SCADA Platforms
Getting Started with Ignition SCADA
Ignition by Inductive Automation has disrupted the SCADA market with its licensing model, modern architecture, and rapid development capabilities. Here's what you need to know about the platform.
What Makes Ignition Different
Traditional SCADA platforms license by tag count or client connections, making costs unpredictable as systems grow. Ignition uses unlimited licensing — one server license covers unlimited tags, clients, and connections. This fundamentally changes how you can approach SCADA projects. The platform is also fully cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS) and uses modern web technologies.
Architecture Overview
Ignition runs on a central gateway server that handles all communication, data logging, and application hosting. Clients are either Java-based (Vision) or web-based (Perspective). The gateway connects to PLCs via built-in OPC-UA drivers, to databases via JDBC, and to other systems via REST APIs, MQTT, or custom modules. Everything is configurable through a web-based interface.
Vision vs Perspective
Ignition offers two client frameworks. Vision is the mature, Java-based client framework — powerful, proven, and ideal for traditional HMI/SCADA applications. Perspective is the newer, HTML5-based framework designed for mobile-responsive applications and modern web deployment. Many projects use both: Vision for operator stations, Perspective for management dashboards and mobile access.
Development Approach
Ignition development uses a combination of drag-and-drop design and Python scripting. Tags (data points) are organized hierarchically and can include UDTs (User Defined Types) for templating. SQL databases store historical data and transaction records. The platform encourages modular, reusable design through templates and tag structures.
Ignition Modules
| Module | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Vision | Traditional HMI client framework |
| Perspective | Mobile-responsive web clients |
| SQL Bridge | Database transaction groups and integration |
| Reporting | PDF report generation and scheduling |
| Alarm Notification | Email, SMS, voice notification |
| OPC-UA | Communication with PLCs and devices |
Key Takeaways
Unlimited licensing removes tag and client count constraints from project planning
The two-hour trial lets you fully evaluate Ignition before purchasing
Python scripting provides flexibility but requires programming skills on the team
Vision is mature and stable; Perspective is modern but still evolving
Strong community and documentation make self-learning practical
Considering Ignition for your facility?
We develop Ignition applications for monitoring, control, and data integration.