OPC UA- Avoiding DCOM with Software Toolbox Products Presenters: Kevin Rutherford Senior Applications Engineer Renee Sikes Applications Engineer

OPC UA- Avoiding DCOM with Software Toolbox Products Agenda – 1 Hour An Introduction to OPC UA Overview of Software Toolbox Products with UA – TOP Server – OmniServer – OPC DataLogger – SLIK-DA 5 Live Demonstration Summary Discussion, Questions & Answers

What is OPC UA? Unified Architecture A collaborative working effort of the OPC Foundation and it’s members since 1994 Objective to create a standard that – Isn’t dependent on DCOM – Can interoperate with non-Windows platforms – Is more secure than the original OPC – Removes redundant code across interfaces

Value Point #1 – Common Interface Usage

Common Interfaces= Less Programming=More Products An example of how a “Read” is consolidated OPC Classic DA: – IOPCSyncIO::Read – IOPCAsyncIO::Read – IOPCAsyncIO2::Read – IOPCAsyncIO3::Read – IOPCItemIO::Read A&E: – IOPCEventServer::GetConditionState HDA: – IOPCHDA_SyncRead::ReadRaw – IOPCHDA_SyncRead::ReadProcessed – IOPCHDA_SyncRead::ReadAtTime – IOPCHDA_SyncRead::ReadModified – IOPCHDA_SyncRead::ReadAttribute – IOPCHDA_AsyncRead::ReadRaw – IOPCHDA_AsyncRead::AdviseRaw – IOPCHDA_AsyncRead::ReadProcessed – IOPCHDA_AsyncRead::AdviseProcessed – IOPCHDA_AsyncRead::ReadAtTime – IOPCHDA_AsyncRead::ReadModified – IOPCHDA_AsyncRead::ReadAttribute OPC Unified Architecture Read ReadHistory

Value Point #2 - Security UA Server(s) UA Client(s)

Security & Performance Thoughts Data throughput must be significant Data is sensitive, no eavesdropping! Data received must match what was sent Work ONLY with those you trust! Withstand attacks: replay, alteration, spoofing, DoS etc. Value: 5

Security - Certificates Digital Certificates are used for safe identification A Certificate can represent a UA Server and UA Client A Certificate can represent a Person (login) Trust lists control access UA Product(s) People Connect please… approved … check my trust list

Value Point #3 UA Server(s) UA Client(s) DCOM

Unified Architecture enables communications and data sharing enterprise-wide Value Point #4: Enterprise Data Communications Embedded Controllers Mobile Workstations Servers Enterprise

Terminology: UA “Tag” is now called a “Node” Variables: – Known as “Attributes” in OPC Classic (Value, Quality, Timestamp etc.) Methods: – Something to Execute. Parameters supported! References: – “Relationships” w/ other Nodes Events: – Notifications when “stuff” happens Nodes are “Tags on Steroids”

Profiles An identifiable block of functionality that is supported: – Methods needed – Information Model, i.e. Type(s) of Data being moved – Protocol & Security “Data Access” is an example of a Profile, as are all OPC Classic interfaces Servers can “reveal” which functionality they support Clients can query a Server’s Profiles UA Products can decide if the other has the capabilities desired What is a Profile? Why Profiles?

Summary – Nodes, Models, Profiles Nodes make up Information Models Profiles tell clients and servers what UA services and information models are available. Most UA developers are doing the DA profile for now in products on the street Powerful capabilities of OPC UA bringing adoption from major vendors

Automation Vendor Adoption of OPC UA ABB Beckhoff Siemens Rockwell Yokogawa GE Iconics Kepware & their many OEMs Software Toolbox And more…

Summary – Why UA? No DCOM required ….No DCOM required Simple TCP/IP connection Firewall Friendly Platform Independent

OPC UA Summary Client must know the Server’s Endpoint. Clients and Servers have to share and Accept each other certificates. If user authentication is used these have to match in the client and server. No difference between Local and Remote Connections. NO DCOM Required.

What is TOP Server?

TOP Server 5.2 – OPC UA

TOP Server UA Client Driver And if you connect the OPC UA Client to a Remote TOP Server… You have a secure OPC UA Tunnel:  Connect any client application to the TOP Server UA Client driver locally  Easily access other driver data in the Remote TOP Server via the UA Server Interface with No DCOM!

What is OmniServer? User-Configurable Data Acquisition Tool OPC/DDE Server – OPC Server Interface – DDE Server Interface – FastDDE/SuiteLink Interface Hardware Interfaces – RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 – Winsock (TCP/UDP/Telnet) – LPT Communicate to almost any device, including custom designed devices – Variable length, character delimited Protocols – Known/Fixed Length protocols

Applications for OmniServer Solves the problem of writing custom drivers for unique devices. Is NOT a replacement for existing drivers. Use for devices that have no drivers. Use OmniServer to interface computers with other computers or devices with other devices.

What is OPC Data Logger? OPC Client Application that logs data to text files and a variety of ODBC databases, including SQL, MySQL, Access, Oracle Allows logging based on exceptions, timers, or triggers Allows formatting of data presentation Easy configuration wizards let you start logging data quickly

What is SLIK-DA 5 w/ UA? ActiveX and.NET toolkit for creating a custom OPC DA or OPC UA server in a variety of environments and languages Rapid development of a custom server through simple properties, methods, and events – Hides OPC details and COM details from user – Allows static or dynamic tag creation

Software Toolbox Product Summary TOP Server OPC Server – I/O application with pre-built device drivers OmniServer OPC Server – I/O application for custom protocol development OPC DataLogger – OPC client application for logging data to databases SLIK-DA – ActiveX/.NET tool for developing a custom OPC server

Live Demonstration Now, let’s take a look at a live demonstration:

Summary Use Software Toolbox OPC UA products to: – Avoid DCOM issues when making remote connections – Increase security of your data Need to avoid DCOM issues, but only have DA products? – Contact us for other tunneling options DCOM

Contact Information & Other Learning Opportunities Questions later? – – For More Information: – Visit our OPC UA portal: – TOP Server: – OmniServer: – OPC Data Logger: – SLIK-DA 5: Other learning opportunities: – Visit for a listing of other webinars.