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FactoryTalk View SE 15.00.00: A Comprehensive Overview of New Features and Enhancements

FactoryTalk View SE 15.00.00

FactoryTalk View Site Edition (SE) 15.00.00 is the latest release in Rockwell Automation’s premier human-machine interface (HMI) software suite. Designed for enterprise-level industrial automation solutions, this version introduces a range of new features, enhancements, and fixes that improve usability, security, and system performance. This blog post provides an in-depth look at what’s new in FactoryTalk View SE 15.00.00, its system requirements, and how it enhances industrial automation applications.

System Requirements

Hardware Requirements

FactoryTalk View SE requires different levels of computing power depending on the complexity of the application. Below are the recommended specifications for various setups:

Operator Workstation: Minimum 4-core CPU, 4GB RAM; Recommended 4-core CPU or more, 8GB RAM or more.
Engineering Workstation: Minimum 4-core CPU, 8GB RAM; Recommended 8-core CPU or more, 16GB RAM or more.
Application Server:
- Smaller systems: Minimum 4-core CPU, 4GB RAM; Recommended 8-core CPU or more, 8GB RAM or more.
- Medium to larger systems: Minimum 4-core CPU, 8GB RAM; Recommended 10-core CPU or more, 16GB RAM or more.

Software Requirements

FactoryTalk View SE 15.00.00 supports the following operating systems:

Windows Server 2022 Standard and Datacenter
Windows Server 2019 Standard and Datacenter
Windows 11 Enterprise (recommended)
Windows 11 Professional
Windows 10 Enterprise (various LTSC versions)

For best performance, Rockwell Automation recommends using the CIS Benchmark configurations for these operating systems.

New and Enhanced Features

1. Data Management with DataLogPro

FactoryTalk View SE 15.00.00 introduces DataLogPro, which enhances historical data logging by supporting external InfluxDB databases. Key improvements include:

Automatic failover to built-in InfluxDB when an external connection is lost.
Seamless migration of historical data to DataLogPro.
Custom storage location for historical data.
Support for InfluxDB OSS 2.7 and InfluxDB Cloud Serverless.

2. Enhanced Connectivity with MQTT

The software now supports MQTT connectivity, allowing FactoryTalk View SE to function as an MQTT publisher or subscriber. This facilitates seamless data exchange in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) environments.

3. Application Libraries for Faster Development

FactoryTalk View Studio now includes Application Libraries, featuring pre-configured device object libraries and a Library of Process Objects to speed up HMI development.

4. Improved HMI Security and Project Organization

Users can customize the HMI project folder path to enhance security and prevent unauthorized modifications.
Multiple navigation menus can be configured per display client, allowing for distinct menu layouts across multiple monitors or different client positions.
The new Login command allows a specific display to open automatically when a new user signs in.

5. Performance and User Experience Improvements

Faster application opening, migration, and display client startup.
New Global Object Display Folders allow up to two levels of folder organization, improving project organization.
Enhanced sorting in RecipePro+ Editor, making it easier to identify tag values that differ from preset recipe values.

6. Streamlined Application Deployment

The FactoryTalk View SE Application Manager has been upgraded to support command-based application restoration.
Users can save TrendPro and XY Plot settings as defaults for future configurations.

7. Corrected Anomalies

This release also addresses several previously reported issues:

Importing displays with reference objects now correctly preserves object properties.
Numeric input objects now properly trigger electronic signature dialogs.
Data logging issues related to non-English decimal formats have been resolved.
Various performance optimizations for tag browsing, animation rendering, and macro execution.

Security Enhancements

FactoryTalk View SE 15.00.00 incorporates several security improvements to protect industrial applications:

FactoryTalk Security Integration: Users can leverage FactoryTalk Security to enforce authentication and authorization.
CIP Security Implementation: The software supports device-level security as per IEC 62443-4-2:2019 certification.
Microsoft DCOM Hardening Compliance: FactoryTalk View SE now adheres to Microsoft’s DCOM Hardening Patch (KB5004442), enhancing authentication and reducing security vulnerabilities.

Installation and Deployment Enhancements

Rockwell Automation has introduced several command-line installation parameters for silent and unattended installations. Some key options include:

/Q: Silent install without user interface.
/QS: Unattended install with progress display.
/AutoRestart: Automatically restarts the system after installation.
/SetupLanguage: Specifies the installation language.
/ProductKey: Automates product activation.

Additionally, HTTPS is now enabled by default in new installations, requiring proper TLS certificate configuration post-installation to prevent errors.

Known Issues and Workarounds

Despite these enhancements, some known anomalies persist:

Alarm and Event Command Limitations: Cannot configure certain alarm commands in macros.
FactoryTalk Resource Server Visibility Issue: Servers do not appear in the application backup list but are still backed up.
SE Client Startup Delays: Multiple simultaneous client launches on the same computer may cause delays.
Windows Language Settings Conflicts: Non-English characters may appear incorrectly in data logs under certain configurations.

Conclusion

FactoryTalk View SE 15.00.00 is a powerful upgrade, delivering substantial improvements in data management, connectivity, performance, and security. With its expanded feature set and resolved issues, this release enhances industrial automation systems’ efficiency, reliability, and security.

For businesses and engineers looking to upgrade, FactoryTalk View SE 15.00.00 offers a streamlined, high-performance solution tailored to modern industrial requirements. Be sure to review the full FactoryTalk View SE 15.00.00 Release Notes for additional details and best practices for deployment.