Less is better. Combine multiple machine vision solutions into one server through virtualization. Less cost, less hardware.

To eliminate the effects of forced obsolescence from the ever-changing Microsoft Operating System and from computer manufacturers and to allow mills the opportunity to supply IT related equipment, ECS made the decision to virtualize. Our virtualized system provides the mill a simple way to repair, replace and update the ECS system without hardware or software dependency.  

Prior to virtualization, mills that wanted to supply their own Corporate approved servers, network switches and operator station pcs for the system would need to send the equipment to ECS for testing and validation which could take a few months.  

Whether ECS or the mill supplies some or all of the IT portion of the system, ECS will provide the mill with a drive including all Virtual Machines needed for the system purchased.  When system updates occur, the mill will be provided links to download new virtual machines with the latest software. The mill can choose to update on their own, with assistance from one of our remote support specialists, or during a scheduled optimization visit from one of our field technicians.

Additional reasons to consider virtualization include:

• Computer hardware and related OS and software upgrades are less dependent on the camera hardware.  This greatly simplifies later upgrade and expansion paths of these camera-based quality control deployments.

• The web monitoring/inspection system can be under the care of the existing corporate IT structure of regular maintenance, repair, upgrade and virus/malware protection.