High-availability PAC solution

GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has introduced a scalable high-availability solution for the company's PACSystems RX3i controller.

Built on a synchronised hot-standby redundant control platform with transparent bumpless process switchover and easy configuration, PACSystems High Availability facilitates continuous uptime in essential applications.

PACSystems RX3i High Availability is designed to keep essential systems running efficiently and reliably by connecting two independent controllers, GE Fanuc's RMX (Redundant Memory Xchange) link providing up to 2 MB of data synchronisation. If an event occurs with the primary controller, the control functionality is automatically switched over to the redundant controller for continuous operation. It serves the needs of applications where continuous uptime is essential to profitability, where bottlenecks must be avoided, remote locations where time and cost to repair is extended, and operations where work stoppage means lost production. It can be found in areas as diverse as protecting critical information in data warehouses, or ensuring water quality at water treatment plants.

GE Fanuc's RMX modules, based on reflective memory technology, synchronise the system at the beginning of the input scan and the end of output scan during each logic scan execution, to keep the controllers in lock step. The systems can be located up to 300 m apart over a 2.12 Gb/s fibre optic deterministic network.

PACSystems High Availability is designed to operate as a single, complete system, therefore eliminating the complex preparations typically associated with synchronising and data transfer. Configuration is made easy with a Redundancy Wizard that guides the user in setting up shared data and I/O for both systems.