Pepperl Fuchs VisuNet Control Center Version 4 Users guide

VisuNet Control Center
Version 4

Manual

With regard to the supply of products, the current issue of the following document is applicable: The
General Terms of Delivery for Products and Services of the Electrical Industry, published by the Central
Association of the Electrical Industry (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik und Elektroindustrie (ZVEI) e.V.)
in its most recent version as well as the supplementary clause: "Expanded reservation of proprietor­ship"

Worldwide

Pepperl+Fuchs Group

Lilienthalstr. 200

68307 Mannheim

Germany

Phone: [phone] - 0

E-mail: [e-mail]

North American Headquarters

Pepperl+Fuchs Inc.

1600 Enterprise Parkway

Twinsburg, Ohio 44087

USA

Phone: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Asia Headquarters

Pepperl+Fuchs Pte. Ltd.

P+F Building

18 Ayer Rajah Crescent

Singapore 139942

Phone: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

https://www.pepperl-fuchs.com

VisuNet Control Center Version 4

Contents

1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 5

1.1 Note................................................................................................................. 5

1.2 Content of this Document............................................................................. 5

1.3 Target Group, Personnel ............................................................................... 5

1.4 Symbols Used ................................................................................................ 6

2 Product Description ..................................................................................................7

2.1 Overview......................................................................................................... 7

2.2 Program features........................................................................................... 7

2.3 Licensing ........................................................................................................ 8

2.4 Installation...................................................................................................... 9

3 VisuNet CC Setup .................................................................................................... 10

3.1 Main Structure (User Interface).................................................................. 10

3.2 Device Structure .......................................................................................... 15

4 Manage (Home)........................................................................................................ 16

4.1 Group Management..................................................................................... 16

4.2 View............................................................................................................... 17

4.3 Group Actions ..............................................................................................18

4.4 Device Backup ............................................................................................. 25

4.5 User Management........................................................................................ 25

4.6 About............................................................................................................. 27

5 Manage (Device)...................................................................................................... 28

5.1 Device Function Tiles .................................................................................. 28

5.1.1 Device Status................................................................................... 29

5.1.2 Device Settings (Tile)....................................................................... 30

5.2 Device Settings (Ribbon)............................................................................ 35

5.3 Device Management ....................................................................................35

5.4 Device Commands....................................................................................... 45

5.5 Device Backup ............................................................................................. 51

5.6 Profile Clipboard.......................................................................................... 64

5.7 Profiles.......................................................................................................... 64

6 "How Tos" ................................................................................................................. 66

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Contents

6.1 Preparing an RM / BTC for Centralized Management...............................66

6.2 Connecting to an RM / BTC .........................................................................66

6.3 Uploading a Configuration to an RM / BTC................................................ 68

6.4 Shadowing a Session ..................................................................................70

6.5 Creating a New Local User..........................................................................70

6.6 Build up a connection with your own certificate via Session Shadowing

to increase the security level...................................................................... 71

7 Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................77

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VisuNet Control Center Version 4

Introduction

1 Introduction

1.1 Note

This manual revision was released with VisuNet® Control Center version 4.7 but also covers all
previous versions of VisuNet Control Center 4.

1.2 Content of this Document

This document contains information that you need in order to use your product throughout the
applicable stages of the product life cycle. These can include the following:

• Product identification

• Delivery, transport, and storage

• Mounting and installation

• Commissioning and operation

• Maintenance and repair

• Troubleshooting

• Dismounting

• Disposal

Note

This document does not substitute the instruction manual.

Note

For full information on the product, refer to the instruction manual and further documentation on
the Internet at www.pepperl-fuchs.com.

The documentation consists of the following parts:

• Present document

• Instruction manual

• Datasheet

Additionally, the following parts may belong to the documentation, if applicable:

• EU-type examination certificate

• EU declaration of conformity

• Attestation of conformity

• Certificates

• Control drawings

• Additional documents

1.3 Target Group, Personnel

Responsibility for planning, assembly, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and dismount­ing lies with the plant operator.

