What operating system does Geo SCADA run on?

Geo SCADA Expert runs on Windows Server. Schneider Electric publishes a compatibility matrix for each release specifying supported Windows and SQL Server versions.

Does Geo SCADA require SQL Server?

Yes. Geo SCADA uses Microsoft SQL Server as its backend database for configuration storage and historical data.

How to Install Geo SCADA Server on Windows Server

Quick Answer

Geo SCADA Expert installs on Windows Server with Microsoft SQL Server as the backend database. The installer deploys the Geo SCADA server service, configures the SQL database, and creates the initial administrator account. After installation, verify connectivity by launching ViewX and connecting to the server.

System Requirements

Operating System — Windows Server 2016, 2019, or 2022 (check the Schneider Electric compatibility matrix for your specific Geo SCADA release version)
Database — Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or later (SQL Server Express is supported for small installations)
Processor — 4-core x86-64 CPU minimum (8+ cores for large point counts)
Memory — 8 GB RAM minimum (16 GB+ recommended for systems over 10,000 points)
Disk — 20 GB for the application; additional storage based on historian retention requirements

Pre-Installation Checklist

Install and configure Microsoft SQL Server with a dedicated instance for Geo SCADA
Create a Windows service account for the Geo SCADA server service
Verify .NET Framework 4.8+ is installed
Disable Windows Firewall temporarily during installation or pre-configure required ports
Obtain the Geo SCADA license file from Schneider Electric

Installation Walkthrough

Mount or extract the Geo SCADA installation media.
Run Setup.exe as Administrator.
Select the Server installation type.
Specify the SQL Server instance and authentication method.
Choose the installation directory (default: C:\Program Files\Schneider Electric\ClearSCADA).
Configure the server service account (the Windows account created in the pre-installation checklist).
Enter the license file path when prompted.
Complete the wizard and allow the installer to create the database schema and start the server service.

Service Account Configuration

The Geo SCADA server service runs under a dedicated Windows account that requires:

Log on as a service rights
Read/write access to the Geo SCADA installation directory
SQL Server login with db_owner role on the Geo SCADA database
Network access to communicate with field devices and clients

Firewall Port Requirements

TCP 5481 — ViewX client connections
TCP 5482 — WebX browser client
TCP 1433 — SQL Server (if remote database)
TCP/UDP 20000 — DNP3 TCP (configurable per channel)
TCP/UDP 502 — Modbus TCP
TCP 5483 — Server-to-server mirroring (redundancy)

Verifying the Installation

Open Windows Services and verify the "ClearSCADA Server" service is running.
Launch ViewX from the Start menu.
Connect to localhost using the administrator credentials created during installation.
Verify the database explorer loads and no error messages appear in the event journal.

Common Installation Errors and Fixes

SQL Server connection failure — Verify the SQL instance name and authentication mode. Enable TCP/IP in SQL Server Configuration Manager.
Service fails to start — Check the service account permissions and ensure the SQL login has the correct roles.
License error — Verify the license file matches the server's hardware fingerprint. Contact Schneider Electric support if the license activation fails.