Ignition SCADA Platform

Overview

Inductive Automation's Ignition, first released in 2010, fundamentally changed SCADA licensing economics. Traditional SCADA platforms charged per tag, per client, or per I/O point — costs that scaled painfully with plant size. Ignition uses a flat server-based model: one gateway license covers unlimited tags, unlimited connected devices, and unlimited simultaneous clients. The result is that plants can deploy comprehensive real-time monitoring, historian, and alarming across an entire facility for a predictable cost that was previously impossible without multi-hundred-thousand-dollar SCADA budgets.

Ignition 8.0 introduced Perspective, a fully web-based HMI design module where screens are built with modern HTML5/CSS components and run natively in any browser — desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Unlike older SCADA web clients that served screenshots, Perspective components respond dynamically, support responsive layouts, and work without Java or ActiveX plugins. The original Vision module (Java-based desktop client) remains available for applications requiring tighter control over the client environment.

The Ignition Gateway acts as an OPC-UA aggregation server, connecting to any OPC-UA device directly, or through protocol-specific drivers for Allen-Bradley EtherNet/IP, Siemens S7, Modbus TCP/RTU, DNP3, and many others. The built-in SQL Bridge module logs tag history directly to any ANSI SQL database (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle) without proprietary historian servers — enabling standard SQL queries for reporting and integration with BI tools like Power BI or Tableau.

Key Features

• Unlimited tag & client licensing

  One gateway license covers every tag, every client, and every connection on that server. No "tag count upgrade" surprises when adding process areas. Most installations pay back license cost within the first year compared to per-tag competitors.
• Perspective — responsive web HMI

  Perspective screens run in any browser with no client software installation. Responsive layout containers adapt screens automatically to phone, tablet, or desktop viewports. Native mobile features including push notifications and device sensors (GPS, camera) are accessible via the Ignition Perspective app on iOS/Android.
• Python (Jython) scripting throughout

  Ignition uses Jython (Python 2.7 syntax running on the JVM) for all scripting — button actions, tag change events, scheduled scripts, and REST API integrations. Engineers familiar with Python can implement complex data transformations, report generation, and ERP integration without learning proprietary scripting languages.
• SQL historian — no proprietary database

  Tag history is stored directly in standard SQL databases. Any SQL query tool, BI platform, or application can read historian data without a proprietary API. Tag-group logging rates, deadbanding, and data types are configured per tag without complex historian configuration wizards.
• MQTT Transmission & Edge modules

  The Cirrus Link MQTT Transmission module (free from the Ignition Exchange) publishes tag data to MQTT brokers using the Sparkplug B payload standard. Combined with Ignition Edge (lightweight gateway on embedded hardware), this enables a fully distributed edge-to-enterprise IIoT architecture without proprietary cloud connectors.
• 2-hour trial, instant install

  Ignition installs in under 5 minutes on any Windows or Linux server. A full 2-hour trial mode activates immediately without license keys — a major advantage for proof-of-concept evaluations and training environments. After trial expiry, all screens remain visible in read-only mode preserving commissioned work.

Technical Specifications

Typical Applications

• Multi-site SCADA: Single gateway managing 10,000+ tags from PLCs across multiple plants via VPN
• Brewery/food production: Batch tracking with SQL historian feeding Power BI dashboards
• Water utilities: DNP3 SCADA for pump stations with Perspective mobile monitoring for field operators
• MES integration: Python scripts querying ERP for work orders and pushing production data via REST API
• IIoT edge-to-cloud: Ignition Edge on Raspberry Pi + MQTT Transmission to AWS IoT Core