OPC and the 5000 Connections made even easier! Adrian Oliver iTools Development Team

2 OPC and the Topics What is OPC? The need for OPC Who owns OPC Who uses OPC Setting up the iTools OPC Server The future of iTools

3 OPC and the Topics What is OPC? The need for OPC Who owns OPC Who uses OPC Setting up the iTools OPC Server The future of iTools

4 OPC and the What is OPC? “OLE for Process Control” Defines common ways for applications to access field, process or plant data A collection of standards –Data Access –Alarms & Events –Historical Data... Based on Microsoft Windows standards “Ostrich for Process Control”

5 OPC and the Topics What is OPC? The need for OPC Who owns OPC Who uses OPC Setting up the iTools OPC Server The future of iTools

6 OPC and the Some History: up to 1990 Before Windows 3.0 –single-tasking DOS computers –no established need for interoperability standards

7 OPC and the Some History: Windows 3.0 –a multi-tasking computer on every desktop –Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) allows live transfer of data between programs »defines transport mechanism, not data formats –proprietary ways of using DDE for process data »Wonderware: NetDDE, FastDDE »Rockwell Software: AdvanceDDE

8 OPC and the Some History: Windows 3.1 introduces OLE 2.0 –based on COM, Microsoft’s Component Object Model –use of DDE now deprecated, because COM is »more flexible »more robust »more efficient (better transport mechanisms) Attempts begin to standardize uses of OLE 2.0 and COM for process data

9 OPC and the Some History: present Draft OPC Data Access specification launched 1995 Formally released 1996 Reached ‘critical mass’ by 1997 OPC Alarms and Events released 1998 Historical Data specification released

10 OPC and the Before OPC: the problem Software Driver Software Driver Software Driver Software Driver Display Application Trend Application Report Application

11 OPC and the How does OPC solve the problem Instrument Descriptor Modules iTools OPC Server 3rd party MODBUS via modem MODBUS TCP via Ethernet EI-BISYNCH MODBUS serial OPC Programmer Editor OPC Scope monitor, logging, trending, DDE iTools configuration ArchestrA Eurotherm Suite OPC 3rd party (SCADA LabVIEW,...)

12 OPC and the An analogy cf. Windows printer drivers –Every printer has exactly one Windows driver, which follows the standard driver model –Every Windows program uses the standard printer driver model Result –Every Windows program can use any type of printer

13 OPC and the The OPC ideal Every piece of process or plant equipment has an OPC driver –the OPC server Every program which accesses plant data is capable of using OPC drivers –an OPC client Proprietary driver architectures are eliminated

14 OPC and the Topics What is OPC? The need for OPC Who owns OPC Who uses OPC Setting up the iTools OPC Server The future of iTools

15 OPC and the Who owns OPC Original specification defined by the “OPC Task Force” –5 process industry companies + Microsoft –inc. Fisher-Rosemount, Intellution, Rockwell Now managed by the OPC Foundation –a not-for-profit industry grouping –300+ member companies

16 OPC and the Topics What is OPC? The need for OPC Who owns OPC Who uses OPC Setting up the iTools OPC Server The future of iTools

17 OPC and the Who uses OPC Everyone! Supported by all leading SCADA software Drivers for every major PLC, every fieldbus standard, and most process equipment OPC Foundation member product catalog includes over 400 products

18 OPC and the Topics What is OPC? The need for OPC Who owns OPC Who uses OPC Setting up the iTools OPC Server The future of iTools

19 OPC and the Setting up the iTools OPC Server Current iTools release V4.21 has limitation of one IP address (hence one 5000) per port Ports configured via iTools Control Panel

20 OPC and the Setting up the iTools OPC Server

21 OPC and the Topics What is OPC? The need for OPC Who owns OPC Who uses OPC Setting up the iTools OPC Server The future of iTools

22 OPC and the The future of iTools Faster startup of iTools OPC Server Next version of iTools (V5) will have port networks - each port can be assigned to one or more IP addresses Ports configured via iTools Control Panel Each Port can have unlimited number of IP addresses Multiple Ports can have duplicate IP addresses iTools OPC Server can automatically scan for IP addresses on the network

23 OPC and the The future of iTools

24 OPC and the The future of iTools

25 OPC and the The future of iTools iTools Out-Of-The-Box is optimised for configuring/commissioning small numbers of instruments For large networks, need to configure iTools OPC Server for “SCADA” mode - in EuroMBus (iTools OPC Server), under “Edit” menu, “Server Settings…”, select “Advanced” tab. Check the “Lean Server Mode”

26 OPC and the The future of iTools Further performance gains can be achieved by using the “Save As SCADA…” option under the “File” menu.

27 OPC and the The future of iTools iTools V5 will be packaged in a more modular way using the Microsoft Installer iTools V5 will have a new ordering code and pricing –Configuration Tools (replaces current Demo edition) –Open iTools OPC Server –OPC Scope –iTools Views –Standalone Setpoint Programmer Editor

28 OPC and the iTools Views PC-based user screens Editing environment - ‘iTools View Builder’ –also used to create Configuration Wizards Visual editor for screen design Standard widget set –labels, edit fields, combo boxes, checkboxes, shapes, bitmaps,... Scripting language for enhanced interactivity –Visual Basic Scripting Data binding to any OPC server –special licensing for non-Eurotherm servers?

29 OPC and the iTools Views

30 OPC and the iTools View Builder