C135 PCS 7 (PCS7)
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How to Upgrade SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.1 SP1 to V9.1 SP2 and License Requirements

How to Upgrade SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.1 SP1 to V9.1 SP2 and License Requirements

Upgrading an existing automation station from SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.1 SP1 to PCS 7 V9.1 SP2 does not require purchasing a commercial software upgrade license. Service Packs within the same major product generation (such as V9.1) are maintenance releases covered under the existing base license keys stored in Automation License Manager (ALM). Registered users can download the installation software free of charge from Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS Entry ID 109820529) or receive it automatically via a Software Update Service (SUS) agreement. You can install Service Pack 2 directly over an existing V9.1 SP1 installation without uninstalling previous components, followed by compiling changes in SIMATIC Manager and WinCC.

Table of Contents

Licensing Rules: Major Upgrades vs. Service Pack Updates

In the Siemens SIMATIC software licensing model, it is vital to distinguish between major version upgrades and service pack releases:
* Major Version Upgrade (e.g., V9.0 to V9.1): Advances the primary software release. Requires purchasing commercial Upgrade Packages that convert existing license keys in Automation License Manager to the new version.
* Service Pack Update (e.g., V9.1 SP1 to V9.1 SP2): Delivers bug fixes, hardware support expansions, security patches, and operating system update compatibility. No commercial license purchase is required.
* License Key Validity: A license key designated SIMATIC PCS 7 Engineering V9.1 or SIMATIC WinCC Server V7.5 is fully valid across all service packs (SP1, SP2) and update releases (Upd1, Upd2) of that specific generation.

How and Where to Obtain the PCS 7 V9.1 SP2 Software

Siemens delivers PCS 7 V9.1 SP2 through two authorized distribution channels:

  1. Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS) Direct Download:
    - Available under Entry ID 109820529 (Delivery Release: SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.1 SP2).
    - Divided into downloadable ISO media segments (typically 5 to 6 parts) due to file size.
    - Requires a free SIOS user account with export-restricted software access authorization (requires identity verification per EU/US dual-use regulations).
  2. Software Update Service (SUS):
    - Plants with active SIMATIC PCS 7 Software Update Service contracts automatically receive the physical DVD package or automated online delivery (OSD) download links upon commercial release.

Third-party download links and forum file shares are unauthorized and present critical malware risks to industrial networks.

Prerequisites Before Applying Service Pack 2

Before executing the update setup on production stations, ensure the following prerequisites are met:
* Operating System Baseline: The host computer must run a supported 64-bit operating system: Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 (for Engineering Stations and OS Clients) or Windows Server 2019 Standard/Datacenter (for OS Servers and Process Historian).
* Backup Multiproject: Perform an uncompressed project archive (File > Archive) within SIMATIC Manager and store the backup file on an external storage volume.
* Close Engineering Tools: Terminate SIMATIC Manager, WinCC Explorer, Automation License Manager, and all active runtime processes before starting the installer.

Method: Step-by-Step Service Pack Installation Workflow

To update a PCS 7 V9.1 SP1 station to SP2:

  1. Extract and Mount Installation Media:
    - Download all ISO segments from SIOS Entry ID 109820529 into a single folder.
    - Run the extraction self-extractor to produce the complete SIMATIC_PCS_7_V91_SP2.iso image.
    - Right-click the ISO and select Mount in Windows.
  2. Execute Setup:
    - Right-click Setup.exe on the mounted drive and select Run as administrator.
    - Select your setup language and accept license agreements.
    - When the setup detection engine scans the system, it automatically recognizes installed V9.1 SP1 components and selects the Update mode.
  3. Component Update:
    - Review the components to be updated (CFC, SFC, STEP 7, WinCC, SIMATIC NET).
    - Click Next to initiate file replacement. The installation typically requires 45 to 90 minutes.
  4. Reboot and Finalize:
    - When prompted, reboot the workstation.
  5. Post-Update Project Steps (Engineering Station):
    - Open SIMATIC Manager and open the multiproject.
    - If prompted to update block libraries, open the master data library and update blocks via Options > Charts > Update Block Types.
    - Compile CFC charts selecting Changes only.
    - Compile OS projects selecting Changes only and download to the runtime servers.

Verification

To verify that the station is successfully updated to PCS 7 V9.1 SP2:

  1. In SIMATIC Manager, select Help > About.
  2. Click the Installed Software button.
  3. In the component list, verify the version strings:
    - SIMATIC PCS 7: V9.1 SP2
    - CFC: V9.0 SP6 or higher
    - SIMATIC WinCC: V7.5 SP2 Upd8 or higher
  4. Open Automation License Manager (ALM). Verify that all existing V9.1 license keys show an operational status of OK without license missing warnings.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

  • Mixed-Version Engineering Prohibited: You cannot maintain an Engineering Station on V9.1 SP2 while another engineer works on the same multiproject using V9.1 SP1. All engineering stations in a multi-user environment must be updated simultaneously.
  • Sequential Server Updates: On redundant OS Server pairs, update Standby Server 2 first while Server 1 maintains active plant control. Verify Server 2 runtime, perform client redundancy switchover, and then update Server 1 to avoid production downtime.
  • Antivirus Exclusions: Before running the installer, temporarily place industrial antivirus agents (such as Trend Micro or McAfee) into learning mode or verify that installation paths are excluded to prevent installation halts.

Engineer FAQ

Do I need to update Automation License Manager (ALM) before installing SP2?
No. The PCS 7 V9.1 SP2 installation package includes and automatically installs the required ALM version during the setup workflow.

Can I downgrade back to V9.1 SP1 if an issue arises with SP2?
Downgrading is not supported via uninstallation. If a rollback is necessary, you must restore the system image (e.g., Acronis or Siemens Image & Partition Creator) taken prior to installing SP2 and restore the pre-update project archive.

Are my existing AS and OS Process Object (PO) licenses affected by the update?
No. Process object volume licenses remain intact and function normally across service pack updates.

Technical References

  • Siemens Industry Online Support Entry ID 109820529: Delivery Release: SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.1 SP2
  • Siemens Industry Online Support Entry ID 109814424: SIMATIC Process Control System PCS 7 Software Update Manual
  • Siemens Industry Online Support Entry ID 109809264: Software update without utilization of the new functions in SIMATIC PCS 7

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  • https://industrialautomation.net/search?query=service-pack
  • https://industrialautomation.net/search?query=software-update
  • https://industrialautomation.net/search?query=licensing
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