SimSync Engine

The SimSync Engine controls the time, trending, and alarms on the Foxboro FoxView, Foxboro Evo, InTouch and InTouch Historian Client workstations and SCP machines. The SimSync Engine freezes the trends when the simulation is frozen so that the trends do not "flat line". The SimSync Engine archives alarms in the snapshot. The SimSync Engine maintains constant trend ramp rates when the simulation speed is increased or decreased. It does this by adjusting the time displayed on the trend. If the simulation is run faster than real time (> 100%) the "current time" shown at the right side of the trend time span will advance faster than the wall clock time. If the simulation is run slower than real time (< 100%) the "current time" shown at the right side of the trend time span will advance slower than the wall clock time. This skewed simulation time can be confusing because the time shown on a trend or on an alarm may be in the future or in the past with respect to the computer system time.

The SimSync Engine is required on every SCP machine for precise speed control of SCP Apps and correct alarm timestamp when running faster/slower than real time. The SimSync Engine resolution setting controls the resolution of alarm timestamps. A large SimSync Engine resolution value (number of time slices per second) produces more alarm timestamp granularity than a small resolution value. The granularity increases the user’s ability to determine which alarm came in first when a large groups of alarms is generated but has the potential to limit the simulation maximum speed.

The SimSync Engine allows the DYNSIM Simulation Executive to control the simulation time-related functions associated with the HMI. These functions include:

• freeze and run the simulation

• save and restore the snapshots (tags, trends, alarms)

Simulation time control, through the DYNSIM Simulation Executive, includes freeze, run, fast and slow time as well as snapshot save and restore.

If you are using InTouch, you will need an additional software for using SimSyncEngine. Refer to the Foxboro Evo Simulation / System Platform Simulation documentation for details. When the SimSyncEngine is running, the InTouch internal time tags, clocks, trend time scale, timers, and alarm times are managed through simulation. Animations and scripts execute with the simulation time control — they do not execute if the simulation is frozen and execute at the simulation rate when the simulation is running. For example, if the simulator runs at 50%, animations and scripts execute at 50%.

The SimSyncEngine uses Windows memory mapped file technology to share simulation time with the "attached" applications, such as InTouch and Wonderware Historian Client, and to provide snapshot triggers.

Note: the SimSyncEngine has an internal limit of 400% simulation speed. It cannot run faster than 400%. The user should not enter a speed setpoint greater than 400% into DYNSIM.

Note: when configuring a simulation, multiple instances of SimSyncEngine are required. They should be available on every computer where InTouch or Foxboro ControlHMI, Wonderware Historian Client, or HistorianSim software has been installed, including:

• An Operator Workstation running ControlHMI (AppA)

• An Historical Collector machine running a Historian Application (AppH)

• A Wonderware Historian Server or AIM* Server machine (AppE)

• Any CP Host machines running an SCPEngine

• A Galaxy Database Repository (Foxboro Evo)

• Any other Foxboro Evo workstations connected to the simulator

• Any machine running InTouch or Wonderware Historian Client

• Any machine running FoxView / FoxDraw