Connecting Made Easy with Caterpillar's Webserver Built-In!

Know what a webserver is?  Boy have we got a surprise for you!  Here all about it in this episode with Caterpillar's Amanda Wilke Diaz
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Transcript

Lou:  Good Day and welcome everyone to Power Bytes!  I am your host Lou Signorelli  and Power Bytes is your destination Podcast for power generation conversation.  As always please know how much we appreciate you, our listeners.  We hope you find our topics helpful and interesting.  There are several ways for you to get in touch with the show. You can send us an email at powerbytes@cat.com, visit us at Cat Electric Power on Facebook or LinkedIn.  If you enjoy your time with us today Please remember to subscribe to our podcast.

Lou:  In a fast moving world dominated by technology, We've learned that often users have developed rather advanced wants and needs for how you access your data to run your business, maintain your equipment, and in general just know what's happening on your sites.  

Power Bytes has done a few episodes now talking about Cat Connect.  Today, we want to talk about a lesser known capability built right into Caterpillar genset controllers.  


Lou:  Some of you may be familiar with the term "web server"?  Fundamentally, A web server is a combination of hardware and software that (I'm over simplifying) turns the data on the machine into a website for viewing and understanding performance.    The use of web servers has become an key enabler to getting a look at how our power equipment is performing.  

Lou:  Joining me today to talk through how Cat uses the webserver as part of their control and monitoring system is Amanda Wilke Diaz.  Amanda is an electrical engineer from the University of Dayton, and has over 14 years with Caterpillar.  She is a member of our power integration team providing support for our various genset controls platforms. 

Lou:  Welcome Amanda!

Amanda: Hi Lou! Thanks for having me.

Lou: So glad you could join us today.  So let's start at the beginning.  How long has Cat been offering a webserver as part of their controls platform?

Amanda: We have been offering the webserver on our advanced controllers since 2012.


Lou: Ok, so where is it and how hard is it to set up or connect to?


Amanda: It is located as the name implies...embedded into our controller, but don't worry, connecting is very easy. All you need is a PC and an ethernet cable to get going. A RJ45 jack is near the controller to make plugging in easy and the other end of course to your PC. Just a few minor configuration steps from there. You need the IP address of the controller it is easily located from the front face of the HMI (human machine interface) in the TCP/IP SCADA data link menu. Once you have the IP address, you navigate to the internet protocol version 4 properties under your PC control panel and there you set the IP address and subnet to be able to communicate to the controller. The IP address of the controller incremented by 1 will go in the IP address field and the subnet should be entered the same as written on the controller. From here, you simply go to internet explorer, type in the IP address of the controller and you're in the embedded webserver!


Lou: Tell us about  the benefits of connecting the webserver 

Amanda:   You'll have access through the web viewing real time parameters from your genset from the comfort of a remote location such as a service truck or an office. This is particularly useful during long duration burn in testing or commissioning. You will be able to see if your genset is showing any events, warnings, or shutdowns, and know whether or not the genset is running. You get a basic engine overview with items like coolant temperature, oil pressure, and engine speed. Additionally, you can view AC information such as total real power, power factor, and average AC current and frequency. All in real time as if you were standing in front of the HMI, eliminating the need to have the site network connections up and running or using the SCADA or BMS system to access the data via MODBUS.

Lou: So, it's more than just a viewing portal?

Amanda: Absolutely. The genset as its own component can be verified to be working correctly using the webserver, meaning you can compare rated values of your equipment versus the live data you are reading off the genset. A technician is able to validate ethernet communications between the PC and the controller which can also be useful when troubleshooting the ethernet connection.

Lou: This is quite interesting.  So, I can see my genset and determine if it's running or there are alarms etc… but can I actually start the genset from the webserver?

Amanda: No, it’s simply a viewing platform. Alternative access points (remote monitoring software or Cat Connect) are needed for this functionality. 

Lou: Sounds like a great way to assure all is working and talking together prior to turning over the system to the IT folks to bring the system inside their firewall at final handover?

Amanda: Definitely. Technicians can feel confident handing over the genset to IT after assuring the Cat side is working properly and they've verified ethernet communications are working from the genset webserver to their PC

Lou: OK Amanda.  I have to ask.  What is this capability going to cost me?

Amanda "IT"S FREE!" and will be available as part of our controls platforms going forward.

Lou: Amanda, it sounds like the Caterpillar team has found a very effective and simple way to quickly and easily connect users to their genset performance information.   And now your telling me that it comes included as part of the genset control platform???

Amanda: Absolutely, yes, our advanced controllers will have embedded webserver capability.

Lou:  There you have it folks. I'd like to thank Amanda for sharing her expertise with us today.  And thank you, our listeners. Be sure to contact your local Cat dealer for more information and perhaps a demo of the embedded web server today.

If you’d like to suggest other topics for the program or have some feedback to share,  please write us here at powerbytes@cat.com or visit Cat Electric Power on Facebook or LinkedIn.   Please remember to subscribe to our Podcast wherever  you listen to your favorite podcasts.  Till next time, thanks for listening to Power Bytes and have a great rest of your day!