Creating and Using Virtual DPUs

Powerful Tool for Design, Simulation, Testing and Training

WARNING

Off-line Uses of Virtual DPUs (VDPUs)

Remember the warning! Not on the same network. Test a proposed configuration change in an live but simulated DPU. NO process I/O to jury rig. No risk to process. Observe a configuration to follow control strategy interconnections. Learn how to use maxDPUTools and configure function blocks before your maxDPU upgrade is delivered. Present live data to a new or revised graphic before the configuration is installed to the process. Simulation for training purposes. Present upset scenarios.

On-line Uses of Virtual DPUs

Calculate and alarm for data that is linked into the DCS.

maxLINKS maxOPCServer maxMiscellaneousCalcs Visual Basic applications Visual C++ applications

Store, Calculate or alarm for custom applications.

Present live data to a new or revised graphic before the configuration is installed to the process.

Requirements to Run VDPUs

The host machine must be a maxSTATION. Although it is possible to run multiple VDPU in one station, some of the reasons to run them are easier to use if only one is active per host. Avoid confusion with maxDPUs and points in maxDPUs. A copy of maxDPUTools must be able to communicate with the VDPU.

Documentation that Applies to VDPUs

278594 Auxiliary Functions (Release 4.x) discusses using the Startup Configuration tool to initialize a VDPU 278707 Virtual DPU Simulation discusses use of VDPUs for training simulation. This is a worthwhile read for any application even though its scope is focused on many VDPUs and use in a simulator system 278605 maxDPU Auxiliary Functions discusses use of the VDPU backup program that allows virtual DPUs to run as pairs the same way that maxDPUs docs 278589 Atoms is the source book for function blocks

maxDNA Control Blocks

Atomic Blocks Standard Blocks Custom Blocks

maxDNA Control Blocks

Atom Categories
Categorizing the atoms is somewhat arbitrary. Various attempts have been made within the system and for purposes of description. -Input/Output Buffers (Bufs) - AIB AOB DIB DOB RTD TC

AlarmTag related
There are three atoms capable of alarming. They are the analog tagger, the digital
tagger and the alarm reporter. If the atom that being used has been given a tagname that Tagname will be used in the alarm list. - ATAG DTAG QUALFRCE

maxDNA Control Blocks

Discrete Logic (DesLog)

-Basic Gates

NOT AND -Comparisons GT LT -Triggers EDGEANY -Flip Flops

OR EQ

XOR NE EDGERISE FSTOUT

EDGEFALL

-Timers

-RESETDOM

SETDOM

NODOM

TON TOFF TPULSE -State Logic (StLog) -DEVLOG SEQMSTR SEQSTEP

maxDNA Control Blocks

Analog Math Functions (AnlFunc)

-Basic Math
ABS

ADD

MUL

DIV

MOD

EXP

POW

SQRT

-Control Math with In1 Forceback

CTLADD CTLMUL CTLDIV1 CTLDIV2

-Special Functions
CALC FUNCGEN LEADLAG SIGSEL

Modulating Control Logic (ModLog) - AUTOMAN LIMITER PID - PARTMSTR PATOUT CTLSEL

FEEDFWD PARTMEM CTLCOMB

maxDNA Control Blocks

-Steam

FLOWCOMP
-Group

LVLCOMP

STMPROP

ALMRPTR
-Testing

GRP

USROBJ

CMPT

Start a VDPU the First Time

Need to start a blank VDPU. Down load a configuration. Snapshot a configuration to an MXT file. Configure the maxSTATION Startup.

Startup Configuration Tool

Command Line Syntax

C:\mcs\atoms\maxdpu4e.exe /exp /sim /eu

/n PHLXP024 /f C:\custom\configs\PHLXP024.mxt /ip 172.16.1.22

Path to launch the maxDPU program exp exports the points to other stations using RRS sim places the buffers in simulation mode eu allows all buffers to accept percent scale inputs n the station tag name of the VDPU f the path to the MXT database to be loaded ip the IP address of the VDPU Refer to the 278707 VirtualDPUSimulation document

Download Configuration from maxDPUTools

Snapshot a Configuration to an MXT File

Snapshot button saves the file to c:\custom\configs\VDPU name\Scenario name.mxt if that path and file exist. Use the SaveAs button the first time and select the path

Configure the maxSTATION Startup

Do you want a specific configuration to load by default? Release 4 must use the administrator account and StartupConfig. Release 3 may edit c:\custom\sbp\startup.ini as engineer. Add the loading of the MXT file to the VDPU initialization. /f c:\custom\configs\operating\PHLXP024.MXT will be part of the startup record.

Build Shortcuts to start VDPUs with MXT files

On the desktop right click and select new then shortcut. Browse to the file c:\mcs\atoms\maxDPU4F.exe. Enter the VDPU name as the name of the shortcut. Edit the shortcuts properties. Add the command line switches that would be in the startup.ini or the Startup Configuration utiltiy. Save the changes.

Tools to View, Change and Save.

Up load to & Down load from maxDPUTools. On-line changes with Point Browser. Change inputs with TestSBP. maxVUE Editor and graphic objects. Snapshot the VDPU to an MXT file. Collect process history with maxSTORIAN. View process history with maxVUE Trends and Reports. Event Collector and Event Query. Everything a maxDPU can do except read an I/O module and simulate that.