EPLAN Platform

Multi-User
Application Recommendation

06 / 2012
Multi-User Application Recommendation

Copyright © 2012 EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG

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 Multi-User Application Recommendation

Table of Contents
What does multi-user mean? ............................................................... 4
Organization of multi-user operation................................................... 5
Designing the workflow ........................................................................ 7
Navigators .......................................................................................... 7
Graphical Editor................................................................................. 7
Global actions .................................................................................... 8
Reports output for another project .................................................. 8
Optimizing data volumes ...................................................................... 9
Check runs ....................................................................................... 10
User-specific settings ..................................................................... 10
Translation ....................................................................................... 11
Message management .................................................................... 11
Number of users.................................................................................. 12
Workstation computer ........................................................................ 13
Network ................................................................................................ 14
Microsoft Windows Server .............................................................. 14
Terminal Server ............................................................................... 15
Security software / operating system settings for network
operation .......................................................................................... 17
Defining subprojects .......................................................................... 18
Monitor for Multi-user Operation ....................................................... 19
Using the multi-user monitor .......................................................... 19

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Multi-User Application Recommendation

What does multi-user mean?

The focus of state-of-the-art machine and plant engineering is on shorter
design times and faster time-to-market while complying with ever stricter
quality standards. Parallel editing is an ideal, flexibly scalable engineer-
ing method for shortening the project cycle of automation projects and
preventing delays in critical project phases.
Of course, the engineering system also needs to support this working
method and be flexible. EPLAN platform and its "Multi-User" function fa-
cilitates these goals and manages parallel access without affecting the
user functions.
The EPLAN platform's multi-user functionality allows many users in a
company to work on control documentation at the same time. In project
management, you can see which users are currently working on a pro-
ject (Popup menu > Show users).
If multiple users try to simultaneously edit an object in the schematic, on-
ly the first user can make changes; the other users will receive a mes-
sage that the data is only available in the read-only mode. The coordina-
tion of parallel access requires a certain amount of system performance
capacity. The response time in multi-user mode is therefore always
slightly longer than in single user mode.
Recommended working steps:
Select Menu items Options > Settings, follow the folder branch User >
Display in the tree view of the Settings dialog, click in the User code/
Address settings area and fill in the Code through Email fields.
In multi-user operation, each user can undo their own actions. If a user
changes an object after it was changed by the first user, then the first
user can no longer undo their actions.
Multi-user operation can prevent or compensate for time bottlenecks and
allow large projects to be processed more quickly – an unbeatable ad-
vantage in the ever more competitive engineering world.

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 Multi-User Application Recommendation

Organization of multi-user operation

Designing in multi-user operation requires both multi-user capable soft-
ware and a suitable work organization in order to prevent mutual inter-
ference in engineering and to be able to optimally use the software.
The administrator specifies the project structure and assigns the project
components to various users. This allows him to influence the perfor-
mance during project creation.
Recommended working steps:
Take advantage of EPLAN consulting services! Personal consulting is a
prerequisite for using the EPLAN platform in multi-user operation. Only
then can one be sure that users take full advantage of the software's ca-
pabilities and that workflows are optimally coordinated.
Designate a responsible person / an administrator for each multi-user
project, who's job it will be to divide up the work areas, carry out prepara-
tions, perform post-processing and actions across individual projects, as
well as coordinate the editing jobs.
Conflicts between users, and limitations due to mutual interferences can
be prevented if the processing areas are independent from each other.
Each user should therefore be assigned an exclusive area with little or
no contact to other areas, at least in the beginning.
Areas of contact are, for example, feeds that are distributed across sev-
eral pages using interruption points, phase (line) connections and the
use of project-wide potentials and signals. Such connections can cause
conflicts when working in multi-user operation, or restrict performance,
and should be created only at the end of the project, if possible.
The following criteria for dividing up design areas have proven success-
ful:
• Machine design according to enclosures, plants or mounting locations
• Design areas such as controlling, power, PLC or fluid power.

Commissioning should also be taken into account. If a plant is commis-

sioned in stages, then it makes sense to represent the various stages in
independent projects from the very beginning. This will also make revi-
sioning easier.
Assigning processing areas reduces the data that has to be displayed in
navigators.

