Hoffmann + Krippner is launching a suite of advanced diagnostic and recovery software that virtually eliminates the need for manual intervention when rectifying industrial panel PC hardware and software problems. Now available with the company's flexx-IPC family of low-cost panel PCs, flexx-RESTORE can reduce system downtime in a variety of industrial automation and processing environments by rapidly diagnosing system problems and offering a choice of automated recovery and restore facilities.
flexx-RESTORE features an intuitive interface that is suitable for non-technical users. If a problem occurs the user is given the option of a "network boot' that will run all necessary diagnostics and suggest an appropriate course of action. All the user then needs to do is accept the course of action and flexx-RESTORE will either automatically restore the PC to full operation or outline some additional steps to take.
The software works by allocating a server to hold a reference operating system image and copies of relevant applications for each panel PC on the network. In the event of a system crash, failure to boot or other problem, this allows the PC to be booted from the network and restored as appropriate.
Take, for example, the problem of a corrupt memory card. In this instance the server can automatically load a program onto the panel PC that will reformat the card and then re-install the operating system and the application. If this does not rectify the problem the user has the option to replace the card and then repeat the re-install process.
Discussing the launch of the new software, Ian Ritson, the managing director of Hoffmann + Krippner in the UK, comments: "flexx-RESTORE minimises the time that a unit needs to be out of service during a repair and allows non-technical users to take a frontline role in resolving a problem without the need to call an engineer. In a facility with a number of units this provides a great "safety net' that reduces the time and the cost of problem identification and rectification."
Find out more about flexx-RESTORE.
St. John's Innovation Centre
Cowley Road
CB4 0WS
UNITED KINGDOM
+44 (0)1223 421889