Only appropriately trained and qualified personnel may carry out mounting, installation, com­missioning, operation, maintenance, and dismounting of the product. The personnel must have
read and understood the instruction manual and the further documentation.

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Introduction

Prior to using the product make yourself familiar with it. Read the document carefully.

1.4 Symbols Used

This document contains symbols for the identification of warning messages and of informative
messages.

Warning Messages

You will find warning messages, whenever dangers may arise from your actions. It is mandatory
that you observe these warning messages for your personal safety and in order to avoid prop­erty damage.

Depending on the risk level, the warning messages are displayed in descending order as fol­lows:

Danger!

This symbol indicates an imminent danger.

Non-observance will result in personal injury or death.

Warning!

This symbol indicates a possible fault or danger.

Non-observance may cause personal injury or serious property damage.

Caution!

This symbol indicates a possible fault.

Non-observance could interrupt the device and any connected systems and plants, or result in
their complete failure.

Informative Symbols

Note

This symbol brings important information to your attention.

Action

This symbol indicates a paragraph with instructions. You are prompted to perform an action or
a sequence of actions.

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Product Description

2 Product Description

2.1 Overview

The VisuNet Control Center (VisuNet CC) is a software tool for the centralized management of
Pepperl+Fuchs VisuNet Remote Monitors (RMs) and Box Thin Clients (BTCs). The software

can be installed on any Windows®-based PC, such as a service Notebook or a virtualized Engi­neering Workstation. It allows remote setup, management, and maintenance of all RMs and
BTCs that are connected to the same network infrastructure. VisuNet CC offers the following
valuable functions:

• Remotely set up device configuration (e.g., hostname) of an RM / BTC

• Create and edit remote profiles (e.g., a RDP connection profile) on an RM / BTC

• Clone device settings and profiles from one RM / BTC to another RM / BTC

• Copy one or multiple remote profiles from one RM / BTC to another RM / BTC via copy

and paste function keys of the keyboard or via the copy and paste icons in the ribbon

• Monitor operators’ screens and support them remotely via session shadowing

• Update system firmware

• Restart and reboot an RM / BTC

Note

VisuNet CC is compatible with all Pepperl+Fuchs devices with pre-installed RM Shell 4.1
firmware or newer.

Tip

VisuNet CC provides further information for several functions via tool tips. Please hover with the
mouse cursor over a user interface item (e.g. button) to get tool tip information.

Caution!

Time settings

The Time zone, Time and Date Settings of the RM Shell and the VisuNet CC must be identical,
otherwise the time is invalid and a synchronization is not possible.

The maximum feasible Date and time difference is 12 h.

2.2 Program features

The VisuNet Control Center allows the user to manage all HMI systems with RM Shell 5 as well
as RM Shell 4.1 or newer from a central location. Therefore, the administrators no longer need
to enter hazardous areas or other restricted areas like clean rooms to setup or maintain a
Remote Monitor or box thin client. Instead, access to the Remote Monitors is granted from a
central location, which saves time and costs.

Via the VisuNet Control Center, connection profiles can be created for a Remote Monitor and
then transferred to other devices. Firmware updates are realized with a single click. In addition,
the user can connect to any Remote Monitor with RM Shell 5 or 4, monitor the device status
and the screen content or even take over control remotely. This simplifies support and signifi­cantly increases the availability of the devices.

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Product Description

Figure 2.1

• Efficient, centralized remote configuration (e.g. device settings, remote profiles)

• Easy and simplified Maintenance (e.g. security patches and updates)

• Monitoring and remote support (e.g. secured session shadowing via own own public key

certificate)

• Optimally aligned to P+F Firmware Shell 5 and 4

• Mass configuration and profile copying to multiple devices

• Wizards that guide users simply through the different processes

2.3 Licensing

VisuNet Control Center can be downloaded from the Pepperl+Fuchs website. Visit www.pep­perl-fuchs.com and use the search term “VISUNET-CONTROL-CENTER.”

To unlock the VisuNet CC management interface on an RM / BTC, an additional license must
be entered.

