Overview

The Information Platform (called InfoPlatform hereafter) is a dynamic and extensible runtime framework for creating a Unified Production Model (UPM). The UPM is a hierarchical mesh of Items; each item in the model is a runtime instance that represents a real entity in a particular production environment. An Item might be a piece of equipment, a production line, a person, or any other entity that is deemed necessary to include in the model. Once created, the UPM provides a common way to monitor and report on the entities in a production environment, using first class, human readable entity and property names rather than the cryptic tag codes that are typically exposed by industrial automation equipment.

In the context of FactoryTalk Analytics, InfoPlatform is used to provide access to industrial automation data sources as PLCs, OPC Server or FT Historian. The related InfoPlatform packaging is called FactoryTalk Analytics InfoPlatform Service.

This document describes the installation and configuration of FactoryTalk Analytics InfoPlatform Service, a product that has been built using the InfoPlatform SDK to allow access to plant data via a REST-based web service.

The product is deployed to the target system as a window's service which hosts the underlying web service. Java or Windows clients connect to this web service and can retrieve data from a number of disparate data sources on a polled or a subscription basis. Access to these data sources can optionally be controlled using Rockwell's FactoryTalk Directory.

This guide is intended for use by System Administrators who are responsible for the installation and administration of enterprise systems.

Depending on configuration options chosen, FactoryTalk Analytics InfoPlatform Service can be closely integrated with FactoryTalk Security and the following Rockwell Automation applications: