Hi All,
I am looking to replace an old “Wonderware” system with an Ignition HMI, but after looking through the websites / forums, I haven’t been able to find the answers.
I believe the Ignition HMI application is called Ignition Edge?
Is this “Stand Alone” software? i.e. does it still need an Ignition Gateway or server?
The original install with “Wonderware” is used as an operator interface to the PLC, so no reports or historical trending required, basically only onscreen push buttons, device status and alarms, typical of a Panelview Plus HMI or similar. Like Ignition SCADA, does it require modules etc.
If someone could make a brief explanation or provide a weblink that explains the requirements for HMI rather than SCADA, that would be most helpful.
Thank you
Woolie
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Edge Panel edition sounds like what you are after. Limited history for trends, no regular database access, but full Vision or Perspective HMI functionality. You can connect it to a full install of Ignition for longer history, but that is optional.
Consider calling IA and talking to a sales engineer–they can help you pick the right combination (Edge is modular, too).
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Yes and yes. It doesn't matter what flavour of Ignition you run (standard, Edge, or Maker), you will always need the Ignition Gateway
it's just that the Edge version of the gateway is a limited version of the standard version and will run directly on your HMI PC rather than on separate server hardware.
As well as Edge Panel, you might need some of the additional Edge modules like Compute. But as Phil said, best to talk to sales. If it's something super simple, just a bunch of buttons and statuses though, Panel sounds like your guy
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I think Phil and Nick have it covered pretty well here, but I’ll add a little bit from my perspective as well. We recently starting using Edge at our facility. In our architecture, we have a bunch of Edge gateways and one central full Ignition gateway. The Edge gateways each reside on on the computer that is being used as the HMI - it doesn’t have to be this way but we found it to be the most reliable and logical method. With this setup, there are no external resources needed. The data logging and runtime resources all reside locally to the HMI computer and so no network connection is needed to run (besides to the PLC of course). If that is all you need, then you are set!
However, for us, we are running many Edge gateways and still wanted to be able to take advantage of the central server architecture to enable our team to design from one location, share resources (like templates among other things), and to be able to manage all of our remote Edge gateways from one location. Therefore, we decided to add on a few plugins like Edge EAM and Edge Sync. So there are modular add-ons that you can get - depending on your needs. However, without the add-ons, you will still be able to design a basic HMI just fine with Edge panel.
The IA sales team was really helpful as has been previously mentioned. However, I think what really helped me to understand how Edge works was simply to install a gateway and start playing with the functionality. Best of luck - enjoy!
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You can check out Ignition Onboard where you can get a device pre-installed with Ignition and ready to go for programming.
I never really understood the need for Ignition Onboard since it installs in like 2mins. It’s not like other scada software that takes literally hours (i wonder what one I’m talking about
) where this would help
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I’ve never understood it either. Maybe if it came with a license, but it doesn’t.
The other thing is that it will probably come with an old version of Ignition anyway by the time you get it, especially during COVID times. It’ll probably be a major release out of date by the time you get it 
From my understanding they do come with the license.
@nminchin I use it more like a database of hardware example. then you can buy a similar hardware and install yourself.
@jlandwerlen it depend like at on logic you can ask to have the license with it.and since they buy in bundle, it's cheaper ( not by. much). But it's not always the latest update.
Thank you everybody for your suggestions, advice and thoughts.
Between all of you, I have had my questions answered.
Now to contact our local IA authorised agent, to create a shopping list.
Again Thank you all for the help & support.
Woolie