iFIX 6.

1
Using Remote Desktop Services

GE Digital Proficy Historian and Operations Hub: Data Analysis in Context 1

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Table of Contents

Using Remote Desktop Services with iFIX 1

Reference Documents 1

Introduction to Remote Desktop Services 2

Using iClientTS 2

Understanding the iFIX and Remote Desktop Services 3

File System Support 5

Where to Find More Information on Remote Desktop Services 5

Installing and Configuring iFIX with Windows Remote Desktop Services 7

Overview of the Setup Steps for Remote Desktop Services 7

Step1: Determining User Types and Directories 7

Planning User Types 8

Planning SCU Directories for iFIX 8

Planning Shared Directories 9

Understanding Project Directory Paths 9

Step 2: Installing iFIX 10

To install iFIX: 10

Installing iFIX over an Uninstall 10

Running iFIX as a Service on the Remote Desktop Session Host 10

Step 3: Installing the Virtual Keyboard on Remote Desktop Session Host and Clients 11

To install the virtual keyboard: 11

Step 4: Configuring the SCU 11

Defining Project Directory Paths 12

To create a project in the SCU: 12

Notes on Project Paths 13

Disabling SCADA Support for Client SCUs 14

Defining iFIX Global Security Paths 14

Upgrading SCU Files from a Previous iFIX Release 15

To upgrade the iFIX default files: 15

Configuring User Accounts to Use a Unique Set of Schedules 16

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. i

 To configure user accounts to use a unique set of schedules: 16

Step 5: Creating Startup Profiles 16

Configuring the Options for the Startup Profile Manager 17

To change the options for the Startup Profile Manager: 17

Configuring the Default Profile 17

To define the default profile: 18

Adding Startup Profiles 19

To add a startup profile: 19

More on Startup Profiles 20

TIP: Creating User Defined Desktop Shortcuts to Start iFIX 20

To create a desktop with the settings currently specified in the iFIX Startup dialog box: 21

TIP: Using the Application Validator to Take a Snapshot of Your Project Folders 21

EXAMPLE: Configuring Remote Desktop Services with iFIX Running As a Service 22

To build the service SCU on Terminal Server: 22

To create the guest SCU: 23

To create the administrative SCU: 24

To create startup profiles for your users: 25

To verify that the administrative account logs in with the PAUL startup profile: 25

To verify that other users log in with the GUEST startup profile: 26

iFIX WorkSpace Toolbars and Remote Desktop Services 26

Securing the Remote Desktop Services Environment 26

To specify the program that starts when the user logs on to the Remote Desktop Services: 27

To disable the Ctrl+Alt+Delete function: 27

Installing and Configuring Remote Desktop Sessions 29

Configuring a Remote Desktop Services to Connect to a Host 29

To connect a client to Remote Desktop Session Host in Windows: 29

Logging on to a Remote Desktop Web Connection 31

To connect to a Remote Desktop Services: 31

Optimizing iFIX for use with Remote Desktop Services 32

Optimizing iFIX 32

Using Deadband Values 32

ii © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Using Refresh Rates 32

Disabling Picture Caching 33

Using Bitmaps 33

Disabling Smooth Scrolling 33

To disable smooth scrolling: 34

Using Auto Scale 34

Optimizing the Remote Desktop Session Host 34

Modifying the Encryption Rate 34

To change the encryption rate: 34

Disabling Client Wallpaper 34

To disable the wallpaper: 35

Deleting Temporary Folders 35

To delete temporary folders upon exiting: 35

Disabling Active Desktop 35

To disable Active Desktop: 35

Third-party Thin Client Software and Hardware 35

Citrix Presentation Server 36

Automation Control Products (ACP) ThinManager 36

Optimizing New iFIX Pictures for Use with Remote Desktop Capable Devices 36

Troubleshooting Your iFIX and Remote Desktop Services Environment 37

Isolating Your Remote Desktop Connection Problem 37

Troubleshooting Specific Issues with Remote Desktop Services 38

Troubleshooting Known Issues with Remote Desktop Services 39

Index 41

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. iii

 Using Remote Desktop Services with iFIX

Using Remote Desktop Services with iFIX is intended for system integrators, IT administrators, and pro-
cess control engineers responsible for setting up and optimizing your iFIX with Remote Desktop Ser-
vices environment.

This help assumes familiarity with Microsoft® Windows® Server, Remote Desktop Services (Terminal
Services) and/or Citrix® technologies including licensing, and your network environment.
IMPORTANT: Be aware, that starting with Windows Server 2008 R2, Remote Desktop Services was
renamed Remote Desktop Services.

Reference Documents
For more information on iFIX, the System Configuration Utility (SCU), iFIX Security, and the iFIX Envir-
onment, refer to the following:

l Optimizing Your iFIX System

l Mastering iFIX
l Configuring Security Features
l Setting up the Environment

For more information on installing and configuring Microsoft Terminal Services, refer to the Microsoft
Remote Desktop Services online documentation and the Microsoft Windows Server 2012 or Microsoft
Windows Server 2008 Help. To access the Microsoft Windows Help, position your cursor over any
empty space on the Windows desktop and press F1.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 1

 Introduction to Remote Desktop Services

Remote Desktop Services for Microsoft Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
allow you to centrally manage and execute iFIX®. The Remote Desktop Services environment is a thin-
client architecture where all application processing occurs centrally on the Server.

By installing a small piece of thin-client software from Microsoft or connecting through an Internet
Explorer 5.5 (or higher) browser, thin clients are able to initiate and run individual instances of iFIX on the
Server. Only graphic, keyboard, and mouse instructions are sent back and forth between the client and
the Server, minimizing network traffic.

Using Remote Desktop Services with iFIX provides:

Ease of maintenance – You can install one copy of iFIX onto the Server, allowing multiple users to run
clients from the Server. Upgrades and SIMs only need to be installed on the Server.

Shared pictures – Each user accesses the same set of pictures. When one picture is changed, all
users get the changes.

Remote access – Using the Remote Desktop Services Advanced Client (TSAC) or Remote Desktop
Protocol (RDP), clients can connect to the iFIX Server/Remote Desktop Session Host and access
iFIX through Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher.

Built-in RDP in Windows – Windows Clients can connect using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and
access iFIX through Internet Explorer.

Security – Data between the iFIX Remote Desktop Session Host and the client session is encrypted.
There is also additional security between the client machines and the iFIX Remote Desktop Session
Host.

Lightweight client machines – The iFIX Remote Desktop Session Host locally processes the software
that the clients execute. Clients connecting to the Server do not need the processing power usually
required to run iFIX. This allows clients running platforms from other Windows platforms to execute
iFIX through Remote Desktop Services.

Specialized environments – Terminal Services allows you to tightly control user accounts. For
example, you can configure a user account to start and execute a single program (iFIX). iFIX auto-
matically starts at log in, and the user does not have access to the Windows desktop. When the user
exits iFIX, he logs out of the Terminal Server account.

Handheld environments – Terminal Services gives you the ability to use wireless handhelds to display
iFIX screens.

Controlled access to files – Using the Windows file protection, you can limit the directories users are
allowed to access and modify. File protection also allows you to create safe and separate envir-
onments for developing and testing new pictures.

Using iClientTS

iClientTS™ provides a multi-session version of iFIX client software (iClient) that runs on a machine with
Remote Desktop Services enabled. The multi-session environment allows multiple thin clients to log on
to the Server and initiate individual sessions of iFIX. iFIX is not installed on the individual client

2 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 machines, only on the Remote Desktop Session Host. The user's experience is nearly identical to run-
ning iFIX on their local node. From the client, it is not obvious that a user is in a Remote Desktop ses-
sion. Virtually all iFIX client functions work including scripts, trending, alarms, and security. iClientTS
also allows you to remotely support iFIX from any computer on your network or anywhere in the world.

The following table compares iClient and iClientTS features.

Comparison of iClient and iClientTS

Feature Standard iClient iClientTS
Requires software on client Yes No
iFIX compatibility (Pic- 100% 100%
tures/Schedules)
Picture navigation Yes Yes
Tag Group support Yes Yes
Write Access/Alarm ACK Yes Yes
Historical charts and Historical Yes Yes
datalinks
VBA scripting Yes Yes
ActiveX support Yes Yes
Development/run time support Yes Yes
Color support Unlimited Unlimited for Windows Server with RDP
6.0 or greater Client
Runs in browser No Yes (IE)
Security iFIX, Windows iFIX, Windows Server
Server
iFIX Environment protection Yes No
Runs applications requiring ser- Yes Yes (if iFIX is configured to run as a ser-
vices in Windows vice)
Server platforms supported Yes Yes
Number of clients talking to a Each client = 1 Each client = 1 connection
SCADA node connection
iFIX SCADA Yes Yes
Change Management Yes Not supported

Understanding the iFIX and Remote Desktop Services

iFIX with Remote Desktop Services allows multiple clients to run individual instances of iFIX from one
Server. A sample iFIX with Remote Desktop Services environment, illustrated in the following figure,
includes a Server, one or more iFIX SCADA nodes, and multiple clients.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 3

 Sample 1: iFIX Terminal Server Environment
Thin clients access the Remote Desktop Session Host through Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol
(RDP) or Citrix Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) protocol. Each thin client accesses applic-
ations on the Server by connecting to the Remote Desktop Session Host machine either through an
RDP client or ICA. No iFIX software is installed or runs on the thin client machine.

