zenon SNMP Server for a perfect overview. COPA-DATA connects the world of processes with network management.

More overview, faster response times and better utilization of resources for enterprises - delivered by COPA-DATA and its new zenon SNMP Server. This makes zenon the first HMI/SCADA system that can be monitored from a Network Management System. The previously separated worlds of process control systems and network management are growing together and can now cooperate efficiently. Especially companies operating remote and unmanned stations can benefit from the new zenon SNMP Server.

SNMP, the standard protocol for network management, allows monitoring and controlling network elements like routers, servers, switches, printers etc. from a central station. However, monitoring with Network Management Systems (NMS) does not work perfectly. On the one hand, it is restricted to components from classical Ethernet/TCP/IP networks. On the other hand, it often runs only device-specifically, which means that, for example, a PC can be monitored, but not the application running on it. This means that the system is not completely secure.

zenon closes this security gap by integrating devices of the process control system that were previously unreachable. The zenon SNMP Server works as a gateway between the process and applications on higher levels. This gives the engineer a lot more options. First, he can have applications monitored directly. Second, he can access all devices on the process level. An example:

A user operates unmanned stations all over a country. Thanks to the zenon SNMP Server he always knows about the state of field devices, PLCs and the complete HMI/SCADA application. For example: an unmanned facility can quickly reach a critical state if an application fails without being noticed. With the zenon SNMP Server, this failure is reported immediately and the operator can react quickly and efficiently.

The zenon SNMP Server accesses all process relevant devices, gets their variable values and forwards them to the Network Management System; which in turn evaluates and displays parts of the process image of the control system and reacts accordingly. There is even an active notice when the zenon application quits.

By the way, zenon comes with its own SNMP driver and can thus act like an NMS. This means that users can choose: integrate zenon in the existing NMS - or use zenon for monitoring right away.

Head of Support Wolfgang Moser: “With the new SNMP Server, zenon can be integrated into IT Network Management Systems. Once more, COPA-DATA makes sure that the user has a perfect overview over the running processes and that he can react quickly. This delivers better security and a more efficient use of resources.”