Lifecycle Information

Lifecycle Information shows the results of scheduled active network scans. The active network scan discovers both Rockwell Automation and non-Rockwell Automation devices. When the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server has internet access, the view shows Rockwell Automation hardware device and firmware lifecycle status and information. This information can be used to develop hardware device migration plans, or to find devices that require firmware updates.
Use Lifecycle Information to:
  • View lifecycle information through dashboards and reports, such as device lifecycle status.
  • Update lifecycle information in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and web client with the data on the Rockwell Automation lifecycle website.
  • Refresh lifecycle information in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre web client with the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, without connecting to the Rockwell Automation lifecycle website.
  • Export the dashboard and report.
  • Filter devices with multiple criteria.
  • Export product information to register on the Rockwell Automation Product Registration website.
To retrieve the lifecycle information of your Rockwell Automation devices from the Product Compatibility and Download Center (PCDC), use one of the following methods, based on whether the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server has internet access.
  • If the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server can access the internet, use a forward proxy server or configure firewall access:
    Use a Forward Proxy Server
    For FactoryTalk AssetCtre version 12.00 or later, it is highly recommended to use a forward proxy server to communicate lifecycle information between the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server and the PCDC because it provides a more secure connection than configuring firewall access. The forward proxy server must be accessible from the iDMZ and from the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server to access the PCDC.
    In the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, configure the forward proxy for the device lifecycle using
    FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Settings
    . Enter a FactoryTalk administrator's credentials to sign in.
    In
    FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Settings
    , to enable the forward proxy server, select the checkbox next to
    Use the forward proxy
    . In the dialogs, enter the IP address and port number used by your forward proxy server to communicate lifecycle information between the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and the PCDC. Once this information is entered, select
    OK
    . Be sure to restart your computer to ensure the settings take effect.
    For the forward proxy server, there are many types and styles of software available. Each proxy server will have different methods and settings. Ensure that the forward proxy server has the web domain
    https://api.rockwellautomation.com
     added to the allowed web domain list.
    For more information on configuring a forward proxy server and the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, see Knowledgebase Document ID: QA65165: Using a forward proxy server between FactoryTalk AssetCentre and the Product Compatibility and Download Center (PCDC) and YouTube video: Forward Proxy Server Support for FactoryTalk AssetCentre.
    Configure firewall access
    Use the following information to configure firewall access to retrieve the lifecycle statuses from the PCDC.
    • PCDC URL
      : api.rockwellautomation.com
    • TLS port
      : 443
    • IP addresses
      : 54.xxx.xxx.xxx - 34.xxx.xxx.xxx
    To strengthen security, it is recommended to:
    • Use URL filtering
      You can create a URL filtering policy that allows TCP port 443 to access the PCDC URL of
      https://api.rockwellautomation.com
       and allows for bi-directional communication. The URL filtering ensures that only requests to the URL are sent to the PCDC and it is not dependent on IP addresses, which provides more flexibility. If the IP addresses used by Rockwell Automation change, the system would continue to operate because the URL remains constant.
    • Use IP address filtering
      You can use IP address filtering to restrict access to the explicitly authorized APIs. This also requires specifying the complete range of IP addresses used by Rockwell Automation. However, any change in Rockwell Automation's IP addresses could prevent proper operation accessing the PCDC, it is highly recommended to use a forward proxy server or use the URL filtering.
    Please refer to Rockwell Automation's Converged Plantwide Ethernet document for more information about configuring a scalable plant-wide security architecture.
  • If the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server cannot access the internet, use the
    Airgap Lifecycle Transfer
     tool, together with the standalone
    FactoryTalk AssetCentre Lifecycle Information Transfer Utility
    , to keep your device information up-to-date. For more information, see Airgap Lifecycle Transfer.
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