A separate session of iFIX runs on the Remote Desktop Session Host for each thin client. This allows
very thin clients with minimal client-side resources to execute an individual instance of iFIX. The user's
experience is nearly identical to running iFIX on their local machine. If you have clients and SCADAs in
your iFIX with Remote Desktop Services environment, you can access and manage any of the
SCADAs from a thin client. For example, from a thin client machine, you can build graphics, add tags,
and change setpoints on a networked SCADA.

Another sample iFIX with Remote Desktop Services environment, illustrated in the following figure,
includes a Remote Desktop Session Host that runs the iFIX SCADA server as a service on the same
computer, and includes multiple Terminal Server clients.

4 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Sample 2: iFIX Terminal Server Environment
For more information on the Remote Desktop Services environment, refer to the Remote Desktop Ser-
vices Configuration Overview section of the Microsoft Windows operating system Help.

File System Support

Windows provides three types of file systems for disk partitioning: NTFS, FAT, and FAT32. It is recom-
mended that you use NTFS with iFIX Terminal Server.

NTFS provides greater file-level security for users in a multi-session environment. For more information
on file systems and configuring file system security, refer to the Choosing a File System section of the
Microsoft Windows operating system Help.
IMPORTANT: Be aware that you can configure directory level security in NTFS and the Windows operating
system. Use caution when doing so. Any enhancement to security that you make at the folder or directory
level is not managed within iFIX. You must manage these security settings outside of iFIX.

Where to Find More Information on Remote Desktop Services

For the most up to date information on managing Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server 2008
R2, visit Microsoft's web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc754746(WS.10).aspx
IMPORTANT: Be aware, that starting with Windows Server 2008 R2, Remote Desktop Services was
renamed Remote Desktop Services.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 5

For the most up to date information for managing remote sessions and servers for Windows Server
2012, visit Microsoft's web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831447.aspx

6 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Installing and Configuring iFIX with Windows Remote
Desktop Services

The following sections describe the steps you need to follow after enabling Remote Desktop Services
and its licensing. For a description of the overview steps, refer to the Overview of the Remote Desktop
Services Setup Steps section.

Refer to the Setting Up the Environment manual for more general details on iFIX setup information.

Overview of the Setup Steps for Remote Desktop Services

Once you have set up your Remote Desktop Services, perform the following steps described in the fol-
lowing figure. Click a block in the diagram to jump to that section.

Overview of iFIX Configuration for Remote Desktop Services

Step1: Determining User Types and Directories

This section describes actions you should consider when determining user types and directories for your
iFIX application. These actions include:

l Planning User Types

l Planning SCU Directories for iFIX

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 7

 l Planning Shared Directories
l Understanding Project Directory Paths

Planning User Types

Before defining your user types, determine what types of users you need. Which of your users will:

l Share the same preferences?

l Be able to configure their own historical collection settings?
l Work with recipes?
l Develop pictures?
l Have development rights?
l Have run-time rights?
l Work with one or more iFIX projects?
l Require additional directory permissions to be set outside of iFIX?

Anticipating the needs of your users allows you to successfully determine the configuration of your user
types. For each user type, you will then create a project. You define projects paths in the iFIX System
Configuration Utility (SCU). Each project can have multiple users. To define a profile for each user, use
the Startup Profile Manager.

Planning SCU Directories for iFIX

Planning the directory paths for specific SCUs to provide enhanced or unique functionality per user type,
thin client, or group, should be well planned. The design scheme for this type of implementation is similar
to implementing the same scenario in a traditional environment (non TS) where SCU paths are using a
mapped network drive on a file server. Careful planning is needed to prevent multiple users from per-
forming conflicting actions, such as downloading recipes or modifying database values.

Incorporating iFIX security to limit applications and area access in the Remote Desktop Services envir-
onment is highly recommended. For more information on setting security options in iFIX, refer to the Con-
figuring Security Features manual.
IMPORTANT: Be aware that if you configure directory level security in NTFS and the Windows operating sys-
tem, to something other than the default, use caution when doing so. Any enhancement to security that you
make at the folder or directory level is not managed within iFIX. You must manage these security settings out-
side of iFIX.

For each new project, by default, iFIX creates the following directory structure, unless you specify that
the project use one or more shared folders instead:

Directory Description
ALM Stores the Alarm file and event log.

Share this directory. This allows events from different sessions to be logged to the same
.EVT files for simpler troubleshooting of iFIX under Remote Desktop Services.

Do not allow more than one iFIX client to use Alarm File Services while sharing the ALM

8 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 directory.
APP Share or do not share this directory depending on user types and rights.
HTR Stores Historical collection preferences. If more than one client will collect historical data,
give each user a separate directory.
HTRDATA Stores collected historical data. If clients view the same historical data charts, share the
directory.
LOCAL Stores the user-specific files including Toolbars, User preferences, .INI files, and the
.SCU file. If your users are restricted to run mode, they can share the same directories. If
your users require special user preferences or configure rights, create unique directories.
PDB Stores the Database files. Schedules are also saved in this directory. If schedules are
shared by clients, share this directory.
PIC Stores pictures (.GRF), dynamo sets (.FDS), Global color tables (.FTB), and other files
(.FXG). Generally, share this directory.
RCC Stores recipe files. For run-time users, share the directories. Create unique directories for
RCM developers or restricted nodes.

You can share directories outside the project, instead of creating each of these directories within the
same project path. For instance, you may want all projects to share the C:\Program Files
(x86)\GE\iFIX\PIC path, so that all users share the same pictures, but have different project paths for
the other folders. For instance, you may create projects for iFIX operators (C:\Program Files
(x86)\GE\iFIX\Operators) and supervisors (C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\Supervisors) that share the
PIC path in C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\PIC, but retain separate folders for all other settings.

Planning Shared Directories

For each project, it is recommended that certain types of users only share specific directories. The fol-
lowing table outlines these recommendations.

User Types and Directories to Share

Project Project-Specific Shared Directories Example
(Unshared) Directories User
Type
Run Time LOCAL PDB, PIC, APP, HTR, HTRDATA, ALM, RCM, Operator
Only and RCC
Run Time with LOCAL, HTR PDB, PIC, APP, HTRDATA, ALM, RCM, and Supervisor
Historical Col- RCC
lection
Special Alarm- LOCAL, ALM PDB, PIC, APP, HTR, HTRDATA, RCM, and Supervisor
ing Run Time RCC
Development LOCAL, PDB, PIC, APP, None. Developers should have all unique dir- Developer
HTR, HTRDATA, ALM, ectories except for NLS and the BASE path,
RCM, and RCC which should always be shared.

Refer to the Planning SCU Directories for iFIX section for descriptions of the different iFIX directories.

Understanding Project Directory Paths

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 9

 If you are using iFIX Project Configuration with Remote Desktop Services, make sure that the Base and
Language Paths are the same for each project. The locations of the project paths can differ, depending
upon the user type. However, the Base and Language Paths should be the same for each project.

For instance, if you leave the Base and Language set to the defaults, the Base is set to C:\Program Files
(x86)\GE\iFIX and the Language is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\NLS for each project.

Step 2: Installing iFIX

IMPORTANT: Installing or uninstalling iFIX via a remote desktop connection or through a Remote Desktop
session is not supported.

To install iFIX:

1. Log on to the Terminal Server as a member of the local machine's Admin group.

2. From the Windows Control Panel > All Control Panel Items, select Install Application on Remote
Desktop.

3. Insert the iFIX installation DVD.

4. Click Install iFIX in the iFIX installation program screen.
5. When the product install prompts you to choose an install type, select Complete.
6. Continue through the installation.
7. Restart Windows.

Installing iFIX over an Uninstall

If you used Uninstall to uninstall a previous version of iFIX, note that Uninstall does not delete all of the
shipped toolbar files. For example, Uninstall does not remove any files from the LOCAL directories cre-
ated for Remote Desktop clients.

Only the files in the main LOCAL folder and the LOCAL folder under the SampleSystem directory are
deleted automatically.

Running iFIX as a Service on the Remote Desktop Session Host

If you plan to run iFIX as a service on the Remote Desktop Session Host computer, you need to con-
figure the iFIX SCADA Server to run as a service in the System Configuration Utility (SCU). To do this,
shut down iFIX, log in as an Administrator, and open the Local Startup Definition dialog box from the
SCU's Configure menu by clicking Local Startup. Select the Continue running after logoff check box.
This check is unavailable when iFIX is running. Restart iFIX to apply your changes. For more inform-
ation about configuring iFIX to run as a service, refer to the Running iFIX as a Service section.

10 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 IMPORTANT: Be aware that if your SCADA Server runs as a service on your Terminal Server, your processor
speed and optimization routines become even more important. Be sure to read the Optimizing iFIX with
Remote Desktop Services section.

If you want to configure other tasks, such as scheduler events (with the FixBackgroundServer.EXE), to
run as a service in the background, you need to configure these tasks in the SCU's Task Configuration
dialog box. For more information on task configuration, refer to the Configuring Startup Tasks section.
When iFIX starts as a service, these tasks will also start as services.
NOTE: It is not recommended that you run Workspace.exe in the SCU task list when iFIX is running as a ser-
vice.

Additionally, when you run iFIX on the Remote Desktop Session Host, you should Enable SCADA sup-
port in the SCU. To do so, on the SCU's Configure menu, click SCADA to open the SCADA Con-
figuration dialog box. In the SCADA support area, select Enable. For more information, refer to the
Enabling SCADA Support section.
TIP: When iFIX runs as a service on the Remote Desktop Session Host, for each SCU used by a Terminal
Server client, Disable SCADA support.

Step 3: Installing the Virtual Keyboard on Remote Desktop Session Host and Cli-
ents

iFIX provides a virtual keyboard that allows you to work in touch-screen environments or to use a mouse
to enter passwords and other data. Install the virtual keyboard on the Server to make it available to each
client licensed for iFIX.

To install the virtual keyboard:

1. Double-click the LICENSE.EXE file in the iFIX directory on your Server. The IMG License Man-
ager dialog box appears.
2. Click Install Service to install the virtual keyboard licenses.
3. Click Administration Options & Help. The Terminal Server Administration Option dialog box
opens.
4. Click Copy Global Settings to All User Folders, then click Yes to confirm.
5. Click OK to return to the IMG License Manager dialog box.
6. Click Start Service to activate the virtual keyboard for all licensed clients.

Step 4: Configuring the SCU

The System Configuration Utility (SCU) is the tool that you use to configure the iFIX startup options and
default directories. For each user type, you create a separate SCU file with different startup options and
project paths. Multiple users can share the same SCU file (when communicating with iFIX SCADAs).
For instance, you may want to create a separate SCU file for Operators and another SCU file for Super-
visors. While user types are maintained as projects in the SCU, individual user profiles are maintained in
the Startup Profile Manager, as described in the Step 5: Creating Startup Profiles section.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 11

 When configuring an SCU file for use with Remote Desktop Services, follow the steps outlined in these
sections:

l Defining Project Directory Paths

l Disabling SCADA Support for Client SCUs
l Defining iFIX Global Security Paths
l Upgrading SCU Files from a Previous iFIX Release
l Configuring User Accounts to Use a Unique Set of Schedules

Defining Project Directory Paths

After you finish planning user types and directories, you are ready to create projects that organize these
user types and directories. To create projects, you use the iFIX System Configuration Utility (SCU). For
each project there is a separate, unique SCU file.
IMPORTANT: The SCU file for each project must be saved into the Local folder for that project.

To access the SCU, in the iFIX WorkSpace system tree, double-click the System Configuration icon, or
click the Start button and point to Programs, iFIX, and then System Configuration. You can also start the
SCU directly from the iFIX Startup dialog box, also known as the Launch application. Make sure you
shut down iFIX before starting the SCU.
To create a project in the SCU:

1. Start the SCU.

2. On the Configure menu, click Paths. The Path Configuration dialog box appears.
IMPORTANT: The Base and Language Paths should be the same for each project. For instance, if
you leave the Base and Language set to the defaults, the Base is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX
and the Language is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\NLS for each project. Leave the Base and
Language paths set to the default, and proceed by editing the Project path fields.

3. In the Project field, enter a path for the project. For example, a valid path that you might enter for a
developer would be: C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\Projects\Developer1.
4. Click the Change Project button. A message box appears asking if you want to add the default
iFIX files to the new project.
IMPORTANT: The SCU will not copy the files from the existing directories to the new directories.

5. Click Yes. The project path information from the Project field is appended to the other project path
fields, such as Local, Database, Picture, Application, and so on.
For instance, if you enter C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\Projects\Developer1 in the Project
field, the SCU automatically adds \Projects\Developer1 to the other project fields as well. For
instance, the Local path in this dialog box would now read: C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\Pro-
jects\Developer1\Local. The Database path would read: C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\Pro-
jects\Developer1\PDB, and so on.
NOTE: While the paths displayed in the Path Configuration dialog box appear to be added at this
point, the actual folders for these paths have not been created yet. While you can view the new paths
from this dialog, you will not be able to view them from the Windows Explorer until you complete the
remaining steps in this section.

12 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 6. If there are any paths that you want to change, such as to a shared directory, manually edit the
path fields.
7. From the Path Configuration dialog box, click OK. A message box appears asking you to create
the folders for the configured paths.
8. Click Create All. A message box may appear indicating you do not have a valid Alarm Area Data-
base file.
9. Click Proceed to continue.
iFIX creates the paths for the project folders. You should be able to view the new folders in Win-
dows Explorer.
IMPORTANT: Be aware that iFIX generates these paths with the “user” permissions required by the
iFIX product. Use caution when changing the security permissions of these folders outside of iFIX. If
you do not have the permissions necessary for iFIX, iFIX will not run.
10. On the File menu, click Save As. The Save File As dialog box appears.
11. Browse to the Project's Local folder. For instance, for Developer1 browse to the C:\Program Files
(x86)\GE\iFIX\Projects\Developer1\Local folder.
12. Enter a name for the SCU file.
Valid SCU file names can be up to eight characters long. SCU file names can include alpha-
numeric characters, but must begin with a letter. Special characters, such as symbols and punc-
tuation marks, cannot be used.
For example, for Developer1 you might enter Dev1.
13. Click Save. A message box appears asking you if this is the SCU file that you want to use next
time you restart iFIX.
14. Click No.
15. If you have a template folder with iFIX files that you want to copy into one or more project folders,
use the Windows Explorer to copy the files from the template folders into the new project folders.
16. Repeat steps 2-15 for each project.

Once you have created all the projects, you can go back later and edit all the other SCU settings for
each project that require changing. For more detailed information about configuring the rest of the options
for the SCU files, refer to the Configuring iFIX Using the SCU chapter in the Setting Up the Environment
manual.

Notes on Project Paths

If you are using iFIX Project Configuration with Remote Desktop Services, make sure that the Base and
Language Paths are the same for each project. The locations of the project files can differ, depending
upon the user type. However, the Base and Language Paths should be the same for each project. For
instance, if you leave the Base and Language set to the defaults, the Base is set to C:\Program Files
(x86)\GE\iFIX and the Language is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\NLS for each project.

To access the Base and Language path settings, click Start and point to Programs, iFIX, and then Sys-
tem Configuration. To open the Path Configuration dialog box, on the Configure menu, click Paths. The
following figures shows an example of this dialog box, with the Base and Language paths highlighted.
You will notice that these paths are both set to the default in this figure.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 13

 Path Configuration Dialog Box in the SCU

Disabling SCADA Support for Client SCUs

For each SCU that you plan to use on a Remote Desktop client, you should disable SCADA support. To
do this in iFIX, on the SCU's Configure menu, click SCADA to open the SCADA Configuration dialog
box. In the SCADA support area, select Disable.
NOTES:
l When you run iFIX as a service on the Remote Desktop Session Host, enable SCADA support on that
node.
l When you enable SCADA support, the local node becomes a SCADA server capable of accessing
your process hardware.
l For more information on Running iFIX as a Service on the Remote Desktop Session Host, refer to the
Running iFIX as a Service on the Remote Desktop Session Host section.

Defining iFIX Global Security Paths

14 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 When you enable the global security paths option in the Configuration dialog box (of the Security Con-
figuration application), all iFIX user sessions on a computer share the same security configuration. If you
use iFIX startup profiles created in the Startup Profile Manager, which is recommended, you should
enable this option. To enable global security paths, select the Use These Paths for All Startup Profiles
check box in the Configuration dialog box. The following figure shows an example of the Configuration
dialog box with the global security paths check box highlighted.

Configuration Dialog Box, Global Security Paths Enabled

If you do not enable global security paths, you will need to individually configure security within each
Remote Desktop Services user session. For instance, previous to iFIX 3.5, you would need to configure
an SCU for each Terminal Server user. If you are upgrading from a release previous to iFIX 3.5, this may
be a consideration.

Upgrading SCU Files from a Previous iFIX Release

In the first iFIX release that included support for Remote Desktop Services, iFIX 2.5, iFIX required that
you generate a complete application environment for each remote user. For example, if there are 50 iFIX
users, there must be 50 sets of SCU files, with each SCU file unique to that specific user. With the Star-
tup Profile Manager, all user profiles are stored in a master list, making it easy to maintain and modify
profiles for use with Terminal Services.

If you are upgrading from an iFIX release previous to iFIX 3.5, your existing SCU startup configurations
from these previous iFIX releases run unchanged. If you later choose to create new startup profiles, as
described in the Step 5: Creating Startup Profiles section, the Startup Profile Manager includes an option
that allows the new profile settings to override the pre-existing configurations. For more information on
the override setting, refer to the Configuring the Options for the Startup Profile Manager section in the
Setting Up the Environment manual.

The use of a default profile will help you in migrating from the multiple SCU files to the easier con-
figuration in the Startup Profile Manager. For more information, refer to the Configuring the Default Pro-
file section.

After upgrading, you will need to update the iFIX default files in each of your projects.
To upgrade the iFIX default files:

NOTE: This procedure must be performed for every project.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 15

 1. Start the SCU.
2. On the Configure menu, click Paths. The Path Configuration dialog box appears.
3. Click Change Project. A message box appears asking if you want to generate the default iFIX
files to the project.
4. Click Yes, and then OK.

Configuring User Accounts to Use a Unique Set of Schedules

If you share the SCU Database (PDB) path among user accounts, all user accounts share the same set
of schedules.
To configure user accounts to use a unique set of schedules:

1. Create a unique folder for each schedule grouping you want to use. This folder will be used as the
PDB path for users of these schedules.
The schedule groupings can be unique for each user or grouped by any other logical scenario.
2. Copy the appropriate .EVS files to the directories specified, or:
a. Configure the SCU with the PDB path pointing to the folder you want.
b. Start the Client.
c. Create the .EVS files.

Configuring user accounts to use a unique set of schedules provides flexibility in a Remote Desktop Ser-
vices environment where all schedules do not need to be available to every user session.

If you use separate schedules per user account or groups of user accounts, and these user accounts or
groups of user accounts have any of the same SCADA nodes in the remote nodes list, it creates an
environment in which several separate events could fire in response to a single action. You must ensure
that none of the events will conflict. Therefore, if you use schedules for direct process control, quality
control, or safety-related actions, consider moving this functionality out of the schedules into PLC logic
or the process database.

Step 5: Creating Startup Profiles

With the Startup Profile Manager, you create iFIX user profiles. Each profile associates a Windows user
name with a specific iFIX Project Configuration. The iFIX Project Configuration includes:

l SCU path and file name that you want the specified Windows user to use when starting iFIX.
l Node name that you want the specified Windows user to use when starting iFIX.
l Restrictions on whether the user can modify the Nodename or SCU fields in the iFIX Startup dia-
log box (Launch.exe).

iFIX must be running in order to use the Startup Profile Manager application to create startup profiles. To
access the Startup Profile Manager, double-click the Startup Profile Manager icon in the system tree in
the iFIX WorkSpace. The Startup Profile Manager can also be accessed from the Start menu by pointing
to Programs, iFIX, Tools, and then Startup Profile Manager.

When working with the Startup Profile Manager be sure to perform the following tasks:

16 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 l Configuring the Options for the Startup Profile Manager
l Configuring the Default Profile
l Adding Startup Profiles

Configuring the Options for the Startup Profile Manager

Before you begin working with the Startup Profile Manager, you should configure the options that you
want the Startup Profile Manager to use. To do this, use the Options dialog box in the Startup Profile
Manager.
To change the options for the Startup Profile Manager:

1. On the Settings menu, click Options. The Options dialog box appears.
2. Select the Startup Profiles defined in this application override iFIX Startup command line para-
meters check box, if you want the profiles created in this application to override the ones used
when you start iFIX from the command line.
IMPORTANT: For the override to work, the user must be defined in the Startup Profile Manager, or if
the user is not defined, the default profile must be enabled. This override only applies to the /n, /s, and
/l command line options.

3. Enter a string for the default iFIX node name prefix to use if the first 8 characters of the Windows
user name cannot be used to generate a valid iFIX node name.
The Windows user name is an invalid iFIX node name, for instance, when the name starts with a
number. Valid node names can be up to eight characters long. Node names can include alpha-
numeric characters, but must begin with a letter. Special characters, such as symbols and punc-
tuation marks, cannot be used.
For each startup profile using the default iFIX node name, a number is also added to the end of
the default node name, starting with the number 1. For example, if you enter NODE as the prefix,
the default iFIX node names used are: NODE1, NODE2, NODE3, and so on. Each default user
who starts iFIX receives a different node name.
NOTE: When you use the Nodename Prefix field, you cannot use the iFIX automatic login feature
unless you generate automatic login configurations for each of the possible node names for the
defined prefix. For example: Node1, Node2, Node3, and so on. Since you will not know the name of
the user logging in under that node name (since the name is generated at iFIX startup), you should
also associate the auto logins with a guest or limited-access account. For more information on auto-
matic login, refer to the iFIX Automatic Login section.
4. Click OK.

Configuring the Default Profile

After configuring the application options for the Startup Profile Manager, you should define a default pro-
file, if your iFIX configuration requires it. For instance, when using Remote Desktop Services with the
Startup Profile Manager, you will most likely want to configure a default profile so that a separate profile
does not need to be created for every user.

If a user attempts to start iFIX and a profile does not exist for that user yet, iFIX starts with the default
profile information.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 17

To configure the SCU and iFIX Startup options for the default profile, use the Default Startup Profile dia-
log box, as shown in the following figure.

Default Startup Profile Dialog Box

To define the default profile:

1. On the Settings menu, click Default Startup Profile. The Default Startup Profile dialog box
appears.
2. Select Enable Default SCU.
3. Enter or select the default SCU and iFIX startup options that you want to apply to all iFIX users
without a startup profile.
4. If you want to run iFIX as a service on the Remote Desktop Session Host, select the Default Ser-
vice Startup Parameter option. Enter the Node name and SCU file for the iFIX service. When
iFIX runs as a service, it will always use these settings.
5. Click OK.

18 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 NOTE: If you select the Enable Default SCU option, make sure you also enable the global security paths
(Use These Paths for All Startup Profiles) option in the Configuration dialog box in the Security Configuration
application.

Adding Startup Profiles

The following steps describe how to add a startup profile.

To add a startup profile:

1. Click the Add button, or double-click any empty column. The Add Startup Profile dialog box
appears, as shown in the following figure.

Add Startup Profile Dialog Box

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 19

 2. Select a domain from the drop-down list.
3. Optionally, click the List Domain Members button to view a list of users that you can pick from.
NOTE: Depending on the size of your domain and speed of your network, this action could take a few
moments or several minutes.
4. Select a Windows user from the list, or enter one manually in the Windows User field. You do not
have to be connected to the domain if you enter the name manually. This user must be a member
of Remote Desktop User group, if you want start iFIX with Remote Desktop Services.
5. Accept the default iFIX Node Name, or enter another one.
NOTE: If you manually entered a Windows user name, you must also manually enter an iFIX node
name. The default name is not used in this case.
6. Enter the location and name of the iFIX SCU file that you want to associate with this user. For
example, you might enter C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\LOCAL\FIX.SCU. If a default iFIX
SCU name is supplied, you can use it or enter another one.
Optionally, you can browse for an SCU file, by clicking the Browse (...) button.
7. Select the options that you want to make available for the specified user from the iFIX Startup dia-
log box.
l If you select the Allow User to Run Sample System check box, the specified Windows
user can start the sample system. The Sample System is a legacy product option and no
longer shipped as part of iFIX 5.8.
l Similarly, if you select the Allow User to Modify Nodename and SCU check box, these
fields are available for editing when the specified user attempts to start iFIX.
l If you clear both the Allow User to Run Sample System and the Allow User to Modify
Nodename and SCU check boxes, the iFIX Startup dialog box does not appear for the spe-
cified user.
8. Click Add Profile.

More on Startup Profiles

iFIX does not use a startup profile until the specified user attempts to start iFIX from the iFIX Startup dia-
log box or from the iFIX Startup command line (from a desktop shortcut or the Run dialog box, for
example). If no iFIX startup profile exists for the user and you do not define any settings in the Default
User Profile dialog box or provide command line settings to the iFIX Startup application, when you
restart iFIX, it displays the information from the last time iFIX was run.

For more detailed information on the Startup Profile Manager, refer to the to Using the Startup Profile
Manager section in the Setting up the Environment manual.

TIP: Creating User Defined Desktop Shortcuts to Start iFIX

Use the iFIX Startup dialog box to create desktop shortcuts to start iFIX.

20 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 To create a desktop with the settings currently specified in the iFIX Startup dialog box:

1. Start iFIX. The iFIX Startup dialog box appears.

2. Click the Desktop Shortcut icon. The following figure highlights the Desktop Shortcut button on
the iFIX Startup dialog box.

iFIX Startup Dialog Box, with Desktop Shortcut Button Highlighted

The Desktop Shortcut dialog box appears.
3. Enter a shortcut name.
4. Click OK.

A shortcut is created for the currently logged in Windows user.

TIP: Using the Application Validator to Take a Snapshot of Your Project Folders

Once you configure your iFIX projects for use with Remote Desktop Services, you can create a baseline
of the files and folders associated with your projects using the Application Validator. At a later time, you
can then monitor which files and folders changed since you last created the baseline.

For instance, if you ever run into problems with your iFIX configuration and want to go back to an original
configuration, you can use the Application Validator to determine which files were changed or added,
and then you can manually rollback to that configuration.

To access the Application Validator, double-click Application Validator icon in the system tree in the iFIX
WorkSpace. You can also access the application by locating and running the AppValidator.exe file in the
iFIX folder, which is the folder where you installed iFIX.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 21

 For detailed steps on how to create a baseline, refer to the General Overview of the Steps for Using the
Application Validator section in the Mastering iFIX manual.

For more general information on the Application Validator, including the command line options, refer to
the Validating an Application section in the Mastering iFIX manual.

EXAMPLE: Configuring Remote Desktop Services with iFIX Running As a Ser-

vice

The following steps explain how to configure iFIX to run as a service on the Remote Desktop Session
Host. These steps assume you have already installed your Windows Remote Desktop Services soft-
ware as described in the Getting Started section, as well as iFIX, as described in the Installing iFIX sec-
tion. These steps also assume that you have not enabled iFIX security yet.

To start, we create a separate SCU to run iFIX as a service, named SERVICE. We then create two
more SCU users on the Remote Desktop Services:

l A default user, named GUEST, with limited security privileges. The path to this user's iFIX pro-
ject is C:\ProjectA. When iFIX starts with this SCU, the iFIX Startup dialog box doesnot appear.
l An administrative user, named PAUL, with full rights. The path to this user's iFIX project is
C:\ProjectB. When iFIX starts with this SCU, the iFIX Startup dialog box does appear.

Both these users have iFIX networking enabled and can log in from thin clients. The FIXBack-
groundServer.exe runs as a service on the server, so that you can later add scheduled events.

The steps below are outlined in the order that you want to perform them.

To build the service SCU on Terminal Server:

1. Shut down iFIX.

2. Ensure that you are logged in as an Administrator.
3. On the Start menu, point to Programs, iFIX, and then System Configuration. The System Con-
figuration Utility (SCU) window appears.
4. From the SCU's Local Startup Definition dialog box, select the Continue Running After Logoff
check box. For steps, refer to the Running iFIX as a Service section.
NOTE: This setting is a system-wide setting, and will make changes to your registry. If iFIX is running
as a service, all SCUs should have this option enabled.
5. From the SCU's SCADA Configuration dialog box, enable SCADA Support. For steps, refer to
the Enabling SCADA Support section.
6. From the SCU's Task Configuration dialog box:
l Make sure that the WorkSpace.exe task starts in Normal mode.
l Add the FixBackgroundServer.exe to the startup task list, in Background mode. This
starts the FixSchedulerService, allowing you to add scheduled events from the iFIX
Scheduler.
For information on how to use the Task Configuration dialog box, refer to the Configuring Startup
Tasks section.

22 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 7. From the SCU's Network Configuration dialog box, enable TCP/IP networking. For more inform-
ation on networking configuration, refer to the Configuring Network Connections section.
8. From the SCU's File menu, click Save as. The Save File As dialog box appears.
9. In the File name field, enter SERVICE.SCU and click Save. In the message box that appears,
click Yes to use this SCU when iFIX restarts.
10. Exit the SCU.
11. Start iFIX.
12. Run the Startup Profile Manager.
13. From the Startup Profile Manager's Default Startup Profile dialog box, configure the Default Ser-
vice SCU. For steps, refer to the Configuring the Default Profile section.
14. Save your changes and exit the Startup Profile Manager.
15. Start the Security Configuration utility. In the Configuration dialog dialog box, select the Use
These Paths for All Startup Profiles check box to enable global security paths. For steps, refer to
the Defining iFIX Global Security Paths section.
16. Save the Security Configuration and exit the program.
17. Shut down iFIX.
18. Restart iFIX to confirm it runs as a service.
To create the guest SCU:

1. Shut down iFIX.

2. Start the SCU.
3. On the File menu, click New.
4. From the SCU's Path Configuration dialog box:
l In the Project field, enter C:\ProjectA as the project.
l Click Change Project. A message box appears, click Yes to continue.
l Click OK, and another message box appears.
l Click Create All.
l In the message box that follows, click Proceed.
5. From the SCU's Local Startup Definition dialog box:
l Change the local and logical node name to GUEST.
l Select the Continue Running After Logoff check box.
For more information on configuring iFIX to run as a service, refer to the Running iFIX as a Ser-
vice section.
6. From the SCU's SCADA Configuration dialog box, disable SCADA Support.
7. From the SCU's Task Configuration dialog box:
l Make sure that the WorkSpace.exe task starts in Normal mode.
l Add the FixBackgroundServer.exe to the startup task list, in Background mode.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 23

 For information on how to use the Task Configuration dialog box, refer to the Configuring Startup
Tasks section.
8. From the SCU's Network Configuration dialog box:
l Enable TCP/IP networking.
l Add a remote SCADA node.
For more information on networking configuration, refer to the Configuring Network Connections
section.
9. From the SCU's File menu, click Save as. The Save File As dialog box appears.
10. In the File name field, enter GUEST.SCU and click Save. In the message box that appears, click
No, so that the SERVICE SCU is used when iFIX restarts.
To create the administrative SCU:

1. On the SCU's File menu, click New.

2. From the SCU's Path Configuration dialog box:
l In the Project field, enter C:\ProjectB as the project.
l Click Change Project. A message box appears, click Yes to continue.
l Click OK and another message box appears.
l Click Create All.
l In the message box that follows, click Proceed.
3. From the SCU's Local Startup Definition dialog box:
l Change the local and logical node name to PAUL.
l Select the Continue Running After Logoff check box.
For more information on configuring iFIX to run as a service, refer to the Running iFIX as a Ser-
vice section.
4. From the SCU's SCADA Configuration dialog box, disable SCADA Support.
5. From the SCU's Task Configuration dialog box:
l Make sure that the WorkSpace.exe task starts in Normal mode.
l Add the FixBackgroundServer.exe to the startup task list, in Background mode.
For information on how to use the Task Configuration dialog box, refer to the Configuring Startup
Tasks section.
6. From the SCU's Network Configuration dialog box:
l Enable TCP/IP networking.
l Add a remote node.
For more information on networking configuration, refer to the Configuring Network Connections
section.
7. From the SCU's File menu, click Save as. The Save File As dialog box appears.
8. In the File name field, enter PAUL.SCU and click Save. In the message box that appears, click
No, so that the SERVICE SCU is used when iFIX restarts.

