How to Resolve 'IMServerX and ASOSHeartbeat Has Stopped Working' Errors During PCS 7 OS Download

In SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.1 SP2, application crash dialogs stating 'IMServerX has stopped working' and 'ASOSHeartbeat has stopped working' at the end of an OS download are caused by DCOM security endpoint corruption, broken SIMATIC HMI user group permissions, or corrupted database connection cache files (.dcf) on the target OS Server. During download completion, these Maintenance Station and communication supervision services reload their runtime bindings; if access to the SQL database or DCOM interfaces is blocked, unhandled access violations (0xC0000005) crash the processes. Running Siemens Security Controller, purging the .dcf cache, and verifying user group memberships resolves the issue.

Functional Overview of IMServerX and ASOSHeartbeat

During the execution of an OS Download (both Changes only and Entire OS) in SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.1 SP2, the final phase involves synchronizing internal diagnostic and asset management services between the Engineering Station and the target OS Server. Two key background executables participate in this transition:
* IMServerX.exe (Information Management Server): A background communication agent that interfaces PCS 7 diagnostic data, Process Historian/Information Server pipelines, and SIMATIC BATCH data with the local OS runtime database.
* ASOSHeartbeat.exe: A core component of the PCS 7 Maintenance Station and WinCC diagnostic framework. It cyclically evaluates the communication liveliness between Automation Stations (AS) and Operator Stations (OS), detecting controller communication freezes and generating system alarms.

At the end of an OS download, the target OS signals all background services to re-bind to the freshly transferred project database. If these processes fail during this transition, Windows presents 'Application Has Stopped Working' error dialogs, blocking the completion of the download until the dialogs are dismissed.

Root Cause Analysis of Download Completion Crashes

When Windows crashes IMServerX.exe and ASOSHeartbeat.exe, the Windows Event Viewer (Application log) typically logs Event ID 1000 with Exception Code 0xC0000005 (Access Violation), referencing faulting modules such as cc_dmclient.dll, sqlncli11.dll, or ole32.dll.

Underlying Mechanisms

DCOM Security Hardening and Permission Degradation: Windows updates, domain group policy pushes, or incomplete software installations can alter DCOM access and launch permissions for Siemens OPC and HMI services. When the services attempt remote procedure calls (RPC) to re-establish handles to WinCC Tag Management, Windows revokes access, triggering an immediate crash.
Corrupted Project Connection Cache (.dcf): The <ProjectName>.dcf file caches database connection strings and metadata. When an OS is downloaded repeatedly or after network interruptions, outdated schema handles in the .dcf file lead to null-pointer dereferences in ASOSHeartbeat.
Missing or Mismatched Windows User Group Memberships: If the Windows user account initiating the download or running on the target OS is missing from local security groups (SIMATIC HMI, SIMATIC NET, Siemens TIA Engineer), access to SQL Server database instances (WINCC) is restricted.

Step-by-Step Remediation Procedure

To permanently eliminate these crash popups and ensure uninterrupted OS downloads:

Step 1: Run Siemens Security Controller

Siemens Security Controller restores all required Windows firewall rules, DCOM permissions, registry rights, and service authorizations:
1. On the target OS Server (and ES), navigate to Start -> Siemens Automation -> Security Controller.
2. Click Repeat Settings (or select all categories: DCOM, Registry, Firewall, User Groups).
3. Click Apply Recommendations and allow the utility to configure system policies.
4. Restart the computer once completed.

Step 2: Verify Windows User Group Memberships

Open Windows Computer Management (compmgmt.msc) -> Local Users and Groups -> Groups.
Ensure the active Windows logon account (both local and domain users) is explicitly a member of:
* Administrators
* SIMATIC HMI
* SIMATIC NET
* Siemens TIA Engineer
If group memberships were newly added, log off and log back in to renew the Windows access token.

