The following is a list of iFIX and Remote Desktop Services Limitations and assumptions:
- The Remote Desktop Session Host computer must have a supported version of Windows for Remote Desktop installed. For specific versions supported by iFIX (with Service pack mentions) refer to the System Requirements tab of the iFIX IPI.
- iFIX does not support running a Remote Desktop session on Windows Vista.
- Change Management is not supported from a Remote Desktop client session.
- Running iFIX on Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows 2003 is not supported.
- Remote Desktop Services does not solve the iFIX limitation of 200 iClients connecting to a single SCADA node.
- Running FIX32 and iFIX on the same computer is not supported on Remote Desktop Session Host.
- Although Windows allows machine names of up to 15 characters, iFIX node names are limited to eight characters.
- NETBIOS is not supported for connecting View (Remote Desktop Session Host computer) to SCADA.
- Depending on your settings, some keyboard shortcuts (such as Ctrl+ALT+DEL) may be disabled or remapped.
- Alarm printing at the client side is not supported.
- User accounts must be created and accessed after installing iFIX.
- When using iFIX with Remote Desktop Services and all clients share the same iFIX folders, toolbars can be configured separately on each client. Refer to the iFIX WorkSpace Toolbars and Remote Desktop Services section for more details.
- The iFIX Screen Saver does not work on Remote Desktop clients because Microsoft disabled screen savers for Remote Desktop sessions.
Scalability
The number of clients allowed per Server varies according to the Server's processing power and memory. iClientTS performance depends on the design of the application. If you use good optimization techniques and avoid unnecessary animations when developing your application, you should be able to run more clients with better performance per Server.
The Microsoft Performance Monitor can help you to determine the optimal number of iClientTS sessions your Server can handle. For more information on optimizing your iClientTS performance, refer to the Optimizing iFIX with Remote Desktop Services chapter.
TIP: Be aware that if your SCADA Server runs as a service on your Remote Desktop Session Host, your processor speed and optimization routines become even more important. Be sure to read the Optimizing iFIX with Remote Desktop Services section.