24 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 To create startup profiles for your users:

1. Start iFIX.
2. Run the Startup Profile Manager.
3. To configure the GUEST user, from the Startup Profile Manager's Default Startup Profile dialog
box:
l Configure the Default Client SCU area. In the Default SCU field, enter or browse to
C:\ProjectA\LOCAL\GUEST.scu.
l Remove the check marks from the Allow User to Run the Sample System and the Allow
User to Modify Node Name and SCU check boxes.
l Click Add Profile.
l Click Close to exit the Add Startup Profile dialog box.
For steps, refer to the Configuring the Default Profile section.
4. From the Startup Profile Manager's Options dialog box, select the top check box, Startup Profiles
defined in this application override iFIX Startup command line parameters, and click OK. This
enables the GUEST account as the default.
5. To configure the PAUL user, from the Startup Profile Manager main screen:
l Click Add.
l Enter a Windows User name. For instance, say you enter PAULC as your Windows User
name.
l In the iFIX Node Name field, enter PAUL.
l In the SCU File Name field, enter or browse to C:\ProjectB\LOCAL\PAUL.SCU.
l Select the Allow User to Modify Node Name and SCU check box.
l Click Add Profile.
l Click Close to exit the Add Startup Profile dialog box.
When the specified user name logs on, he will have more rights, as indicated by the enabled
check box.
TIP: You can restrict even more access by enabling iFIX security. For more information, refer to the
Understanding iFIX Security section.
6. Save your changes and exit the Startup Profile Manager.
7. Restart iFIX.
To verify that the administrative account logs in with the PAUL startup profile:

1. On the iClientTS, open the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box.

2. In the Computer field, enter the computer name of the iFIX SCADA Server.
3. Click Connect. A login dialog box appears.
4. In the User name field, enter the user name from step 5 of the previous set of steps. For example:
PAULC.
5. In the Password field, enter the Windows password.
6. Click the iFIX icon to start iFIX.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 25

 7. Verify that the iFIX Startup dialog box appears.
8. Verify that the Node Name field is PAUL, and the SCU field is C:\ProjectB\LOCAL\PAUL.SCU.
This confirms that you are starting iFIX with the administrative user, PAUL, as defined in the Star-
tup Profile Manager.
9. Start iFIX and verify the SCU starts.
To verify that other users log in with the GUEST startup profile:

1. On the iClientTS, open the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box.

2. In the Computer field, enter the computer name of the iFIX SCADA Server.
3. Click Connect. A login dialog box appears.
4. In the User name field, enter any other Windows user name.
5. In the Password field, enter the Windows password for that user.
6. Click the iFIX icon to start iFIX.
7. Verify that the iFIX Startup dialog box does not appear. This happens because you are using the
settings defined for the default startup profile (the GUEST startup profile) in the Startup Profile
Manager.
TIP: If you want to secure this environment you just created, see Securing the Remote Desktop Services
Environment for steps on how to specify the program that starts when the user logs on to the Remote Desktop
Session Host (the Launch.exe for iFIX, for instance) and to restrict the Ctrl+Alt+Delete function.

iFIX WorkSpace Toolbars and Remote Desktop Services

When using iFIX with Remote Desktop Services and all clients share the same iFIX folders, toolbars
can be configured separately on each client. This is because each client has it's own file for toolbar pref-
erences, as well as temporary toolbar files stored in each client's temp folder.

Also, be aware that only one user at a time can import a toolbar into the iFIX WorkSpace when all clients
share the same iFIX folders. After you import a toolbar you also should close the WorkSpace, so that the
toolbar file is released, allowing other clients to import it. You then can immediately restart the
WorkSpace.

The iFIX WorkSpace toolbars can only be seen by those users that have rights for developing pictures.
Operators in a run-time environment do not see the toolbars.

Securing the Remote Desktop Services Environment

Although iFIX Environment Protection is not supported on the iClientTS computer, you can still create a
secure environment that prevents operators from performing unauthorized actions, such as using the
Ctrl+Alt+Delete key combination to shut down the Remote Desktop Session Host. You can configure
this in Windows, with user properties and group policies.

For instance, you can configure which Windows users have access to log in to from the thin client. After
logging in, you can restrict them from running anything other than the iFIX startup program. By con-
figuring iFIX startup tasks, in the SCU, you can control which tasks are available after startup.

26 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 You can even configure the rights available to the user when he is logged in. For instance, you can dis-
able the Ctrl+Alt+Delete feature. This prevents the user from shutting down the Remote Desktop Ses-
sion Host. Instead, the user can only disconnect.

The steps below explain how to perform some of these tasks. Refer to the Windows online help for more
information.

To specify the program that starts when the user logs on to the Remote Desktop Services:

1. Log in to Windows as an administrator, if you have not already.

2. Click the Start button, and point to Settings, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, and then Com-
puter Management. The Component Services Microsoft® Management Console (MMC) snap-in
appears.
3. In the System Tools folder, double-click the Local Users and Groups item.
4. Double-click the Users folder.
5. Right-click the user you want to configure and select Properties. The Properties dialog box
appears.
6. Click the Environment tab.
7. In the Starting Program area, select the Start the following program at logon check box.
8. In the Program File Name field, enter the path to the iFIX Startup (Launch.exe) program. For
instance, if you installed iFIX to the default location, enter:
C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\Launch.exe

9. In the Start in field, enter the path of the iFIX product. . For instance, if you installed iFIX to the
default location, enter:
C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX

10. Click OK.

11. Repeat steps 5 to 10 for each user you want to configure.

To disable the Ctrl+Alt+Delete function:

1. Log in to Windows as an administrator, if you have not already.

2. On the Start menu, point to Run. The Run dialog box appears.
3. Enter gpedit.msc and then click OK. The Group Policy dialog box appears.
4. In the Local Computer Policy folder, double-click User Configuration.
5. In the User Configuration folder, double-click Administrative Templates, and then System.
6. Select the Ctrl+Alt+Delete options.
7. In the setting area, double-click the Remove Task Manager setting. The Remove Task Manager
Properties dialog box appears.
8. Select the Enabled option and click OK.
9. When you are finished, on the File menu, click Exit. This closes the Group Policy dialog box.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 27

Be aware that you can use iFIX security to define the rights each user has in iFIX after logging in. For
instance, you can add further restrictions in iFIX by defining the application features available for the
user. For more information, refer to the Understanding iFIX Security section.

Additionally, be aware that any iClientTS starting on a Remote Desktop Session Host (not a SCADA)
does not accept unsolicited incoming connections. A client/SCADA that cannot accept incoming con-
nections is called a non-listening client. This is a built-in network security feature. For more information
on non-listening clients and other built-in security features, refer to the Configuring Network Security sec-
tion.

28 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Installing and Configuring Remote Desktop Sessions

This section describes how to install and configure Remote Desktop Servics. It includes the following
sections:

l Configuring a Remote Desktop Connection

l Logging on to a Remote Desktop Web Connection

Configuring a Remote Desktop Services to Connect to a Host

You can configure and connect a client to connect to the Remote Desktop Session Host using the
Remote Desktop Communication dialog box.

To connect a client to Remote Desktop Session Host in Windows:

1. Open the Remote Desktop Communication application.

2. In the Computer field, enter or browse for your Remote Desktop Session Host machine name or
IP address. To configure optional parameters for your remote desktop connection, go to Step 3.
Otherwise, go to Step 14.
3. Click the Options button. The tabs for each of the options appear in the dialog box, as shown in
the following figure.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 29

 Remote Desktop Connection Dialog Box with Tabs Displayed
4. In the Computer field, enter or browse for your Remote Desktop Session Host name or IP
address.
5. In the User Name field, enter a valid Remote Desktop user existing on the Remote Desktop Ses-
sion Host, using the format <TS machine name>\<user>, for example, MyTSmachine\operator1
or 169.127.123.89\operator1.
6. Click the Display tab.
7. Leave the default remote desktop size, but change the color setting to the lowest color setting
that the pictures were designed to use. By using the least amount of colors, you reduce the load
on the network and enhance performance.
8. Click the Local Resources tab.
9. Select the options that your application requires.
For instance, you probably want to enable Printer sharing by selecting the Printer check box
under the Local Device Settings. The other options you will probably set to the defaults, though
you are not restricted to do so.

30 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 10. Click the Programs tab.
11. If you want to start a program when the designated user starts a Remote Desktop session, select
the check box and enter the name and path, along with the folder that you want the program to
start in if it is different from the application path.
12. Click the Experience tab.
13. Select the performance options that your client requires. It is recommended that you clear all
check boxes except Persistent Bitmap Caching and Reconnect if connection is dropped.
14. Click Connect to connect to the remote Remote Desktop Session Host.

Logging on to a Remote Desktop Web Connection

If Remote Desktop Web Access is enabled on your Remote Desktop Session Host you can use Inter-
net Explorer's Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Client Control (ActiveX control) on remote machines
to open Remote Desktop client sessions.

If the Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Client Control is not installed and enabled, the first time you
try to connect from a Remote Desktop client machine, you will be prompted to do so. When attempting
to connect through IIS and the Remote Desktop Services Advanced Client ActiveX control, if the Act-
iveX Client Control is not found on the client computer, or if an older version of the control is found, it will
be installed at this time.
NOTES:
l Multiple users cannot log on using the same account.
l If you configured the user account with the application startup command, iFIX starts automatically. If
you did not configure the user account to auto launch, use the Launch icon to start iFIX. Do not use the
iFIX Startup icon.
TIPS:
l When the Web Connect or Remote Desktop Services Web Access screen opens, you can create a
shortcut to this page by making it a Favorite in Internet Explorer. Adding it to your Favorites list allows
you to initiate future connections by clicking on the shortcut.
l If the Full Screen option is not available at connect time due to security limitations or settings, you can
access it after connection by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Pause.

