What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Ignition is for study with the Maker Edition, where I make experiments and tests, but the principal case is for projects of Automind, where we work mainly with PLC and SCADA software, as Ignition is one of the most famous SCADA software. Additionally, we use mainly the Perspective module.
I can provide a specific example of how Ignition is used in one of our projects; we have a customer called Edge, where we use a Schneider PLC with a communication module called BMEA Noah, which gives us data via OPC UA protocol, and we set the connection of OPC UA in Ignition to communicate with that module, allowing us to see the tags of the PLC by OPC UA and visualize terminal data.
In addition to that example, we have the use of the Perspective module with a cloud application that communicates with edge computers through a gateway network, creating a distributed architecture where users in the cloud can query local site data.
In our projects, we use a hybrid cloud deployment with a central application in the cloud and edge computer applications on-premises.
How has it helped my organization?
Ignition positively impacts my organization, making my work day better even though it may not significantly improve the organization itself, as it is a good SCADA software.
Ignition is easy to use with abundant information available through the forum or user manual, and the support service is exceptional, providing answers in less than four to six hours.
What is most valuable?
In my opinion, the best feature of Ignition is its user-friendly interface for development, which is easy to understand and intuitive, plus the user manual and forum provide excellent support; many of my doubts have been answered there, and I appreciate the Linux compatibility, as it can enhance performance for clients. Another good feature is the Tag Historian module, which is practical and simple to configure.
The simplicity of the Tag Historian module has helped us in our projects, as it is very easy to use, and the quality of the documentation and database table forms is very good compared to other SCADA software.
Another notable feature is the improved communication form when using the OPC UA module, which enhances the interaction between SCADA servers, clients, and other devices, making it more performant than other SCADA solutions.
What needs improvement?
Improving Ignition's performance in the Perspective module would be beneficial, specifically the loading speed of faceplates in views with many embedded views, but overall it is a very good software, and I need to think harder to find improvements.
For how long have I used the solution?
We're using Ignition in the last four projects of Automind, since it started in 2022, which amounts to two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Ignition is stable in my experience.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Ignition's scalability is very high, as we can use it in the cloud with the gateway network connecting different gateways and sites, making it very scalable for our needs.
How are customer service and support?
Customer support is very good, and I rate customer support a 10.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I previously used Elipse software, iFIX, and WinCC from Siemens, and we switched to Ignition because our last customer required us to use it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I purchased Ignition through the Azure marketplace.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Ignition an 8. I chose 8 as it reflects a good balance; I don't use 10 because there's always room for improvement.
We utilize Ignition's AI capabilities daily, particularly with the Perspective module, where all views are JSON based, making it easier to analyze and audit these files, which has been very beneficial.
I feel confident in the accuracy and reliability of the output of Ignition.
We use Azure as our cloud provider in our hybrid cloud deployment.
My advice for others looking into using Ignition is to continue using it because it's very good. My overall rating for Ignition is 8.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
