Create

You might create multiple databases for a number of reasons. Here are a few examples:

to modify the default control strategy to be your control strategy on the initial configuration of the DeltaV system
to have one database as a production database and one as the simulation database
to create a database for the addition of a new area of the plant that is identical to a current configuration and on the same DeltaV system (for example, a new node on your current control network)
to create a new database for a second DeltaV system that is separate from your current system, but has the same control strategy (for example, a second control network)

Creating a new database does not create any new configuration, control, or device details. The DeltaV system takes the original (reference) database and makes a copy of it to create the new database. It does not change the original (reference) database.

Note

You can populate the new database with your current physical network configuration by selecting the Preserve the Network Definition option when creating a new database. When you select this option you can then choose whether to use the current active database or an existing export file. Depending on your configuration this option may cause some non-network database objects to be preserved.

You can also use Create to restore a backed up database as a new database. Restoring a database does not overwrite an existing database. Instead, you have a new database (restored from the backup) with all the configuration and control data of the backed up (original) database.

The process of creating a new database automatically registers the database name in that computer's registry. Windows uses the convention called a registry to track all programs and hardware on or attached to the computer and their respective settings. The DeltaV system also uses the convention of the registry to track settings for the DeltaV databases, hardware and applications.

In order to use a newly created database as your control strategy on your DeltaV network, perform the following steps:

Define all of the existing nodes on your DeltaV control network in the newly created database.
Set the new database as Active from your master node using the Set Active Database tool.
Make sure that all of the nodes are powered on.

If you are having problems with the database not showing up as a choice in your DeltaV Explorer or in Set Active Database, you must manually register the database with the Register Database from Files tool from the master node.

Related information

Set Active Database