How can I move a ARwin system to another APC platform?

Dear ARwin Experts,

I need your expert advice/opinion on how to proceed with a challenging task of moving an existing ARwin configuration to another APC
(running the same version of Windows). I am facing several possible scenarios here.

A) Move to another APC within the same series (for example, APC910)and similar mainboard (for example, 5PC900.TS77-04 to 5PC900.TS77-02), while all other parts would remain without changes.

B) Move to another APC within the same series (for example, APC910) with a newer generation mainboard (for example, 5PC900.TS77-04 to 5PC900.TS17-00), while all other parts would remain without changes.

C) Move to another APC of a newer series (for example, APC910 to APC3100), which may involve an upgrade (re-installation) of Windows OS as well?

Considering each of the above scenarios (one by one), and a common limitation that I do not have the source project for the ARwin installation,
I am wondering about potential difficulties that I may be facing and possibility of a successful outcome of the migration?

Can someone please provide me with any info on this subject, as detailed as possible?

As always, you time and efforts would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you and Best Regards,
Alexander

Hello @s4gia

could you please state what “moving” means ?

Do you simply plan to remove the CF card and plug it in another PC ?

Do you plan create an image of the CF for the new PC ?

Do you plan to simply copy&paste the ARwin folder to a new PC ? (which will not work as I can immediatly tell you)

Basically ARWin is a program which needs to be installed. In other words copy&paste will NOT work

Furthermore ARwin modifies the configuraiton files of Windows (cutoff of RAM and PLC cores). Therefor it must be installed and configured

Also the project inside the ARwin (ARWin is nothing more that a software based PLC) is bound to the configured hardware inside the project

This means that exchanging the APC (in terms of order number) will NOT work.

To sum this up I try to answer your questions:

a) might work if the ARwin configurator is called again. It will adjust RAM and core count on your APC

Ensure that the BIOS settings of the new PC are exactly the same as the old ones

b) will NOT work

c) will NOT work

best regards

Oliver

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Hello @oliver_D,

Thank you for your prompt and detailed reply! It is very helpful.
Answering (some of) your questions:

By “moving” I mean to transfer or relocate for the purposes of upgrading and migrating to a newer PC hardware platform, which is not obsolete or discontinued.
However, that would NOT be done just by simply re-inserting the CFast card (or SSD) or copy-pasting a folder!
I expect that some kind tweaking and customizing of some configuration files and/or registry, etc. would be involved…

So, the intent of my questions was Is to find out: Is it DOABLE (that is, possible to achieve after a reasonable amount of efforts)?

I think your answers have already considered that. Am I right?

Please kindly confirm or correct me.

Thank you and Best Regards,
Alexander

You are right I already considered this.

Changing to a completey different APC will NOT work as the compiled project contains information about the used hardware. In such a case you have to have the original project to exchgange the used hardware, then recompile it and download the project again.

Switching to an “almost” identical APC (TS77-04 to -02 board) could work when you ensure that the BIOS settings are identical and if you install ARwin, call ARWin configurator to set Windows settings (this will cut RAM and cores which are then used for ARWin) and furthermore copy the contents of RPSHD and RPSHDS folders of the original CF to the new CF

Still I cannot give any guarantee that this will work but with an almost identical APC you at least have the chance that this will work. With a different model (in terms of Mainboard like the TS17) or even a totally different APC like the 3100 this will 100% NOT work and you have to have the original project

Please also note that ARwin was discontinued years ago which means that new APCs like the APC3100 or APC4xxx are not suported at all as no Automation Runtime version for this APCs in combination with ARwin is available

best regards

Oliver

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