How to View WinCC Redundancy Synchronization Messages in Alarm Control

WinCC redundancy synchronization messages (REDRT) do not appear in the default active alarm list because they are classified as system operational messages without acknowledgement. While the system writes these events directly into the archive database, the standard alarm view only displays active process alarms requiring operator action. To view redundancy synchronization events, switch the WinCC AlarmControl to the Process Alarms or Operation List view, or configure an alarm filter for System Without Acknowledgement.

Message Classification of WinCC REDRT System Alarms

In SIMATIC PCS 7 and WinCC Redundancy architectures, the Redundancy Runtime system (REDRT) continuously monitors server pair health, network communication across the redundancy link, and database archive synchronization. When synchronization starts, completes, or encounters transmission failures, REDRT generates specialized system alarms.

These system messages are generated under predefined message numbers (typically starting with prefix REDRT or numbers within the system reservation range). In WinCC Configuration Studio -> Alarm Logging -> System Messages, checking the "Used" box enables their generation. However, engineers frequently report that these alarms fail to appear on operator stations.

The root cause lies in WinCC message categorization:
1. Active Alarm List (Default View): Configured to display active alarms that require acknowledgement (Message Class: Alarm or Warning). Once an event is resolved or does not require acknowledgement, it is filtered out of the active list.
2. System Messages Without Acknowledgement: REDRT synchronization messages belong to the message class System, without acknowledgement (or Operator Input / System). Because they report state transitions rather than unacknowledged faults, they bypass the active alarm list entirely.
3. Database Archiving: WinCC writes every REDRT event into the Message Archive SQL Server database (*.mdf), confirming that the messages exist in the system despite being absent from the primary alarm banner.

Configuration Steps to Display Redundancy Messages

To display redundancy synchronization status and archive catch-up progress in the WinCC Runtime interface, perform the following configuration adjustments:

Enable System Messages in Alarm Logging:
* Open Alarm Logging in WinCC Configuration Studio.
* Navigate to System Messages. Filter by message text REDRT.
* Ensure that all relevant redundancy messages (e.g., Synchronization started, Synchronization completed, Connection to partner down) have the Used check box enabled.
Configure WinCC AlarmControl View Modes:
* In WinCC Graphics Designer, open the diagnostics or system overview screen containing the WinCC AlarmControl.
* Open the properties dialog of the AlarmControl.
* Under the General tab, ensure that buttons for switching message lists are enabled in the toolbar:
- Message list (Active alarms)
- Short-term archive list (Process alarms / Journal)
- Long-term archive list
Configure Custom Filter for REDRT Messages:
* In the AlarmControl properties, select the Selection or Filter tab.
* Create a dedicated view or button filter specifying:
- Message Class = "System, without acknowledgement" OR
- Message Number range corresponding to REDRT messages.
Accessing via Standard PCS 7 Navigation:
* In standard PCS 7 OS runtime navigation, click the Process Alarms or Journal button in the top toolbar rather than the active alarm overview.
* Apply an instant filter on the text column containing REDRT to view exact timestamps of synchronization cycles.

Verification

In WinCC Runtime, open the Process Alarms (or Journal) view.
Disconnect the redundancy link temporarily or initiate a runtime deactivation/reactivation on the standby server in a test environment.
Confirm that incoming messages such as REDRT: Archive synchronization started and REDRT: Archive synchronization completed populate the journal with accurate system timestamps.
Check the SQL Server database using WinCC AlarmControl archive queries to confirm persistent storage of redundancy transitions.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Do not reclassify REDRT system messages into process alarm classes requiring acknowledgement. Doing so will flood the operator alarm banner with non-critical engineering status messages during every server startup.
When redundancy synchronization is active, high volumes of archive records are transferred over the dedicated redundancy network connection. Ensure that network bandwidth is not constrained by shared office traffic.
If REDRT messages report synchronization timeouts, investigate physical network adapter health and SQL Server service availability on the partner server immediately.

Engineer FAQ

Where are REDRT messages physically stored?
REDRT messages are logged in the active WinCC Alarm Logging database segment files (<ProjectName>_ALG_<Date_Time>.mdf) managed by the local Microsoft SQL Server instance.
Why did the messages show in SQL Server but not in AlarmControl?
The messages were being successfully written to the archive tables, but the active AlarmControl display was configured with a default query that only fetches unacknowledged alarms.
Can I route REDRT redundancy failure alarms to the horn or audible annunciator?
Yes. Specific critical redundancy alarms (e.g., partner server failure) can be linked to the WinCC Horn configuration by assigning their message numbers to an audible notification group.

Technical References

SIMATIC HMI WinCC V7/V8 Redundancy Manual (A5E41356392-AA).
SIMATIC PCS 7 OS Alarm Logging Configuration and Message System Architecture.
Siemens Industry Online Support Entry ID 109772302: Redundant OS Server Synchronization Diagnostics.

Related Tags

WinCC, Redundancy, REDRT, Alarm Logging, AlarmControl, PCS 7, System Messages, Process Alarms

How to View WinCC Redundancy Synchronization Messages in Alarm Control