Special Functions
- Audit Trail panel
- Authentication via Kerberos, basics
  In a more and more networking world, a WinCC OA system could be exposed to different types of attacks. An unauthorized WinCC OA system could connect to the distribution manager or hackers could try to manipulate WinCC OA messages.
- Common Name Service (CNS)
  The plantmodel editor can be used for building and modifying data structures such as views and trees based on CNS and use them within projects easily.
- COM
  COM - Microsoft Interface stands for Component Object Model, a specification for developing modular software components which can be used by each COM compatible application. COM components can be easily integrated in such applications and can even be removed from an application at run time. COM components can be programmed in various different programming languages although C++ is used mostly. The specifications OLE, ActiveX and DirectX are based on the COM technology.
- OLE DB Provider
  OLE DB is a Microsoft specification for accessing data on different computers. It is based on Microsoft's COM technology and is the successor to the older and limited ODBC technology.
- CtrlExtension
  The CtrlExtension allows the addition of custom C++ code.
- CTRL OA Unit
- DBLogger, basics
- Input Recording
- Generic Dialog Framework
  The Generic Dialog Framework is an easy way to generate your own dialogs by adjusting a set of prefabricated panels.
- HTTP Server
  The HTTP Server integrates Internet technologies directly into WinCC OA . Implemented as an add-on for the Control Manager, possible applications are many and diverse. The HTTP Server can be used as a web server for static HTML pages including download facility or to generate dynamic HTML pages.
- DP Identification
- Insights Hub Connector
  The Insights Hub connector allows you to upload data from WinCC OA to Siemens Industrial Cloud Insights Hub and to process data. WinCC OA supports the integration of SCADA data from WinCC OA to Insights Hub.
- Message Compression
  The message compression compresses WinCC OA messages. Data compression means encoding information using fewer bits than an unencoded representation would use through use of specific encoding schemes.
- Node-RED
  Node-RED is a flow-based programming tool that allows the creation of applications in a graphic environment.
- Panel topology/Group alert facility
  Tree structure for process panels with integrated group alert system
- PM Agent
  The PM Add-ons product portfolio enhances the base functionality of the WinCC product range. Now this is also supported by WinCC OA.
- Redundant network connections
  In order to achieve a better fault tolerance WinCC OA Managers can connect to other WinCC OA Managers running on different computers via redundant network connections (this means connecting through two network connections (= IP connection)).
- Redundancy
  The high availability requirements of plant constructors and operators as well as the process and data security can be covered with the redundancy concept of WinCC OA.
- XML Reporting
  The Reporting feature allows you to create reports in XML format. Therefore, add the WinCC OA Reporting Manager to your project. Historical data can be queried via the Reporting manager by using the SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) interface. SOAP is a network protocol which allows sending data in XML format between systems.
- Reporting with Panels (Silent print)
- Recipes, basics
  Recipe Management Systems are used for managing and storing the set points and commands of automated systems defined by numerous data point elements. Even when simulating or testing an application, a relatively large number of set points or input values need to be sent to the peripheral devices by the control system. In these and other situations such a tool represents a great simplification.
- REST Reporting API
  The REST Reporting API is integrated into the Standard web server and can be activated via the config entry enabled in the [restReporting] section.
- Scheduler, basics
  The main task of the scheduler is to allow you to create, configure and administrate a number of schedules of either time or event triggered actions.
- Security
  - Security Features
    Maintaining the control over production and the processes in the application has the highest priority in automation. Even measures to prevent security threats must not affect this.
  - Authorization Concept
  - Certificates
  - Authentication
  - Multiplexing Proxy
    The WinCC OA Multiplexing Proxy Manager is used to increase the security of your WinCC OA projects.
- System Use Notification
  You can use the system use notification panel to display an instruction to the user when logging into the WinCC OA system. The user must confirm the notification before logging into the WinCC OA project.
- System Overview
  A panel for the diagnostics of a WinCC OA system.
- Alive mechanism of manager connections
  The alive mechanism in WinCC OA serves for connection controlling between the single managers. Each manager sends alive messages at definable intervals.
- Basics on Encryption
- Distributed systems
  Distributed systems in WinCC OA allow to connect two or more autonomous WinCC OA systems via a network.
- Maintenance package, basics
  Maintenance is a necessity wherever different pieces of equipment are used. For example, drives, valves, motors, where it is necessary to perform maintenance work at specific intervals so as to ensure proper functioning. But prolonging the service life of equipment by means of regular maintenance and cost reduction are also key factors in plant engineering and automation technology.
- Wizard Framework
  Used for easy creation of wizards in a uniform layout style. The key elements "Navigation Bar" and "Bottom Bar" can be customized to fit the needs of the custom wizard.
- XML Panel Format
  The XML (Extensible Markup Language) panel format allows creating WinCC OA panels.
- XML-RPC
  XML-RPC (Extensible Markup Language Remote Procedure Call) allows software on different operating systems to make procedure calls over the internet. XML-RPC uses HTTP for the transport and XML for the encoding. It sends the procedure call to a remote server through HTTP. The call is an XML document and it receives the response as XML.
- XMPP
  XMPP (formerly Jabber) is mostly used in chat (instant messaging) applications and allows near real time communication between two or more parties. It can, e.g., be used to push information from a WinCC_OA project server to one or more persons, even allowing the recipient to send a confirmation back to the server.

Windows Certificate Store

In Server-side authentication (SSA) for managers, SSL certificates are used to authenticate the managers.

The WinCC OA Multiplexing Proxy utilizes SSL to ensure secure communication.

Important: Note that only the WinCC OA Multiplexing Proxy and Server-side authentication (SSA) for managers certificates can be converted into Windows Certificate Store format and imported to Windows Certificate Store.

The HTTP-Server certificates cannot be converted into Windows Certificate Store format and imported to Windows Certificate Store.

SSL Certificates

For SSL communication and authentication, both file-based certificates and certificates stored in the Windows Certificate Store can be used.

To open the MMC and access certificates, type cert into the Start menu search field.

Figure 1. MMC - Certificates

These chapters provide an overview of how to use the Windows Certificate Store certificates: