ProcessLogix R500.1 Selection Guide

Typical

Configurations will consist of 1 non-redundant Server with up to 12 Stations 

or a Redundant Server pair and up to 8 Stations. This type of system includes 1 

or 2 Stations actively monitoring and occasional report generation.

Performance

An advanced configuration will consist of 1 non-redundant Server or a 

Redundant Server pair, and (between) 13 to 20 Stations. This system typically 

includes active monitoring from multiple Stations with or without multiple 

locations and random report generation. 

Table 3.A Database Sizing Chart

Process Configuration System Suggestion

Controllers: None

Up to 3,000 SCADA points

Minimum

Up to 6 Controllers(1)

Systems with up to 600 CM/SCM/IOM/1757-FIM

Up to 10,000 SCADA points

(1) Hybrid Controllers configured in a redundant mode should be counted as 1 Hybrid Controller.

Typical

More than 6 Controllers(1)

Systems with more than 600 CM/SCM/IOM/1757-FIM

More than 10,000 SCADA points.

Performance

Client Platform Requirements

Application Usage

Server configuration memory allocations assume Server services only. Client 

memory usage already includes the ProcessLogix Client Applications. 

However, most applications can be run on either the Servers or Station Clients. 

On minimum to typical systems, these applications may be run on the Server 

Platforms. On performance systems, the Servers should be dedicated to 

running only the Server Services. On these systems, when possible, all 

applications should be run from the Client stations.

Using the Platform Requirements Tables 3.B and 3.C as a base for memory 

usage, add on the memory requirements for each of the applications from the 

Application RAM Usage. Table 3.C is intended to be used on a regular basis.(1

Table 3.B Client Platform Requirements based on System Configurations

System Configuration Minimum Typical Performance

Processor 1 GHz Pentium III or larger 1.4 GHz Pentium III or larger 2.0 GHz Pentium IV or larger

RAM

• Windows 2000 Professional 128 MB(2) 256 MB 256/512 MB 

• Windows 2000 Server(1) 256 MB(2) 384 MB 512 MB 

Networking 10 Mb Ethernet(3) 100 Mb Ethernet 100 Mb Ethernet

Video Resolution 1024 x 768

65K colors

1024 x 768

1280x1024

65K colors

1024 x 768

1280x1024

65K colors

Video Memory (VRAM) 16MB 32MB 32MB

Hard Drive 9.1 GB 10 GB 20 GB

Example Hardware Dell Optiplex GX200 Dell Optiplex GX200 or GX240 Dell Optiplex GX240

(1) This Operating System is not optimal for hosting client applications. It may not be possible to configure server grade hardware to meet the requirements listed.

(2) In these configurations, paging may occur on these systems. Based on the intended usage of the platform, this configuration is acceptable. For better performance, 

users should upgrade the systems with an additional 128 MB of RAM.

(3) We suggest that you upgrade to 100 Mb Ethernet Networking

Low memory and CPU resources can affect Server performance in 

the following ways:

• Low memory can impact CB and Station operations such as 

display call-up and screen refresh. Background applications 

such as RSLinx and CDA can also be impacted. On occasion, 

extremely low memory resources have caused foreground and 

background applications to fail. 

• Low memory causes virtual memory to be swapped often, 

which itself is a CPU intensive operation. Therefore, low 

memory directly affects the amount of available CPU resources.

• Low CPU resources can impact communication between 

Clients and Server. Although the communication subsystem 

guarantees data delivery, low CPU resources can create 

communication bottlenecks that adversely affect the freshness 

of data displayed. 

• Low CPU resources can impact CB operations such as: opening 

charts, loading, uploading and updating project.

Control Builder Considerations

Viewing the expanded Monitoring Tab Tree View of the same 1757-PLX52 

Controller loaded with more than 500 total CMs, SCMs and IOMs from more 

than one CB client simultaneously, will severely affect the performance of the 

1757-PLX52 Controller’s communication capability, both to the Server and 

Peer-to-Peer.

Using multiple CB clients to load to multiple controllers simultaneously 

actually increases the overall load time. Do not employ this technique as a way 

to save time in loading a controller with contents.

Database operations (load, delete, upload, update, etc.) initiated from a CB 

client will affect the performance of applications that run on the backup 

Server. Remote CB clients will also be affected by these operations. For 

instance, a CB client will experience reduced performance if another CB client 

is also connected to the same Server and has requested a large database 

operation.

Control Builder supports multi-user functionality, however, it should be noted 

that there are some operations that are restricted. Specifically, if a load is 

carried out at the same time as database modifications are in progress 

(including import, copy, delete), then these operations may fail, displaying 

related error messages. Examples of such errors include: