Method and system for synchronizing configuration data in a plant

A system for synchronizing configuration data of components within an industrial plant, the system comprising:

• a first local server located in a first sub-network, the first sub-network being part of a network in an industrial plant, wherein the first local server comprises a hardware part and software part of a first computing machine, and the first local server is configured and operates to:
• store a first configuration data on the first local server and on a second local server located in a second sub-network, wherein the second local server comprises a hardware part and software part of a second computing machine, and wherein the second sub-network is connected to the first local server via a network connection;
• interrupt the network connection;
• after interrupting the network connection, update the first configuration data on the first local server;
• re-connect the network connection;
• after re-connecting the network connection, determine whether the first configuration data on the second local server are unchanged, and if they are, overwrite the first configuration data on the second local server by the updated first configuration data, and when the first configuration data on the second local server has been changed, overwriting the first configuration data on the second local server by the updated first configuration data because the first server is an owner of the first configuration data, wherein the first configuration data is tagged with ownership information that indicates that the first server is the owner of the first configuration data, and wherein the ownership information indicates a role assigned to the first configuration data.

A method for synchronizing configuration data of components within an industrial plant, the method comprising the steps of:

• partitioning a network in the industrial plant into a first sub-network and a second sub-network, said sub-networks connected by a network connection,
• providing a first component, the first component comprising at least a first configuration data, and a first local server, wherein the first component and the first server are located in the first sub-network,
• providing a second component, the second component comprising at least a second configuration data, and a second local server, wherein the second component and the second server are located in the second sub-network;
• storing the first configuration data on the first local server and, via the network connection, on the second local server,
• storing the second configuration data on the second local server and, via the network connection, on the first local server;
• interrupting the network connection;
• updating, the first configuration data and the second configuration data on the first local server;
• re-connecting the network connection;
• while the first configuration data on the second local server is unchanged, overwriting the first configuration data on the second local server by the updated first configuration data;
• when the first configuration data on the second local server has been changed, overwriting the first configuration data on the second local server by the updated first configuration data because the first server is an owner of the first configuration data, wherein the first configuration data is tagged with ownership information that indicates that the first server is the owner of the first configuration data, and wherein the ownership information indicates a role assigned to the first configuration data;
• updating, the first configuration data and the second configuration data on the second local server when the internet connection is interrupted;
• and
• upon reconnecting the network connection, while the second configuration data on the first local server is unchanged, overwriting the second configuration data on the first local server by the updated second configuration data.