Step 3: Purge Corrupted Project Database Cache Files

On the target OS Server, deactivate WinCC Runtime and close WinCC Explorer.
Open Windows Task Manager and confirm that IMServerX.exe, ASOSHeartbeat.exe, CCProjectMgr.exe, and CCAlgRtServer.exe are completely stopped.
Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the OS project directory (e.g., D:\WinCC_Projects\OS_SRV_Prj).
Locate the file <ProjectName>.dcf and delete it.
In SIMATIC Manager on the ES, perform a compile of the OS, then initiate a full Entire OS download. WinCC will recreate a fresh, uncorrupted .dcf file upon receipt.

Step 4: Apply PCS 7 V8.1 SP2 Updates

Verify whether PCS 7 V8.1 SP2 Update 1 or higher is installed. Siemens resolved specific memory access boundary conditions in ASOSHeartbeat.exe in cumulative update patches.

Diagnostic and Recovery Parameter Matrix

The following table outlines the diagnostic signatures and corrective actions for OS download service crashes:

Diagnostic IndicatorTypical CauseVerification UtilityRemediation ActionIMServerX.exe Crash (0xC0000005)SQL Native Client connection failureWindows Event Viewer (Application)Purge <Project>.dcf and run Security ControllerASOSHeartbeat.exe CrashDCOM RPC access deniedWindows Event Viewer / dcomcnfgReapply Security Controller DCOM permissionsDownload hung at 99%Waiting for user to dismiss crash dialogWindows Task Manager / DesktopConfigure Windows Error Reporting (WER) to silentOS Project .dcf File LockedOrphaned WinCC background processProcess Explorer / Task ManagerKill orphaned CCProjectMgr.exe and delete .dcfMissing User RightsUser removed from SIMATIC HMI groupLocal Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc)Add user to SIMATIC HMI and re-logon

Applying these steps restores seamless background download handling without manual operator intervention.

Verification

To verify that the issue has been resolved:
1. On the Engineering Station, make a minor change in a CFC chart (e.g., change an APL block comment) and compile the OS.
2. Initiate a Download to target system -> Changes only to the target OS Server.
3. Monitor the download progress bar to completion; verify that the transfer completes and closes automatically with zero Windows error popups.
4. On the OS Server, open Windows Task Manager and confirm that both IMServerX.exe and ASOSHeartbeat.exe are actively running in the background with stable memory allocation.
5. Open the WinCC Runtime screen and verify that the Maintenance Station diagnostic overview screen displays valid communication states for all configured AS stations.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Never disable ASOSHeartbeat.exe by renaming or deleting the executable, as this permanently disables AS communication failure alerting in the PCS 7 Maintenance Station.
Running Security Controller requires administrative privileges; ensure domain group policies do not actively overwrite local DCOM security permissions on scheduled intervals.
Always close all local WinCC editors on the target OS before initiating an Entire OS download to prevent file-locking conflicts.
Do not delete project database .mdf or .ldf files; only delete the transient connection cache file (.dcf).

Engineer FAQ

Why did the download finish successfully after closing the error dialogs?

The core WinCC project files (pictures and database) had already been transferred before the crash occurred. The crash happened during the post-download restart of diagnostic agents; dismissing the dialog allowed the ES installer script to exit.

Can Windows Error Reporting (WER) be disabled to prevent download stalling?

Yes. In Windows Registry under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting, setting DontShowUI = 1 prevents crash dialogs from halting unattended scripts, but repairing the root cause via Security Controller is strongly recommended.

Does `ASOSHeartbeat` run on OS Clients as well as OS Servers?

No. ASOSHeartbeat runs on OS Servers and OS Single Stations that communicate directly with the automation controllers over the Plant Bus.

Technical References

Related Tags

IMServerX
ASOSHeartbeat
OS_Download
Security_Controller
PCS7_V8_1

6 respuestas

How to Resolve 'IMServerX and ASOSHeartbeat Has Stopped Working' Errors During PCS 7 OS Download