To connect to a Remote Desktop Services:

1. Open Internet Explorer.

2. Enter the URL, in the following format: http://TSmachinename/RDweb/Pages/en-Us/Default.asp

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 31

 Optimizing iFIX for use with Remote Desktop Services

This chapter discusses some ways to improve your Remote Desktop Services performance within iFIX
and Windows. It includes the following sections:

l Optimizing iFIX
l Optimizing the Remote Desktop Session Host
l Third-party Thin Client Software and Hardware
l Optimizing New iFIX Pictures for Use with Remote Desktop Capable Devices

For more optimization ideas and tips, refer to the Optimizing Your iFIX System manual.

Optimizing iFIX

This section provides some optimization ideas and tips to enhance your iFIX with Remote Desktop Ser-
vices environment. It includes the following topics:

l Using Deadband Values

l Using Refresh Rates
l Disabling Picture Caching
l Using Bitmaps
l Using Traditional Clients
l Disabling Smooth Scrolling
l Using Auto Scale

Using Deadband Values

You may want to use deadband values to reduce the number of updates sent back and forth to the
Server. Deadband values, set in the iFIX Expression Editor, specify the maximum fluctuation you want
for the current connection before iFIX updates it. By entering a deadband value, you create a +/- dead
zone around the connection's current value. As long as the value is within this range, iFIX does not
update the value. However, once the value exceeds the maximum or minimum deadband, the value is
updated.

Using Refresh Rates

The iFIX WorkSpace provides a Refresh Rate Expert in the Expression Builder that determines how
often the data source connection updates, in seconds. The default is 1 second on new animations. But,
previous to iFIX 6.0, the default refresh rate was 0.10000 which caused the connection to refresh 10
times per second. If your application does not need the connection to be refreshed this often, you can
gain considerable performance by reducing the refresh rate and the deadband.

32 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Refresh rates on pictures can also impact performance. In the iFIX Terminal Server setup, by default,
datalinks, animations, and charts (Enhanced and Standard) in pictures will refresh as configured. But
you can throttle these rates by placing the following parameters in the FixUserPreferences.ini file. You
can adjust these default settings without opening any pictures. By default the throttling is disabled on the
Remote Desktop Services Host.

1. Open the FixUserPreferences.ini file. (By default, for iFIX, this file is located in the C:\Program
Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\LOCAL folder.)
2. Scroll to the [TerminalServicesPreferences] section and enter larger numbers. A larger number
for these settings provides a slower refresh rate, which is intended to improve performance.
[TerminalServicesPreferences]
DataRefreshThrottleInSecs=1.0
AlarmSummaryThrottleInSecs=5.0
EnableTerminalServicesRateControls=1

3. Save the file.

After modifying the above datalinks, animations, and charts (Enhanced and Standard), pictures will
refresh at a rate no faster than once per value specified for “DataRefreshThrottleInSecs “.

For example, in the Expression Builder, if you enter .1 or .5 as the refresh rate for your data source, it will
NOT be adhered to. The historical update rate for both Enhanced and Standard charts will also be adjus-
ted accordingly. For the alarm blink rate, alarm fetch rate, and alarm data refresh rate in the Alarm Sum-
mary objects, iFIX will refresh the data no faster than value specified for
“AlarmSummaryThrottleInSecs” seconds. For instance, even if you set the refresh rates in the Alarm
Summary object to be faster, iFIX will not allow a rate faster than “AlarmSummaryThrottleInSecs”.

Disabling Picture Caching

By default, picture caching is enabled in iFIX. Although this does speed up picture performance, it can
also slow down processing on the Server. If you need to free up memory on the Server, disable picture
caching.

Using Bitmaps

You may want to limit your use of bitmaps. Bitmaps usually require more processing than other graphical
file formats. Compressed or vector graphics are easier to process and often have reduced color depth,
improving its display in 256 colors.

If you use bitmaps, avoid using moving bitmaps. Moving bitmaps require that the Server constantly
redraw the image, continuously taking up processing resources.

Disabling Smooth Scrolling

You may want to disable smooth scrolling on Internet Explorer 5.5 to improve viewing on the thin client.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 33

 To disable smooth scrolling:

1. Open Internet Explorer and select Tools.

2. Select Internet Options from the drop-down menu.
3. Click the Advanced Tab.
4. Clear the Smooth Scrolling check box from the Browsing options.

Using Auto Scale

Using Auto Scale in your pictures may significantly decrease performance with Remote Desktop Ser-
vices and impact the number of client sessions you can run under Remote Desktop Services. To
access the Auto Scale feature, in Ribbon view, on the Home tab, in the WorkSpace group, click Set-
tings, and select User Preferences or in Classic view, on the WorkSpace menu, select User Prefer-
ences. The Disable Auto Scale Feature check box is located on the Picture Preferences tab. To enable
the Auto Scaling, clear this check box.

Optimizing the Remote Desktop Session Host

This section provides some optimization ideas and tips to enhance your Remote Desktop Session Host.
It includes the following topics:

l Modifying the Encryption Rate

l Disabling Client Wallpaper
l Deleting Temporary Folders
l Disabling Active Desktop

For more Remote Desktop Services optimization ideas and tips, refer to the Client Services section of
the Windows Server Help.

Modifying the Encryption Rate

The lower your encryption rate, the better the RDP protocol performs.
To change the encryption rate:

1. Open the Remote Desktop Services Configuration Administrative Tool.

2. Select the Connections folder in the Remote Desktop Services Configuration tree.
3. Right-click the RDP-TCP connection.
4. Select Properties from the right-click menu. The RDP-TCP Properties dialog box appears.
5. Click the General Tab.
6. Modify the Encryption Level field.

Disabling Client Wallpaper

34 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Displaying wallpaper on the client's desktop forces the screen to redraw and uses up Server resources.
To disable the wallpaper:

1. Open the Remote Desktop Services Configuration Administrative Tool.

2. In the Remote Desktop Services Configuration tree, select the Connections folder.
3. Right-click the RDP-TCP connection.
4. Select Properties from the right-click menu. The RDP-TCP Properties dialog box opens.
5. Click the Environment Tab.
6. Select the Disable wallpaper check box.

Deleting Temporary Folders

Deleting temporary folders on exit prevents the loss of disk space resources over time.
To delete temporary folders upon exiting:

1. Open the Remote Desktop Services Configuration Administrative Tool.

2. In the Remote Desktop Services Configuration tree, select the Server Settings folder.
3. Double-click the Delete temporary folders on exit setting. The Delete Temporary Folders dialog
box opens.
4. Select Yes and click OK.

Disabling Active Desktop

Active Desktop is a display option in Windows that gives your desktop the look and feel of a web page.
You can disable the Active Desktop feature to conserve server memory and CPU resources.
To disable Active Desktop:

1. Open the Remote Desktop Services Configuration Administrative Tool.

2. In the Remote Desktop Services Configuration tree, select the Server Settings folder.
3. Double-click the Active Desktop setting. The Active Desktop dialog box opens.
4. Select the Disable Active Desktop check box and click OK.

Third-party Thin Client Software and Hardware

While designing your Remote Desktop Services environment, you can integrate a third-party client
application to enhance the performance and ease of management of your Remote Desktop Services
environment. Two examples of third party applications that you can use are described in the following
sections:

l Citrix Presentation Server

l Automation Control Products (ACP) ThinManager

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 35

Citrix Presentation Server

The Citrix Presentation Server is one application that you can use to enhance the performance and ease
of management of your Remote Desktop Services environment.
NOTE: Citrix® MetaFrame™ 1.8, Feature Release 1, provided extensive color support and Netscape support.
This support was merged into the Citrix Presentation Server product in 2004.

Citrix's Independent Computer Architecture (ICA) protocol allows both Microsoft and non-Microsoft cli-
ents, including UNIX and Macintosh, to connect to a Remote Desktop Services Session Host.

For more information on the Citrix Presentation Server product, visit www.citrix.com.

Automation Control Products (ACP) ThinManager

ACP ThinManager™ provides At-A-Glance management of your Remote Desktop Services Envir-
onment. The ThinManager software runs on any computer networked in your environment and provides
an easy-to-use GUI that monitors your ACP Thin Client machines.

ThinManager allows you to manage clients from a single location. It visibly displays the on/off status of
each client and allows you to reboot clients and organize clients by group. It also includes Server and
fail-over support. ACP also provides ACP Hardware and Enabled Hardware for use with your Remote
Desktop Services environment.

