How do you Archive

Tags and Messages in

an
SQL Database with
WinCC Advanced V15?
Siemens
WinCC (TIA Portal) Advanced / V15 / SQL Database Industry
Online
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/view/61886098 Support
 This entry originates from Siemens Industry Online Support. The conditions of use
specified there apply (www.siemens.com/nutzungsbedingungen).

Security Siemens provides products and solutions with industrial security functions that support the
Informati secure operation of plants, systems, machines and networks.
on In order to protect plants, systems, machines and networks against cyber threats, it is
necessary to implement – and continuously maintain – a holistic, state-of-the-art industrial
security concept. Siemens’ products and solutions only form one element of such a
concept.
Customers are responsible to prevent unauthorized access to their plants, systems,
machines and networks. Systems, machines and components should only be connected
to the enterprise network or the internet if and to the extent necessary and with
appropriate security measures (e.g. use of firewalls and network segmentation) in place.
Additionally, Siemens’ guidance on appropriate security measures should be taken into
account. For more information about industrial security, please visit
http://www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity.
Siemens’ products and solutions undergo continuous development to make them more
secure. Siemens strongly recommends to apply product updates as soon as available and
to always use the latest product versions. Use of product versions that are no longer
supported, and failure to apply latest updates may increase the customer’s exposure to
cyber threats.
To stay informed about product updates, subscribe to the Siemens Industrial Security
RSS Feed under http://www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity.
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

Contents
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Configuration Notes .............................................................................. 4
1.2 Components Used ................................................................................ 4
2 Configuration 1: Access to the SQL Server .................................................... 5
2.1 Configure an SQL Database ................................................................ 5
2.2 Configure the Data Source (ODBC) ..................................................... 8
3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server .................................................. 13
3.1 Configure an SQL Database .............................................................. 13
3.2 SQL Database User Data Management ............................................ 14
3.2.1 General Information............................................................................ 14
3.2.2 Authentication via the Windows Login ............................................... 15
3.3 Windows Firewall Settings ................................................................. 18
3.4 Configure (Remote) the Data Source (ODBC) ................................... 21
4 Read Out/Display the SQL Database Table................................................... 22
5 WinCC (TIA Portal) ........................................................................................... 25
5.1 Archive Configuration ......................................................................... 25
5.2 Operation of the Sample Application .................................................. 26

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 2
 1 Introduction

1 Introduction
The entry describes how to use WinCC Runtime Advanced V15 and
Microsoft SQL Server 2014 to archive tags and messages in a
Microsoft SQL database.
Two configurations are described.

Configuration 1, "Combined Installation" (Config. 1)

There is one PC station (PC Station1) on which both
 the Microsoft SQL server and
 the WinCC Runtime Advanced run.
The data of the WinCC Runtime Advanced is archived in the Microsoft SQL
database.
Figure 1-1
MS SQL-Database WinCC RT Advanced

PC-Station 1
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

Configuration 2, "Separate Installation" (Config. 2)

There is one PC station (PC Station1) on which
 the Microsoft SQL server runs.
There are other PC stations (PC Station2 to "n+1") on which only
 the WinCC Runtime Advanced runs.
The data of each WinCC Runtime Advanced station is archived in the Microsoft
SQL database of "PC-Station1".
Figure 1-2

PC-Station2
RT Advanced

PC-Station1
MS SQL-Database

Remote
PC-Station „n+1“
RT Advanced

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 3
 1 Introduction

1.1 Configuration Notes

Note When "SQL database" is mentioned in the entry, this always refers to the
Microsoft SQL Database.
The Microsoft SQL Database is a component of the
Microsoft SQL Server 2014.

The entry includes the principal configuration steps for

 Creating an SQL database
 Archiving tags and messages in an SQL database.
– Configuration 1:
– Configuration 2:
 Output of the archived values via a trend display on the Comfort Panel.
 Output of the archived values via an SQL database table.

Note There are numerous parameters and possible settings in an SQL database. The
entry can only deal with the settings required for this example.
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

1.2 Components Used

When WinCC (TIA Portal) V15 is installed, the Microsoft SQL Server 2014 is also
installed. You use the "Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 17" tool to create
and configure the SQL database.

Note The "Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 17" tool is not included in the
WinCC (TIA Portal) delivery package. You can download the tool via the
Microsoft Support pages (https://support.microsoft.com).

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 4
 2 Configuration 1: Access to the SQL Server

2 Configuration 1: Access to the SQL Server

The SQL server and the WinCC Runtime Advanced are running together on one
PC (PC Station1).

2.1 Configure an SQL Database

Requirements
The following components must be installed on the PC.
 WinCC (TIA Portal) V15
 Microsoft SQL Server 2014
 Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 17
Furthermore you must have administrator rights.

