iFIX starts and stops background tasks based on the configuration information in the SCU file. The table below describes the function of each iFIX background task. Automatic tasks are started by iFIX if required by your configuration. Tasks listed as optional require that you start them manually by adding them to the configured task list in the Task Configuration dialog box in the SCU.
NOTE: If you want, you can configure certain tasks to start up automatically. Refer to the Configuring Startup Tasks section for more information.
|
Program |
Executable File |
Function |
|
Alarm File Task (Automatic) |
ALMFILE.EXE |
Receives alarm messages and stores them in files. |
|
Alarm Printer Task (Automatic) |
ALMPRIN.EXE |
Receives alarm messages and sends them to printers. |
|
Alarm Summary Task (Automatic) |
ALMSUM.EXE |
Receives alarms for display in the iFIX WorkSpace through the Alarm Summary object. |
|
Alarm Manager (Automatic) |
NAM.EXE |
Distributes alarm messages over the network. Alarm managers run on SCADA servers. |
|
Alarm Client (Automatic) |
NAC.EXE |
Receives alarm messages over the network. |
|
I/O Control (Automatic, SCADA) |
IOCNTRL.EXE |
Starts the I/O drivers, and displays the status of |
|
Summary Queue Delete (Automatic, SCADA) |
SUMQDEL.EXE |
Removes the acknowledged, returned to normal, alarms from the Alarm Summary queue. |
|
Scan Alarm and Control (Automatic, SCADA) |
WSACTASK.EXE |
Updates the database with data from the I/O driver, makes requested writes to the I/O Driver, generates alarms, and executes the logic of the database chains. |
|
Network Diagnostics (Optional) |
NETDIAG.EXE |
Displays the status of sessions on the local node. |
|
TCP/IP Task (Automatic) |
TCPTASK.EXE |
Supports node-to-node communication over TCP/IP. |
|
Node Name Table (Automatic) |
NNTABLE.EXE |
Stores network information about the local and remote nodes. This executable will accept the /P parameter, which allows you to specify the maximum packet size for iFIX networking. To specify the maximum packet size for iFIX networking, edit the FIX.INI file and use the /P parameter to pass a value to the NNTABLE.exe file. For example, to set a maximum packet size of 16K, edit FIX.INI and change the line RUN=%NNTABLE.EXE to RUN=%NNTABLE.EXE /P16384. NOTE: The recommended values for default size are 16384, 32767 and 65535 (default). |
|
Connection Manager (Automatic) |
CONMGR.EXE |
During startup, establishes the sessions listed in the configuration file. Monitors the status of sessions on the local node and generates alarm messages if sessions go down. It also attempts to re-establish sessions that have gone down. |
|
Alarm ODBC Service (Automatic) |
AlmODBC.EXE |
Reads alarms and messages generated by iFIX and logs them to an ODBC-compliant database. |
|
Event Scheduler (Optional) |
FixBackgroundServer.EXE |
Runs time and event-based scripts, allowing you to schedule reports and monitor events. |
|
Workspace (Optional) |
Workspace.EXE |
Opens the iFIX WorkSpace where you can open, edit, or view pictures. For information on command line parameters available for starting the WorkSpace in run mode, refer to the Command Line Parameters for Starting the iFIX WorkSpace section. |
