Moving from V7.1 to V7.1 SP1 wasn't just a patch; it was a refinement.
: Moving from V7.1 to V7.1 SP1 generally requires updating system blocks and may necessitate an AS STOP to update functionalities like the Advanced Process Library (APL). Simatic PCS7 v7.1 SP1
: Added support for redundant terminal and plant buses using SCALANCE X switches and redundant OS server coupling via Ethernet. Fieldbus Integration : Improved integration for FOUNDATION Fieldbus (FF) devices via DP/FF links. Archive Server : Implementation of a Central Archive Server (CAS) for more effective long-term data storage. Compatibility and Requirements Moving from V7
The introduction of SP1 brought several targeted improvements designed to optimize engineering workflows and system reliability: Advanced Process Library (APL): When two engineers opened the same CFC chart,
| Component | Version required for PCS7 v7.1 SP1 | | :--- | :--- | | | Windows 7 Professional SP1 (32/64 bit), Windows Server 2008 R2 | | Operating System (OS Runtime) | Windows Server 2008 R2 (for servers), Windows 7 (for clients) | | WinCC | WinCC V7.0 SP2 | | Step 7 | V5.5 (included in the PCS7 installation) | | SQL Server | SQL Server 2005 SP3 or SQL Server 2008 | | SIMATIC Logon | V1.4 | | MS Office | 2007 (for reporting/reporting templates) |
While not as seamless as modern Git-based systems, v7.1 SP1 introduced a better conflict prevention mechanism. When two engineers opened the same CFC chart, the system would lock the chart earlier, preventing "last save wins" disasters.