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Multi-User Application Recommendation

This improves the user's overview and speeds up the EPLAN system,
because less data has to be processed.
Recommended working steps:
Select a project in the side navigator. Click on Popup menu > Proper-
ties and the Process areas tab.
Check the Process area selection active option.
Open the Define process areas dialog via the menu items Utilities >
Process areas > Define and assign structure identifiers to the users for
editing.

Note:
Sequentially numbered projects cannot be divided into defined process
areas.

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 Multi-User Application Recommendation

Designing the workflow

The workflow, i.e. how you work in multi-user operation, has a tremen-
dous effect on the performance. For instance, some project data displays
are continually updated online which causes a large amount of data
transfers.

Navigators
However, there are also navigators for the various design areas and en-
gineering phases that offer a special optimized view of the data and do
not require as many data transfers.
Recommended working steps:
When designing, use specialized navigators as much as possible, as
they offer both a clearer structure and improve performance.
In views that show all project data (e.g. in the device navigator), updates
must be carried out much more often than in views of subareas, i.e. a
graphic page or a specialized navigator such as the PLC navigator.

Graphical Editor
Use the graphic editor to edit individual subprojects.

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Multi-User Application Recommendation

Global actions
Perform global actions (e.g. numbering of connections or offline number-
ing of items) on the entire project when project design has been com-
pleted.
Recommended working steps:
Options > Settings > Project > "Project name" > Device > Number-
ing (online).
In the dialog that opens, you determine the project-related settings for
online numbering. Associated with this are the definitions as to how de-
vices are to be numbered when copying and inserting them into the
schematic. In the Numbering formats dialog (in the drop-down list, click
the [=] button Numbering format) you can uncheck the PLC adresses
e.g. in the Designations tab. The addresses are not automatically num-
bered when they are inserted.

Reports output for another project

Schematics project data can be written into a report project. Open the
schematic project in read-only mode and create the report in the report
project. The schematic project is not locked for editing during that time;
another user can continue to work on the schematic project.
Recommended working steps:
Utilities > Reports > Generate report project

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 Multi-User Application Recommendation

Optimizing data volumes

There is no explicit "multi-user mode" in the EPLAN platform. In multi-
user operation you can use all the functions available in single-user op-
eration.
However, in multi-user operation, some of the functions should only be
used when needed in order to limit the volume of data transferred and
improve the performance.
Recommended working steps:
• Install the programs on the workstation computer and only keep the
projects on the network.

• Close any unnecessary projects. The more projects you have open,
the more data has to be kept online and updated.

• Turn off the Graphical preview in multi-user mode since each selec-
tion change will cause data to be transferred.

• Open as few navigators as possible in multi-user operation. Naviga-

tors are continually updated, thereby loading down the network.

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Multi-User Application Recommendation

Check runs
Wherever possible, perform check runs offline when in multi-user mode.
Online check runs cause data to be transferred with each work step, the
size of which may be significantly more extensive than the editing pro-
cess itself.
Recommended working steps:
• Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" > Management >
Message management

Open the check run and set the check run type for all project related
check runs to "No" or "Offline".

• Use the Offline translation after the project design is completed, be-
cause the online translation mode continually accesses data.

Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" > Translation >
General > Group field Translation

Deactivate the check box Translate on input.

User-specific settings
Enable the following list of check boxes for general user-specific settings.
This will reduce the volume of data that has to be transferred in favor of
improving system response time:
Recommended working steps:
Options > Settings > User > Display > General

Deselect the following check boxes:

• Update reports when opening pages

• Update reports when printing and exporting
• Update connections when switching pages
• Update connections throughout the project (manually)
• Always update cross-references.

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 Multi-User Application Recommendation

Translation
Perform the following user-specific settings in the "Translation" section.
This will also reduce the data volume transferred and thereby speed up
the system.
Recommended working steps:
• Options > Settings >User > Translation > General

Deactivate the check box Translate on input.

As long as this checkbox is not selected, the texts will not be translat-
ed as they are entered. You can follow up with a translation run to
translate the text in its entirety.

• Options > Settings > User > Translation > Dictionary

Deselect the checkbox AutoComplete and AutoCorrect.

Deactivating these two input fields during text entry prevents continu-
ous access to the translation database data.

Message management
In the message management system, prevent activating the filter func-
tion with each switch of selections. For instance when changing pages,
when changing navigators, or when changing in the graphical editor.
Recommended working steps:
Project > Messages > Management

Deactivate the checkbox Selection.