Establish a server connection

Table 2-1
No. Description
1. Open the "Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 17" tool.
 Open the program folder under
"Windows Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server Tools 17".
 Start the tool via
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

"Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 17".

"Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 17" starts.

2. Establish a connection to the server

 Via the drop-down list box you select the server on which the data is to be
stored (1).
 If multiple servers are installed on the PC, then in the drop-down list box you
select the menu "<Browse for more…>".
 Under "Database Engine" you select the following server
"Computer Name\WINCCPLUSMIG2014". The server you specify here is
also used for configuring the data source (ODBC) (link).
 Click the "Connect" button.

The connection to the server is set up.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 5
 2 Configuration 1: Access to the SQL Server

No. Description

3. View of the established server connection

The green arrow icon (1) indicates that the server connection is active.

Now you can access databases already created and have the values displayed
(2).
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

How to have values displayed in the SQL database is described below (chapter
4, "Read Out/Display the SQL Database Table").

Create a new database

Databases (Machine01, Machine02, for example) have already been created in the
previous section "Establish a server connection".
In this section we describe how to create a new database. In this case we create a
database named "Machine03".
The name you use here is specified as reference when creating the data source
(ODBC) (see the following table).

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 6
 2 Configuration 1: Access to the SQL Server

Table 2-2
No. Description
1. First you execute Steps 1 to 3 in the "Establish a server connection" section,
Table 2-1.
2. Create a new database

 Right-click the file folder "Databases".

 In the pop-up menu that opens you select "New Database...".
 The "New Database" window opens. Enter a name in the window under
"Database name:". The name is used subsequently when creating the data
source (ODBC) (link).
 For the menu item "Owner" and all the other parameters the default values
have been accepted.
 Click "OK" to confirm the entries.
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

3. View of the newly created database "Machine03".

This completes the settings at this point.

Note:
In the course of the exercise the tags and messages will be archived in this
database.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 7
 2 Configuration 1: Access to the SQL Server

2.2 Configure the Data Source (ODBC)

An ODBC data source is used for establishing a connection to a Microsoft SQL
Server.
The configuration procedure is given below.
Table 2-3
No. Description
1. Open the data source (ODBC)

 Open the Windows Control Panel.

Windows Start > Control Panel.
 Open the "Administration" menu.
 Open the menu "Data Source (ODBC)" menu.

The menu for configuring the ODBC Data Source opens (1). 1
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

2. Create new user data source

 In the menu bar you select the "User DSN" tab (1).
 Click the "Add..." button (2).

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 8
 2 Configuration 1: Access to the SQL Server

No. Description
3.  Select the driver "SQL Server" (1).
 Click "Finish".

4.  Name (1):
– Here you enter the name that you have stored in the PC Runtime
configuration in the archives under "Properties > General > Storage
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

location". In this case "Database_ArchiveMessage" (link).

 Server (2):
– Via the drop-down list box you select the server that you selected when
creating the database server connection. In this case "HH-
PC\WINCCPLUSMIG2014" (link).
 Click the "Next >" button.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 9
 2 Configuration 1: Access to the SQL Server

No. Description
5.  "Windows NT authentication" (1) is used in this example. If you select "SQL
Server authentication" (2), you can specify the required Login ID and
Password in the bottom part of the window (3). You must have stored the
data previously under "Security" in the SQL database.
 Enable the "Connect to..." check box (4).
 Click the "Next >" button.

When you click the "Next >" button, the data source attempts to establish a
connection to the SQL server. If this does not work, you get an error message.
In this case you should check:
– That the SQL server has started.
– The server name.
– The security settings of the SQL database.
– The user rights of the SQL database.

4
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 10
 2 Configuration 1: Access to the SQL Server

No. Description
6. When the SQL server connection has been established, the following window is
displayed.
 Enable the "Change the default database to:" option (1).
 Via the drop-down list box you select the database to be referred to (2).
See the entries here that you stored when creating the SQL server
connection. In this case "Machine03" (link).
The values of the WinCC Runtime Advanced are archived in this SQL
database.
 In the screen you enable the two options displayed (3).
 Click the "Next >" button.

1
2

3
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

7.  You select the option (1) as shown in the figure.

 Click the "Finish" button.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 11
 2 Configuration 1: Access to the SQL Server

No. Description
8. You then get a summary of the settings that have been made. You can test the
connection via the "Test Data Source…" button.
Close the configuration via the "OK" button.

9. The 1st menu screen is displayed again.

The newly created user data source is displayed. In this case
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

"Database_ArchiveMessage".

Via the "Configure…" button you can call and change the settings that have been
made (1).
For this you first mark the name of the user data source.

This completes the settings for the data source (ODBC). Close the menu with the
"OK" button.

Now you can start the WinCC Runtime Advanced. Information about configuring
the WinCC Runtime Advanced is available in chapter 5, WinCC (TIA Portal).

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 12
 3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server

3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server

The SQL server runs on its own PC (PC Station1).
The WinCC Runtime Advanced runs on separate PCs
(PC Station2 to "n+1") and accesses the data of the SQL database remotely.
The data of each WinCC Runtime Advanced station is archived in the Microsoft
SQL database of "PC Station1".
In order for the PC stations to be able to access the SQL server of "PC Station1"
with the WinCC Runtime Advanced, on the "PC Station1" settings have to be made
both
 in the Windows user administration and in the user administration of the SQL
server, and
 in the Windows firewall.
(Otherwise the firewall would block the incoming connection).

3.1 Configure an SQL Database

Establish a server connection
Table 3-1
No. Description
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

1. The configuration corresponds to the settings in section 2.1 "Configure an SQL

Database".
In this case the name of the server is:
"Name of the PC Station1\WINCCPLUSMIG2014".

Other settings
 In the Properties of the SQL server check that the "Allow remote connections
to this server" option is enabled.
– Right-click the SQL server and open the Properties. A window opens.
– Under "Select a page" you mark the item "Connections" (1).
In the "Remote server connections" section you enable the "Allow remote
connections to this server" option (2).

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 13
 3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server

3.2 SQL Database User Data Management

The settings are to be made on the PC on which the SQL server is installed. In this
example the settings are made in the "PC Station1".

3.2.1 General Information

In the later configuration of the data source (ODBC) you can choose whether the
SQL server authentication is to be made
 Via the Windows login (1) or
 Via the user administration of the SQL server (2).
The FAQ response describes the "Windows authentication".

Figure 3-1
1

2
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

Authentication via the Windows login

When authenticating via the Windows login the login data for the SQL server must
match the login data of the PC on which the WinCC Runtime Advanced is running.
Example:
You login as follows on the PC Station2 with the WinCC Runtime Advanced.
User name: "User 1"
Password: "100"
In the "PC Station1" you must also create a user in the Window user
administration with the name "User 1" and the password "100".
How to assign the user to the SQL database is described in the course of this
documentation (link).

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 14
 3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server

3.2.2 Authentication via the Windows Login

Notes  You must be logged in as administrator on the "PC Station1".

 The SQL database provides numerous settings for access protection etc. At this point
one possible method of access protection is presented in an example.

Table 3-2
No. Description
1. PC Station1, create Windows user

In the "PC Station1" you create a Windows user. The user must have the same
name and password as the user on the "PC Station2" on which the WinCC
Runtime Advanced is running.

In this example:
User: hh => Nickname, (…User1)
Password: 100

Note:
The user must not be assigned to any special group.
(Create new user under Windows 10).
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

2. Note on the created user

You do not have to be logged in on the PC Station1 with the new "User1" in order
to operate the SQL database.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 15
 3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server

No. Description
3. PC Station1, SQL database, assign Windows user

 In the SQL database you right-click the "Security" folder.

 In the pop-up menu that opens you select "New Login…". The "Login - New"
page opens.

4. PC Station1, "Login - New" page

 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

 Select the "General" page (1).

 Enable the radio button "Windows authentication" (2).
 Click the "Search..." button (3).
The "Select User or Group" window opens.
 Via the window you call the previously created new Windows user. In this
case "hh" (TIAV15WIN10\hh).
 Select the "User Mapping" page (4).

1
4 3
2

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 16
 3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server

No. Description
5. "User Mapping" page

 Here you define the database which the user "hh" is permitted to access.
The final assignment is made in the settings of the data source ODBC (link).
 Select the "Server Roles" page (1).

1
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

6. "Server Roles" page

 Activate the option boxes "sysadmin" and "public".

 Click "OK" to confirm the settings.

7. This completes the user settings for Windows authentication.

The user "hh" has been assigned automatically to all the databases selected on
the "User Mapping" page.
If required, you can make further settings under "Name of the database >
Security > Users”.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 17
 3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server

3.3 Windows Firewall Settings

The settings are to be made on the PC on which the SQL server is running. In this
example on the "PC Station1".
Table 3-3
No. Description
1. Enable the firewall

 Call the Windows Firewall via

"Windows Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall".
 Click the text "Turn Windows Firewall on or off" (1).
Another window opens.
 Click the "Turn on Windows Firewall" radio button. Acknowledge the entry
with "OK". You return this view.
Note:
The green icon indicates that the firewall is turned on (2).

1 2
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

2. Add firewall rule

You have to add a firewall rule to ensure that the incoming connection of the "PC
Station2" is not blocked by the Windows Firewall of the "PC Station1". No rule is
required if the Windows Firewall is turned off.

 First open the Windows Firewall again.

 Click the text "Advanced Settings". The following screen is displayed.
 Click "Inbound Rules" (1). A new window opens.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 18
 3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server

No. Description
3.
 In this window you click "New Rule…" (2).
The "New Inbound Rule Wizard" window opens. The program file of the SQL
server is called via the wizard.
This measure ensures that incoming queries to the SQL server are no longer
blocked by the Windows Firewall.

4. New Inbound Rule Wizard

 In the first screen you select the "Program" radio button (1).
 Then click the "Next >" button.
 In the second screen you select the "This program path:" radio button and
then click "Browse..." (2).
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 19
 3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server

No. Description
5.  Navigate to and mark the program file "sqlservr.exe". Make sure that you
select the correct file for the SQL database being used. This is particularly
important if there are different versions of the SQL server installed on the
same PC (see information under "Tip").
 Click the "Open" button.
 Then click the "Next >" button.

Tip:
Use the Windows Search function to make a prior search for the word
"sqlserver.exe" on drive "C".
If you have installed multiple SQL servers, then make sure you use the file
corresponding to the SQL server being used.
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

6.  In the following screens the displayed default settings have been used.
 In the last screen you specify a name and close the wizard via the "Finish"
button.
 This completes the settings for the Windows Firewall.

7. Restart the PC or log out and log in again.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 20
 3 Configuration 2: Access to the SQL Server

3.4 Configure (Remote) the Data Source (ODBC)

An ODBC data source is used for establishing a connection to a Microsoft SQL
Server.
The ODBC data source is configured on the PC on which the RT Advanced is
running/installed.

The configuration procedure is given below.

Note If you cannot establish a connection to the remote server, this might be due to
the firewall of the operating system. For testing or during commissioning you can
try to turn off the firewall where the SQL database is installed. Bear in mind in
this case that you might run the risk of allowing access to unauthorized users.

Table 3-4
No. Description
1. The configuration corresponds to the settings in section 2.2 "Configure the Data
Source (ODBC) ".
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

The only difference is in table item No. 4.

For the menu item "Server" you now do not select the local server but the server
to which you want to have remote access and on which the SQL database is
installed.
 Server:
– Via the drop-down list box you select the remote server that you selected
when creating the database server connection. In this case "PC
Station1\WINCCPLUSMIG2014" (link).
 Click the "Next >" button.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 21
 4 Read Out/Display the SQL Database Table

4 Read Out/Display the SQL Database Table

The archived tag values of the HMI Runtime Advanced are stored in the assigned
database. Proceed as follows to output the archived values via the tool "Microsoft
SQL Server Management Studio 17".

Table 4-1
No. Description
1.  First perform the steps 1 to 3 as in section 2.1 "Configure an SQL Database".
 Select the database whose values you want to have displayed and open the
folder tree.
 Open the "Tables" file folder.
The archive files are displayed in the folder.
=> dbo.Archivename

In our example these are "dbo.Alarm_log_10" and "dbo.Speed_Monitoring0".

Note:
The "0" in the file name is generated by the system.
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 22
 4 Read Out/Display the SQL Database Table

No. Description
2.  Right-click the archive file.
 Navigate to the menu item shown in the screen.
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

3. When you enable the "New Query Editor Windows" function the script shown in
the screen is generated automatically. The script includes the function that reads
out the values of the selected archive file.
Click "Execute" (1) in the toolbar.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 23
 4 Read Out/Display the SQL Database Table

No. Description
4. The figure shows the table with the values read out of the archive file after running
the "Execute" function.
To update the table you click the "Execute" function (1) again in the toolbar.
1
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 24
 5 WinCC (TIA Portal)

5 WinCC (TIA Portal)

5.1 Archive Configuration
You configure the archives in the usual manner. The only difference is in the
specification of the storage location and the data source.
Table 5-1
No. Description
1. You call the archive via the project tree and open the Properties.
In this example: "Speed_Monitoring".
2. Define the storage location

 You define the storage location in the menu "Properties > General". Select
the "Database" menu from the drop-down list box (1).
 Enter the name of the data source (2).
This name is used to address the ODBC database with the archived tag
names (link).
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

3. This completes the Special Settings for archiving in the SQL database.
If you are using other archives, you can use the same data source name.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 25
 5 WinCC (TIA Portal)

5.2 Operation of the Sample Application

The sample application is for testing the tag archiving and message archiving.
Table 5-2
No. Description
1. "Theme A" page

The "SimulateTag" function is used to assign speed values to the three motors
displayed.
The simulated values are archived in an SQL database. You call the page with
a trend archive via the ">>" button (1).
The speed values archived in the database are read out via the trend archive.
Via the icon (2) you call the system page to terminate the Runtime.

2
 Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved

2. "Theme B" page

You use the buttons to simulate fault messages.

The simulated messages are archived in an SQL database.

SQL Datenbankzugriff
Entry ID: 61886098, V2.0, 04/2018 26