Item number Type code Description

#548284 VISUNET-RM-SHELL5-CC One license per RM Shell 5 device required to

#548285 VISUNET-RM-SHELL5-CC 55 licenses keys to enable VisuNet Control

#548286 VISUNET-RM-SHELL5-CC 1010 licenses keys to enable VisuNet Control

#548287 VISUNET-RM-SHELL5-CC 3030 licenses keys to enable VisuNet Control

#548288 VISUNET-RM-SHELL5-CC 5050 licenses keys to enable VisuNet Control

#548024 VISUNET-RM-SHELL5-CC One license per RM Shell 4 device required to

#548030 VISUNET-RM-SHELL4-CC 55 licenses keys to enable VisuNet Control

#548031 VISUNET-RM-SHELL4-CC 1010 licenses keys to enable VisuNet Control

#548032 VISUNET-RM-SHELL4-CC 3030 licenses keys to enable VisuNet Control

Table 2.1

unlock the VisuNet CC interface.

Center

Center

Center

Center

unlock the VisuNet CC interface.

Center

Center

Center

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Product Description

2.4 Installation

VisuNet CC can be installed via a standard installer. Follow the installation wizard to perform
the installation. The software is tested for Microsoft® Windows® 7, but can be installed on any
newer Windows® operating system version that supports the Microsoft® .NET Framework (ver-

sion 4.5.2).

Tip

The firewall on either a service PC or Pepperl+FuchsRM / BTC will be configured automatically.
During the installation the firewall rules will be activated.

For individual firewall settings at your service PC use the following ports:

• VisuNet CC Discovery UDP 3702 and 137

• VisuNet CC Download/Upload TCP 8023

• VisuNet CC Session Shadowing TCP 5900

• VisuNet CC Default Secure Tunnel Port TCP 22314

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VisuNet CC Setup

3 VisuNet CC Setup

VisuNet CC uses a project-based approach. This means that the configuration of RMs /BTCs
can be stored in a file, e.g., on the local hardware drive, or shared among different computers
running VisuNet CC.

All configuration changes made in VisuNet CC are stored locally. To synchronize the local con­figuration that is stored in a project with the configuration on the RMs / BTCs use the "down­load" function of VisuNet CC. This function loads the configuration from an RM / BTC into the
local representation in the project file.

To apply changes to an RM / BTC, the changes must be uploaded to the RM / BTC. Use the
“upload” function to upload the configuration to an RM / BTC. This allows the modification of
configurations even when an RM / BTC is offline.

VisuNet CC Wizard:

Whenever actions need to be perfomed for multiple devices it is necessary to perform these
with the VisuNet CC Wizard.The Wizard guides you with a sequence of dialog boxes through
defiend steps and turns complex tasks into easy executable steps.

3.1 Main Structure (User Interface)

To find all your devices in the network, use the “Scan for Remote Monitors” icon.

Figure 3.1

All online devices, Remote Monitors and Box Thin Clients are listed.

Note

If your device is not listed, you can use the “Add Device” function and add a device manually by
stating the IP address.

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Figure 3.2 User Interface Main - Home Structure

VisuNet CC’s user interface is divided into three main sections:

1 Tabbed toolbars: In the toolbar the following tabs can be selected:

File: Click the "File" tab in the top-left corner of the VisuNet CC screen to enter the

file view.

Figure 3.3

VisuNet CC Settings

Select "Options" from the navigation bar to adjust VisuNet CC settings. The following settings
can be adjusted:

Figure 3.4

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Function Description

Open/Close Timeout Specifies the time VisuNet CC waits for an answer from the RM /

Connection Timeout Specifies the time VisuNet CC waits for an answer from the RM /

Refresh Cycle Timeout Specifies the time intervals in which VisuNet CC automatically

Maintenance Access Tim­eout

Max simultaneous Actions: Specifies the number of actions performed simultaneously.

BTC during establishing/closing of a connection before a timeout
occurs. Increase the timeout, when there are problems establish­ing a connection to device.

BTC when a connection has been established before a timeout
occurs.

polls the connected RM / BTC for new device information.
Increase the timeout, if connections are interrupted at short
notice from time to time.

Specifies the time the local operator is given to respond to the
dialog prompt before the maintenance mode is automatically
entered.

Note: Multiple simultaneous action can cause high network traf­fic, resulting in high latencies for other devices on the network.

Home: Click the "Home" tab in the top-left corner of the VisuNet CC screen to enter
the home view.

There are two different “Home” ribbon toolbars, depending on if a device is selected or the
group view is active

Figure 3.5 Ribbon toolbar, when the group view is activated

Figure 3.6 Ribbon toolbar (reduced), when one device is selected

Device: the device ribbon toolbar will only appear when a device is selected
Click the "Device" tab in the top-left corner of the VisuNet CC screen to enter the
device view

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Figure 3.7

For detailed information on the icons and their functions, see chapter 3.2.

2 Ribbon toolbar

On the toolbar, all available functions that can be performed in the mode currently in
use, are grouped together.
For detailed information on the icons and their functions, see chapter 3.2.

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3 Navigation menu

• The navigation menu lists all RMs/BTCs, that have been found during a network

scan or have been added manually.

• The navigation menu list shows offline RMs/BTCs, that have been added to the

project.

• The navigation menu allows RMs/BTCs to be added to group folders. With this

feature, RMs/BTCs can be grouped according to their location.

• The devices can be right-clicked to open a top down menu with quick access.

4 Main screen: In the center of the user interface, the main information is displayed.

Click "Remote Monitors" in the navigation menu to view an overview of all devices. "Tile view"
is the default mode. This mode displays a live screenshot of each device.

Figure 3.8

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Based on the mode currently in use, the information for a RM/BTC, a group of
RMs/BTCs or a general device overview either as list or tile view is presented.

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VisuNet CC Setup

Click either on the ribbon tool bar or in the upper right corner to switch to list
view. This mode displays a table of the devices with information about their online status, IP
addresses, VisuNet RM Shell version and serial number.

Figure 3.9

The single tiles or devices in the table are selectable by clicking. One or more RMs/BTCs can
be selected to perform either single or group actions (ctrl + click to select multiple devices in
the tile view).

After double-clicking, the selected device is displayed.

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3.2 Device Structure

To get further information of the single devices, use the double-click either in the navigation
menu or at the list or tile view in the main screen.

This mode allows you to manage individual devices. The settings, information, and functions
available in this view are divided into 4 general sections.

Figure 3.10

1 Ribbon toolbar

For further information regarding the control and manage elements see chapter 5.

2 Navigation menu

3 Device function tiles including the list of profiles.

4 Action History list that contains all executed actions and all actions currently being

For further information regarding the control and manage elements refer to the
Device Function Tiles Chapter.

executed.

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Manage (Home)

4 Manage (Home)

In this chapter group actions and features are explained. The following actions can be executed
when the remote monitor overview and the home tab are activated.

Figure 4.1

4.1 Group Management

Figure 4.2

The Group Management helps you to organize your remote monitors. The different groups are
the basis for the group actions.

Static Groups

An RM / BTC may be assigned to either one or zero groups. These groups are represented by
a folder in the navigation menu. To assign a device to a group, click “Remote Monitors” in the
navigation menu from list view mode. Click the group cell for the RM / BTC that you would like
to assign, and assign it to the group you would like it to be in. Alternatively, click, hold, and drag
an RM / BTC into a group folder on the navigation menu. To keep the assignment of an RM /
BTC to a group, you must save the project.

Figure 4.3 Static groups

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Manage (Home)

Dynamic Groups

Dynamic groups allow you to filter your list of RMs / BTCs based on their current online status.

To add a dynamic group, click “Add Dynamic Group” on the ribbon tool bar. You must assign it a
name, and you can select which online statuses you would like to see when viewing the
dynamic group. To keep a dynamic group, you must save the project.

Figure 4.4 Create dynamic group window

4.2 View

Figure 4.5

Depending on your required actions either chose List View or Tile view. In both views multiple
devices can be selected. Double click a device in either view or in the navigation menu to
switch from device group view to device detail view.

