are scanned for process values and defining the requirements for data collection – for instance if a process value has experienced a 5% change in value. These requirements are then used to define the individual data collection parameters on the IGSS objects connected to the data collection devices.

Parameters for data reduction calculations are also defined – for instance if data reduction should take place every 2 minutes or every 30 minutes. These values are then used to define the individual data reduction intervals on the IGSS objects connected to the data collection devices.

The System Configuration module also allows the system designer to…

• Set up the IGSS server and operator stations, specifying connections, IP addresses and back-up addresses.
• Define placement of project-specific folders and files, such as the Project and Report folder as well as Custom Reports, Dashboard and Job Scheduler folders and files.
• Set up connections to external databases for example Microsoft SQL databases. The Microsoft SQL database can be used to store process and log data for the IGSS configuration, storing such data as Audit Trail and Maintenance data as well as normal process data from the monitored process.
• Set up back up folders for Alarm, Log, Dashboard, Maintenance, Reduced Data and Historic data.
• Define which data is to be logged in the Audit Trail database.
• Define the parameters and the duration for data collected by IGSS. Some data is to be retained for long periods of time, while other data can be removed and disregarded after a short period of time.
• Set up access control parameters for users and for alarm settings.
• Define Alarm parameters.
• Set up the Supervise module for operator usage, selecting which options in the Supervise module an operator may access such as moving or resizing diagrams, displaying object and diagram descriptions and permitting alarm inhibiting.
• Set up manual or Auto start options for the IGSS Master.
• Define which applications are available to the operator at start-up as well as which applications are to start automatically.
• Set up report parameters such as log and alarm printers, report-specific texts and logo’s, report output (HTML or Excel format) and set up SMTP servers for emailing reports.