Pre-Installed SIMATIC IPCs vs Commercial PCs: Licensing and Deployment in PCS 7 V9.0

When procuring SIMATIC IPCs with pre-installed PCS 7 V9.0 (e.g., IPC847D / IPC647D), 'pre-installed' means the operating system, industrial partition layouts, and PCS 7 software binaries are installed and pre-configured at the factory, accompanied by a dedicated Image Restore DVD/USB. However, pre-installation does NOT include runtime or engineering licenses unless an 'ES/OS Single Station' or 'OS Server' license package is explicitly ordered with matching MLFBs. If deploying commercial off-the-shelf PCs (e.g., HP/Dell), you must purchase the PCS 7 Software Media Package, a certified Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC license, and separate engineering/runtime software licenses.

Executive Summary

During the hardware procurement phase of a SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0 project, project managers and lead engineers evaluate the total cost of ownership between purchasing turnkey Siemens SIMATIC Industrial PCs (IPCs) versus deploying commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) desktop or server computers (such as Dell, HP, or Lenovo). A major point of commercial confusion is the term 'pre-installed PCS 7 software'. Buyers frequently assume that buying a pre-installed IPC grants full operational software entitlements. This article explains the difference between software installation images and license entitlements, analyzes the engineering cost of commissioning generic PCs, and details commercial accuracy guardrails.

Architectural and System Mechanics

Pre-Installed SIMATIC IPC Architecture vs. Generic COTS PCs:

Pre-Installed SIMATIC IPC Package:
Factory Image: Operating system (Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2015/2016 LTSB, or Server 2016) is pre-activated with long-term industrial licensing.
System Hardening: Drive partitions (C: OS, D: Project/Archive), Windows power schemes, DCOM permissions, MSMQ, and firewall rules are pre-configured to exact Siemens PCS 7 specifications.
Restore Media: Shipped with bootable Image Restore media tailored to the IPC's exact hardware drivers and RAID controller.
Software Entitlement: Delivered without software licenses unless explicitly ordered as a bundled package (e.g., with an ALM License USB Stick).
Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) PCs:
Consumer OS Risk: Typically ship with Windows 10/11 Pro, which is strictly unsupported by PCS 7.
Manual Engineering Overhead: Engineer must procure Windows Enterprise LTSC, install all prerequisite KBs, manually partition drives, configure SQL instances, and purchase the PCS 7 Software Media Package (6ES7658-4XX...).
Driver Stability: Commercial consumer chipsets lack long-term availability and certified industrial EMC/vibration ratings.

Step-by-Step Engineering and Implementation Procedure

Step 1: Audit Procurement Requirements for Pre-Installed SIMATIC IPCs

If ordering a SIMATIC IPC (e.g., IPC847D or IPC647D):
1. Choose the hardware configuration (CPU, RAM, RAID1, CP 1623 industrial Ethernet card).
2. Select the pre-installed software option: 'PCS 7 V9.0 SP2, Win 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 64-bit'.
3. Verify the license package line item: Ensure that matching SIMATIC PCS 7 Software Licenses (e.g., ES/OS Single Station, AS RT PO, OS RT PO) are included on the purchase order.

[!NOTE]
Validate exact MLFB numbers and software packages with an authorized Siemens distributor quotation prior to purchase.

Step 2: Sourcing Software When Using Commercial Third-Party PCs

If company policy mandates using commercial PCs (e.g., HP/Dell):
1. Purchase a certified industrial edition of Windows (e.g., Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019). Do not use Windows 10 Pro.
2. Purchase the SIMATIC PCS 7 Software Media Package (DVD or Online Software Delivery OSD, e.g., 6ES7658-4XX58-0YG8). PCS 7 installation setups cannot be downloaded freely without a valid order or SUS contract.
3. Purchase the required engineering and runtime software license keys in ALM.

Step 3: Configure Operating System Baseline on Commercial PCs

Partition the hard drive into at least two volumes: C: (Operating System, min 150 GB) and D: (Project Data and WinCC Archives).
Install all mandatory Windows updates and prerequisites (IIS, MSMQ, .NET 3.5/4.x) per the PCS 7 PC Configuration Manual.
Install the PCS 7 software from the purchased media package.

Step 4: Transfer Licenses via Automation License Manager

Insert the Siemens License USB drive.
Open Automation License Manager (ALM) on the station.
Transfer all purchased license keys to local drive C:.
Verify zero license deficit alerts.

Verification

To verify proper station commissioning:
1. In ALM, execute 'Check License Keys'; verify that all required software keys (Engineering, OS Runtime, SIMATIC NET) show status 'OK'.
2. Launch SIMATIC Manager; confirm that projects open, hardware configurations compile, and CFC editors operate without licensing warnings.
3. Start WinCC Graphics Runtime; verify that the project runs continuously without displaying demo mode countdown banners.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Operational precautions:
- Pre-installed software images are locked to the specific IPC model; never attempt to restore an IPC847D image onto a generic commercial PC.
- Running PCS 7 on uncertified commercial hardware operating systems (e.g., Windows 10 Home/Pro) invalidates technical support eligibility from Siemens Industry Support.
- Ensure industrial communication cards (CP 1623) are paired with certified industrial drivers rather than generic network drivers.

Engineer FAQ

Q: Does buying a pre-installed SIMATIC IPC include the PCS 7 license?

A: No. Pre-installed means the software binaries and OS are installed, but software license keys must be purchased separately or as part of a bundled package.

Q: Can I download the PCS 7 installation media for free if I buy my own PC?

A: No. The PCS 7 installation media package must be purchased from Siemens unless you have an active Software Update Service (SUS) contract.

Q: Why is Windows 10 Pro not recommended for PCS 7?

A: Windows 10 Pro lacks long-term servicing stability, forces consumer background updates, and restricts real-time DCOM communication required by PCS 7.

Q: What is the benefit of buying a pre-installed SIMATIC IPC?

A: It saves extensive engineering setup time, guarantees OS compatibility, provides image restore media, and ensures certified 24/7 industrial durability.

Q: What happens if PCS 7 runs without a license?

A: WinCC operates in Demo Mode for a limited duration (typically 1 hour) before prompting license warnings and restricting runtime functions.

Technical References

Related Tags

SIMATIC IPC, Pre-Installed Software, License Procurement, COTS PC, Windows 10 LTSC

SIMATIC IPC

`Pre-Installed Software`

`License Procurement`

`COTS PC`

Windows 10 LTSC

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Pre-Installed SIMATIC IPCs vs Commercial PCs: Licensing and Deployment in PCS 7 V9.0