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Manage (Home)

4.3 Group Actions

Group actions allow you to perform actions on multiple devices with only one time set-up. This
allows remote, multi device management which decreases set up times and therefore costs.

All group actions are performed via a Pepperl+Fuchs wizard, which guides you through the sin­gle steps of your action. The wizards support you when down- or uploading multiple device set­tings, shutting down or restarting multiple devices, update multiple devices with a newer
firmware or cleanup the disk of multiple devices.

Figure 4.6

Performing a Group Action via Wizard

Select your required devices by using one of the following methods:

1.

Switch to "List View" mode.

2.

Select one or more RMs / BTCs from your list of devices.

Figure 4.7 Selecting RMs for group actions

3.

Switch to “Tile View” mode.

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Manage (Home)

Figure 4.8

4.

Select one or more RMs / BTCs by holding down the Ctrl key and click any device you would
like to add.

5.

Perform the same selection procedure within the static or dynamic groups.

Performing Action

1.

Click the required action icon.

Figure 4.9 Restart Wizard: Target Devices

A window of the wizard appears that guides you through all the actions.

2.

Double check if the right devices are selected. Further devices can be added or removed from
the selection.

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Manage (Home)

3.

Figure 4.10

Click "Next".

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Figure 4.11 Restart Wizard: Select "Restart Options"

4.

Select one of the options and click "Next".

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Figure 4.12 Restart Wizard: Summary

In the ongoing steps you always have the option to move backwards and adjust your selec-

tion.

5.

In the Summary recheck your selections and click "Execute" to proceed further.

Figure 4.13 Restart Wizard: Restart Devices

When every device status is set to "Success", the performed action is completed and the

wizard can be finished.

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Manage (Home)

Firmware Update Wizard

The Firmware Update Wizard supports you in updating your latest version of the firmware e.g.
VisuNet RM Shell 5.0.2 to VisuNet RM Shell 5.0.3.

Note

The Firmware Update Wizard is not the right tool to upgrade VisuNet RM Shell 4 to VisuNet RM
Shell 5. Use the Quick Start Guide which is provided when purchasing the Upgrade Kit to get
further information.

Updating Firmware

Figure 4.14 Firmware Update Wizard: Select Update

1.

Select "Firmware Update File" and click "Open". You can find the latest available update on
www.pepperl-fuchs.com and download the Zip file.

2.

In step "Target devices", select required devices as described above. Double check if the right
devices are selected. Further devices can be added or removed from the selection. By clicking

, get detailed information about the selected device regarding communication status,
enabled or disabled Write Filter or if your installed versions are compatible and supported. If
your status has a red exclamation mark, follow the information provided.

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Manage (Home)

Figure 4.15 Select your target device

Communication Status Offline Make sure your device is

Write Filter Write Filter is enabled. Please

deactivate the write filter.

RM Shell Version Incompatible RM Shell Ver-

sion.

OS Version Unsupported OS Version.

Please download the relevant
update for your OS.

Disk Space Not sufficient storage avail-

able. Please use the Cleanup
Disk Wizard.

online.

Please refer to chapter
"Device Commands" to dis­able the Write Filter by restart­ing the device.

Refer to the RM Shell and
Image version in the Device
Status to check on your RM
Shell version. Use the correct
update, available online.

Refer to the Software informa­tion in the About tile in your
RM Shell to check on which
Operating System your device
is based on.

Please use the Cleanup Wiz­ard. If the storage after clean­ing up the disk is still not
sufficient we recommend to
update your device with the
latest factory reset version
>6.0. This will adapt your par­tition and increase the avail­able storage.

3.

Click "Next".

4.

In the summary recheck your selections and click "Execute" to proceed further.

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When every device Status is set to "Success", the performed action is completed and the

wizard can be finished

Broadcast Message

1.

With one or more RMs selected, click the "Broadcast Message" icon.

Figure 4.16 Broadcast Message Window

2.

Type a message into the space provided. Click "OK".

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Figure 4.17 Fly-in message on RM Screen

The text that you entered appears in a fly-in message to the users of the selected RMs.

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