Your selections in the message display affect and can slow down certain
processes, e.g. a page change, especially if a large number of messages
are running.

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Multi-User Application Recommendation

Number of users
In single-user operation, Windows makes sure that the data is always
managed from the workstation computer and not from the server. As
soon as there is a second user, Windows uses other methods for cach-
ing and updating files between the server and the workstations. Howev-
er, these methods are more time-intensive.
A large number of users on one project requires a high volume of data
transfer, since everyone is informed about changes when editing in multi-
user operation.
The number of users has a more significant influence on the perfor-
mance than does the size of the project.
Recommended working steps:
Choose the number of simultaneous users relatively low, as this will
make coordinating editing tasks easier for the project administrator.

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 Multi-User Application Recommendation

Workstation computer
The recommended hardware requirements are listed in the performance
description.
Multi-user operation places higher requirements on the hardware than
single-user operation since the data is exchanged directly over the net-
work and is updated much more often.
The computing power of the workstation computer is more important in
multi-user operation than in single-user operation. Some editing steps
require much of the data to be locked during processing and this data is
only unlocked after processing has finished. During this time, other users
cannot access the locked data. Fast workstation computers minimize the
waiting time caused by data locking – for all users and not only for this
workstation user.
Recommended hardware requirements:
• Multicore-CPU, not more than 3 years old,
with a clock rate of at least 3 GHz.

• At least 4 GB RAM.

• 64 Bit operating system starting with Windows 7.

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Multi-User Application Recommendation

Network
Recommended working steps:
• We recommend using a Microsoft Windows-Server for projects of up
to 2000 schematics pages.

• For projects up to 5000 schematics pages we recommend Terminal

Server.

• Use a Terminal server solution to simultaneously access a project

from locations that are far apart from each other (WAN).

• Define subprojects, if the project scope exceeds 5000 schematics

pages.

Microsoft Windows Server

The network speed has a noticeable affect in multi-user operation.
Changing from a 100 Mbit network to a 1 Gbit network results in im-
proved multi-user mode performance.
A heavy network or server load can perceptibly worsen the performance
of EPLAN in multi-user operation.
The EPLAN platform benefits primarily from the lower latency of the net-
works used, because many small packages are often exchanged via the
network in multi-user operation.
If you connect multiple clients with a 1 GB network, make sure that the
backbone and the server connection are sufficient.
Recommended working steps:
• Use a server dedicated exclusively to EPLAN.

• Use 1 Gbit networks if possible.

• Only use storage locations with a latency of less than 1 ms.

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 Multi-User Application Recommendation

The supported server operating systems are listed under the system re-
quirements of the performance description. Unix-based NAS (Network
Attached Storage) servers have repeatedly turned out to be the cause of
performance and stability problems, especially with CIFS (Common In-
ternet File System) implementations. For these and other reasons, such
systems are not approved.
Recommended working steps:
As stated in the software requirements and performance description, on-
ly run the server with a Microsoft Windows operating system.

Terminal Server
Terminal Server is the working method recommended by EPLAN for mul-
ti-user operation between different company locations.
Because of the complexity of the subject EPLAN is not able to release or
approve any specific hardware or network topology for Terminal Server.
The information provided here serves to assist an IT department or an
external consultant or service partner only.
Licensing
Operating on a Terminal Server is only possible with an EPLAN Network
license.
The EPLAN license server can be installed on any server or workstation
in the same domain as the terminal server. The clients are able to re-
ceive the EPLAN license from the license server located in any domain.
Server CPU
As a rule, project planning in the graphical editor does not require high
CPU performance. EPLAN may put temporary high volume stress on the
CPU with certain actions, like when generating reports or updating con-
nections information. Ideally, there is one CPU core per client assigned
on the server.
Server main memory
The EPLAN program itself requires approximately 150 MB main memory
space. An additional 0.2 to 2 MB of memory per project page are added,
depending on the project type. Demand is strongly contingent on the use
of graphics, bitmaps and 3D files (Pro Panel).

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Multi-User Application Recommendation

On the average one can estimate 1 GB of main memory per user for pro-
jects with low graphic content up to 4000 pages, including reports.
EPLAN recommends to include options for expansions.

Server hard disks

EPLAN creates many small data packages in multi-user operation. Ac-
cess time is therefore more significant for the storage medium than the
maximum sustained transfer rate. We recommend you store the project
data locally on the terminal server to achieve your best performance. If
project data is to be stored on external storage media, use only storage
media with Windows operating systems.
NAS or NetApp have frequently proven problematic, as a result of
EPLAN's use of record locking.

Topology
We are unable to make any recommendations for multi-user operation in
a terminal server farm environment.
Multi-user operation is designed to be used with individual terminal serv-
ers. The best performance is attained when data and programs are lo-
cated on the same server. Failover protection / server availability can be
increased substantially e.g. in an Hyper-V environment.
User interface
The user will notice a slight delay of the cursor, especially in graphics,
when operating via a terminal server. Unfortunately there is no technical
solution to avoid this yet. It does not affect productivity.
EPLAN provides an option for minimizing cursor trailing in its station set-
tings by reducing the graphic size.
Options > Settings > Station > Display > General
Operating on two monitors (dual-head or dual-screen) is possible at the
client.

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 Multi-User Application Recommendation

Security software / operating system settings

for network operation
We recommend the following settings for optimum performance, mean-
ing a more efficient use of your computing capacity and faster data pro-
cessing, during project design with EPLAN on a network.
Recommended working steps:
Configure you virus software to not scan EPLAN files within the network.

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Multi-User Application Recommendation

Defining subprojects
Projects that are very large and have many simultaneous users affect the
project in other ways, unrelated to the software. When dividing a project
into work packages, the following should be taken into account:
• Users work with very long total lists of pages, plants, site, devices,
and parts and need more time to find desired information.
• Commissioning usually takes place in stages, therefore revisions of
subprojects are completed during editing.
• Data backup of the entire project is more extensive and takes more
time; the amount of data makes it more difficult to exchange the pro-
ject via email.

EPLAN recommends reorganizing large systems into subprojects for pro-

ject design. This approach has a number of advantages for project de-
sign compared to one single large project:
• Better manageable data volume in the dialogs
• Step-by-step revision levels for commissioning
• Increased flexibility during project and data handling
• Coordinating subprojects with expert knowledge and special subject
area users
• Simplifying project exchange with suppliers.
Recommended working steps:
Divide large projects into smaller, self-contained subprojects. Where
necessary, copy the pages of the subprojects into an overall project.

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 Multi-User Application Recommendation

Monitor for Multi-user Operation

Note:
The add-on module "EPLAN Multiuser Monitor" is an available option for
all modules of the EPLAN Electric P8, EPLAN Fluid, EPLAN PPE,
EPLAN Education for Classrooms, EPLAN Trial and EPLAN View pro-
gram variants.
The EPLAN Platform provides a monitor for multi-user operation. This
add-on will help you see which other users are active and on which pro-
ject. You will be able see the actions of other users in the project at a
glance, thus allowing you to efficiently coordinate the project work load.
Benefit:
Who has already made a start on which project? Are there comprehen-
sive reports or checks already running in the current project? It is im-
portant to have a quick and simple overview of the actions of individual
people, particularly when working on projects with multiple users. Struc-
tured and efficient configuration shortens project implementation times,
and this is perfectly supported by the multi-user monitor. The new multi-
user monitor, when combined with well thought-through and organized
configuration, can be the central source of transparent information for
your current projects.

Using the multi-user monitor

Select the Project > Multi-user monitor menu items to open the multi-
user monitor.
The Multi-user monitor dialog is in table format, similar to other familiar
dialogs such as message management. As in that dialog, the multi-user
monitor can be docked and undocked at EPLAN's main window and
saved with the workspace.

This dialog has two tables listing the projects that are relevant for multi-
user operation.

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Multi-User Application Recommendation

Your own open projects in multi-user mode:

The table on the left provides detailed information about the multi-user
operation. It shows the projects that you and other users have open at
the same time. The following data is listed for these projects:
• Project
• Users
• Product version
• Project action
• Progress.

If a user has started an action with a corresponding run-time for a project

that you also have open (checks, reports, etc), this will be indicated by a
progress bar in the Progress column.
If you click the User code set up as a hyperlink in the User column, the
email application on your computer opens and you can mail this user.
If you click the icon to the left of a project name, additional information
about a user appears in both tables (name, phone, computer). For this to
happen, the users working in multi-user mode must have saved their us-
er data in the settings (Options > Settings > User > Display > User
code / address).

Note:
Projects that only you have open do not appear in the multi-user monitor.

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