ABB (Asea Brown Boveri) is a globally renowned leader in industrial automation, robotics, power, and electrification technologies. Founded through the merger of ASEA (Sweden) and BBC (Switzerland), ABB has consistently been at the forefront of industrial innovation. The company delivers solutions across industries like oil and gas, utilities, mining, chemicals, and manufacturing. One of ABB’s most transformative contributions to industrial automation is its advanced 800xA Distributed Control System (DCS), designed to offer integrated control, safety, asset management, and electrical automation on a unified platform.
A Distributed Control System (DCS) is an automated control system used in complex, large-scale, and geographically distributed industrial processes. Unlike centralized control systems, DCS training distributes control tasks across multiple interconnected components, enabling greater flexibility, scalability, and fault tolerance.
DCS integrates real-time process control, supervisory functions, and data acquisition across various subsystems. Its key benefits include:
Multisoft’s ABB’s 800xA DCS online training stands out as one of the most versatile and robust automation platforms. The “xA” in 800xA stands for “Extended Automation,” highlighting its ability to unify different automation layers—control, electrical, safety, and enterprise systems—within a single architecture.
Key reasons for its adoption include:
ABB 800xA empowers industries to reduce downtime, optimize operations, enhance safety, and increase return on investment. It’s not merely a control system but a platform for integrated operational excellence.
System Components and Hardware
The ABB 800xA DCS architecture is built around a layered design comprising the following core components:
1. Control Network (ACN - Aspect Control Network)
2. Controllers
3. I/O Modules
4. Aspect Servers
5. Operator Workplaces
6. Field Devices
The network topology of ABB 800xA DCS is built on a robust, layered client-server architecture, ensuring high performance, scalability, and reliability. It features two main communication layers: the Aspect Network for operator workplaces and engineering stations, and the Control Network (ACN) for controllers and I/O systems. Both networks support redundant Ethernet configurations to eliminate single points of failure and ensure continuous operations. ABB employs protocols like Media Redundancy Protocol (MRP) and Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) to maintain network integrity and fast recovery. The system also supports secure fieldbus integration—such as Profibus, Foundation Fieldbus, HART, and Modbus—ensuring seamless connectivity between field devices, controllers, and supervisory systems across distributed plant environments.
ABB 800xA is designed to be an integration platform rather than a standalone control system.
ABB 800xA DCS is engineered with a strong focus on redundancy and high availability to ensure continuous and fault-tolerant operations in critical industrial environments. Redundancy is embedded across all core layers, starting with the AC 800M controllers, which support CPU redundancy—allowing a backup controller to seamlessly take over if the primary fails without disrupting the process. The network infrastructure offers dual redundant Ethernet paths using Media Redundancy Protocol (MRP) or Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) to eliminate single points of failure. Redundant Aspect and Connectivity Servers ensure that system data, alarms, and graphics are continuously available to operator stations, even during a server failure. Operator Workplaces can also be configured redundantly, enabling uninterrupted access to process monitoring and control. Additionally, redundant power supplies in I/O modules and system components further protect against power-related failures. For field-level communication, ABB supports dual-channel configurations for fieldbus protocols, maintaining device communication integrity. These layered redundancies are complemented by diagnostics and watchdog mechanisms that enable predictive maintenance and real-time status monitoring. As a result, ABB 800xA certification offers a highly resilient control system architecture, minimizing downtime and maximizing operational uptime in industries where reliability is paramount.
1. Control and I/O Functionality
ABB 800xA offers sophisticated control capabilities using its powerful AC 800M controllers:
S800 and S900 series I/O modules are highly modular and allow integration of HART and Profibus DP/PA for advanced diagnostics.
2. Operator Interface (HMI)
The 800xA Operator Workplace delivers a unified and highly customizable HMI experience:
The HMI enhances situational awareness, helping operators make faster and safer decisions.
3. Alarm Management
ABB 800xA includes robust alarm management tools:
Effective alarm management reduces operator overload and improves safety response.
4. Asset Management and System Diagnostics
ABB 800xA supports integrated asset management through its Field Information Manager (FIM) and System 800xA Asset Optimization tools:
This enables a proactive maintenance strategy, reducing unplanned downtimes.
1. Control Builder
Control Builder is the main engineering tool used to configure logic in ABB 800xA systems:
It is tightly integrated with the system, enabling collaborative engineering between multiple users.
2. IEC 61131-3 Programming Languages
ABB 800xA supports all five standard IEC 61131-3 programming languages:
This flexibility allows control engineers to choose the best method for each application.
3. Object-Oriented Engineering
Object-oriented principles are central to ABB 800xA engineering:
This structure simplifies system maintenance, promotes standardization, and improves project execution time.
4. Reusability and Templates
Engineering in 800xA is optimized for reuse:
Templates ensure engineering consistency, reduce commissioning time, and simplify future expansions or upgrades.
ABB 800xA DCS stands as a comprehensive and future-ready automation platform, combining advanced control, seamless integration, and robust architecture to meet the complex needs of modern industries. With its modular design, high availability, and powerful engineering tools, it enhances operational efficiency, reduces downtime, and supports digital transformation initiatives. The system’s flexibility, cybersecurity readiness, and real-time monitoring capabilities make it ideal for critical applications across various sectors.
By unifying process control, electrical systems, and asset management under one platform, ABB 800xA training delivers measurable business value—enabling industries to operate smarter, safer, and more sustainably in today’s competitive landscape. Enroll in Multisoft Virtual Academy now!
Start Date | End Date | No. of Hrs | Time (IST) | Day | |
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24 May 2025 | 07 Jun 2025 | 16 | 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM | Sat, Sun | |
25 May 2025 | 08 Jun 2025 | 16 | 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM | Sat, Sun | |
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