Optimizing New iFIX Pictures for Use with Remote Desktop Capable Devices

The iFIX Create Picture Wizard includes new screen definitions for handheld Remote Desktop Services
capable devices. Form factors include 240x320 and 320x240. Remote Desktop users may find this
option especially helpful.

The following graphic shows the new configuration options as they appear in one of the screens in the
Create Picture wizard.

36 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Choose Configuration Screen, Create Picture Wizard

Troubleshooting Your iFIX and Remote Desktop Services

Environment

To successfully troubleshoot your iFIX with Remote Desktop Services Environment, you first need to
isolate the source of your problem. Once you have isolated your problem area, refer to the Troubleshoot-
ing Specific Issues with Remote Desktop Services table for more troubleshooting information.

This chapter provides the following topics to help you isolate and troubleshoot your iFIX with Remote
Desktop Services Environment:

l Isolating Your Remote Desktop Connection Problem

l Troubleshooting Specific Issues with Remote Desktop Services
l Troubleshooting Known Issues with Remote Desktop Services

Isolating Your Remote Desktop Connection Problem

If you experience problems while running iFIX in the Remote Desktop Services Environment, create a
new user and follow the steps in the following table to isolate the problem.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 37

 If you are unable to complete one of the steps, try troubleshooting the corresponding problem area. Refer
to the Troubleshooting Specific Remote Desktop Services Problems table for more information on
troubleshooting specific problem areas.

If you are unable to complete this step... Troubleshoot this area...

1. Connect to the Remote Desktop Session Host via a Connection
RDP client session using a local Admin account.
2. Add an application to start up on logon in the users prop- Environment or Configuration
erties:
C:winnt\system32\notepad.exe
3. Run a unique iClientTS session using the command line Remote Desktop installation or con-
Change user install. figuration.

Check the documentation on ROOTDRIVE

or refer to the Windows Server Help.
4. Create a simple iFIX configuration: one picture, one data SCU Configuration and Startup, File Con-
link, one user. flicts, or Configuration.

Troubleshooting Specific Issues with Remote Desktop Services

Once you have isolated your problem area, use the information in the following table to begin
troubleshooting.

Troubleshooting Specific Terminal Server Problems

For this Verify...
problem
area....
Performance l Have you optimized your iFIX with Remote Desktop Services Envir-
onment? Refer to the Optimizing iFIX with Remote Desktop Services
chapter for more information.
l Should you run fewer clients?

Note that Server performance increases with the following:

l Faster processors
l More processors (dual, quad)
l More memory
l Reduced graphic refresh rate on clients
Connection l Is your connection problem for all connections or user specific?
l Can the Administrator start a session locally and remotely?
SCU Con- l Are there duplicated node names on the network? Run NETHIS.exe on
figuration and the client nodes. If you see 'Connection is established' and 'Con-
Startup nection NOT Established' messages repeatedly, then you may have a
duplicate iFIX node name.
File Conflicts l What is the directory structure?
l Is this reproducible in a non-Remote Desktop Services environment
using a mapped drive in the path?

38 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 l Are there directory permissions set outside of iFIX? If so, be sure that
you use relaxed permissions.
Environment l Can you create a session on the Server?
l Is the problem the same for all users including Admin?
l Can you create a new client session? Can you create a client that opens
NotePad?
Configuration l Are the Paths correct?
l Is the Launch command accurate, or are the startup profiles in the Star-
tup Profile Manager configured correctly?
l Can you create a new SCU/New User, pointing all paths to the base
path folder?
l Are the paths pointing to a mapped drive? Have the SCADA map to the
Remote Desktop Session Host machine.
l Does the mapped drive have additional directory permissions con-
figured?
l Are there greater than 20 users (Windows limitation) trying to map to the
network drive?

For more information, suggestions, and tips for troubleshooting your iFIX with Remote Desktop Ser-
vices environment, refer to the Windows Server Help, and the Microsoft Remote Desktop Services
online documentation.

Troubleshooting Known Issues with Remote Desktop Services

The following table lists some specific troubleshooting information for known Remote Desktop Services
issues.

Troubleshooting iFIX and Remote Desktop Services

Problem Solution
Registry locks, behaves like "Duplicate Node Names" on the net- You have started multiple
work. sessions at the same time
or multiple users have
logged on using the same
account.

Multiple users cannot log

on using the same
account. Start one session
at a time.

If the same user is logged

on multiple times, consider
using the End Session set-
ting. The End Session set-
ting logs off the user upon
disconnect. To use this set-

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 39

 ting, select the End Ses-
sion check box located
under Override User Set-
tings in the RDP Properties
of the Remote Desktop Ser-
vices Configuration Con-
sole.
You modify a file, but the changes are not saved. There is no file Two users are attempting
version control. to modify the same file.

If users are sharing files,

they must organize file
modification. For more
information, refer to Step 1:
Determining User Types
and Directories.
When opening certain toolbar items, you receive a Windows You have installed
Installer dialog box that states the following: Microsoft Office without
Please wait while Windows configures Microsoft Office edition.
modifying the registry.

Refer to the Microsoft

Knowledge Base article
Q274473.
The text insertion cursor in an iFIX Text object does not appear. The cursor blink rate in the
control panel is set to the
lowest setting for Remote
Desktop Services. Set the
blink rate to 1 above the
slowest setting.
ODBC setting set for one user appears in the SCU of another You must start iFIX before
user. modifying the Alarm ODBC
settings in the SCU.

40 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Index directories 12

planning 8

project 12
A

accounts 16 E

SCU user 8 Environment Protection 26

unique set of schedules 16 example

ACP ThinManager 36 configuring iFIX as a service with Remote

Desktop Services 22
adding 19

F
C
file conflicts 38
Citrix Presentation Server 36
Full Client 28
configuring

default startup profile 18 G

iFIX with Remote Desktop Services 6 global security paths 14
SCU 11
I
Startup Profile Manager options 17

user accounts 16 iClient and iClientTS 3

connecting to iFIX to Remote Desktop Session comparison 3

Host 28 iClientTS
creating 16 configuring SCU user accounts 8
desktop shortcuts to start iFIX 20 determining types of user accounts 8
startup profiles 16 features 1

improving performance 32
D
installing iFIX 10
deadband values 32
optimization 32
default profile 17
optimizing 32
defining 12
sample environment 3
iFIX global security paths 14
ways to connect 28
project directory paths 12
iFIX as a service 10
determining 7
iFIX Remote Desktop Services
user types and directories 7
environment 3

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 41

 features 1 configuring the default 17

using bitmaps 33 project directory paths 9

iFIX with Remote Desktop Services 2 defining 12

installing understanding 9

Virtual Keyboard 11 project paths 13

installing iFIX
R
over an uninstall 10
Remote Desktop Services
with Remote Desktop Services 10
encryption rate 34
M environment example 3

Microsoft Remote Desktop Services 1 features 1

My-t-soft 11 installing and configuring with iFIX 6

optimization 32
O
optimization ideas 32
optimization
performance 32
for Remote Desktop Services 32
setup steps, overview 7
optimization ideas 33
troubleshooting 37
optimizing Remote Desktop Services 31
using bitmaps 33
overview 7
using deadband values 32
Remote Desktop Services setup 7
using refresh rates 32

P using unique folders 16

with iFIX 10
paths 12
Remote Desktop Services Advanced Client 28
iFIX global security 14
Remote Desktop Services optimization 33
project directory 12
picture caching 33
planning 8
Remote Desktop Services performance 32
SCU directories 8
using refresh rates 32
shared directories 9
Remote Desktop Session Host
previous iFIX release, installing over 14
configuring clients 28
profiles
installing clients 28
adding 19

additional information 20

42 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 S U

Sample Remote Desktop Services Envir- understanding 9

onment 3
project directory paths 9
schedules, configuring with user accounts 16
uninstall, installing iFIX over 10
SCU 8
unique 16
planning directories for iFIX 8
folders for use with Remote Desktop Ses-
upgrading from a previous iFIX release 14 sion Host 16

user accounts 8 sets of schedules 16

secure environment 26 upgrading 15

security paths, global 14 SCU files from a previous iFIX release 14

service 10 user accounts, SCU 8

sets of schedules, using unique 16 user types, planning 8

setup steps 7 using

shared directories, planning 9 Application Validator 21

smooth scrolling 33 unique set of schedules 16

Startup Profile Manager 17 unique sets of schedules 16

adding profiles 19
V
additional information 20
Virtual Keyboard 11
configuring options 17

steps, Remote Desktop Services setup 7 W

Windows Remote Desktop Services and iFIX 6

T

thin-client 2

ThinManager 36

toolbars 26

troubleshooting

file conflicts 38

Remote Desktop connection 38

Remote Desktop network 38

TSAC 28

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 43