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2. Rockwell Automation OPC Servers
Intro to RSLinx Classic and FactoryTalk Gateway OPC
Miguel Torres Jr
Technical Support Engineer
May 26, 2016

3. Agenda Introduction RSLinx Classic OPC FactoryTalk Gateway
Rockwell Automation Provided Troubleshooting
FactoryTalk Gateway
RSLinx Classic OPC
Introduction
Q & A
Recommendations and Information

4. What is OPC?
OPC (OLE for Process Control) is a software interface standard that allows Windows programs to communicate with industrial hardware devices. 
OPC is implemented in server/client pairs.
The OPC server is a software program that converts the hardware communication protocol used by a PLC into the OPC protocol so that OPC client applications can have access to plant floor data in a consistent manner.
With OPC, system integration in an assorted computing environment is made simple.

5. Rockwell Automation OPC-Compliant Servers
RSLinx Classic
FactoryTalk Gateway
These are Rockwell Software’s premier communications platform providing a single access point to your control system data.
They enable seamless access and high performance communication with your plant floor devices and enables 3rd party application access.
Rockwell Automation Optional Data Servers
RSLinx Enterprise
KepServer Enterprise
Only provides data to Rockwell Applications and not 3rd party software.

6. RSLinx Classic
Rockwell Automation Data Servers

7. What is RSLinx Classic ?
RSLinx Classic is a comprehensive factory communication solution, providing Allen-Bradley programmable controllers access to a wide variety of Rockwell Software and Allen-Bradley applications.
RSLinx Classic is available in four versions to meet the demand for a variety of cost and functionality requirements.
The RSLinx Classic version you are running appears in the title bar at the top of the main window.
The version depends on either an activation being seen or not seen by the software.

8. RSLinx Classic Versions
Lite
No valid activation
No OPC
Single Node
OPC to a single device
Local OPC server
OEM
OPC to multiple devices
Local OPC server
Gateway
OPC to multiple devices
Local and Remote OPC server

9. RSLinx Classic OPC
Demonstration

10. FactoryTalk Gateway
Rockwell Automation Data Servers

11. What is FactoryTalk Gateway ?
FactoryTalk Gateway (previously called RSOPC Gateway) is a tool that allows the FactoryTalk Live data to be shared to non-FactoryTalk clients such as RSView32, WonderWare, Cimplicity, etc.
FactoryTalk Gateway is used with RSLinx Enterprise. Since RSLinx Enterprise is NOT an OPC server, it can be combined with FactoryTalk Gateway to act like an OPC server.
Can be used with Local or Network Applications.

12. FactoryTalk Gateway It is sold based on the tag count.
Sold in tag amounts of:
5000
32000
70000
Unlimited
You can install multiple activations on one computer.

13. FactoryTalk Gateway
Demonstration

14. Troubleshooting
Rockwell Automation Data Servers

15. RSLinx Classic Troubleshooting
Communication Event Logs
Active Topic/Items
OPC Group Diagnostics
Test Clients
Data Monitor
Predefined Items

16. Communication Event Logs
RSLinx Classic Troubleshooting
Select DDE/OPC -> Communication Events to display information about DDE/OPC error messages logged while running RSLinx Classic to clients.
Click the message in the window viewer to see details in the Selected Error Details section.
Each time an error message is seen by RSLinx Classic, the number of errors logged counter is increased by one and the entry is added to the window viewer.
Communication events displays details such as processor manufacturer and type, the item affected by the error, and the DDE/OPC command type of the message.

17. Active Topic/Items
RSLinx Classic Troubleshooting
Select DDE/OPC -> Active Topics/Items to display a window with the topic name and item description for each active topic.
A topic is considered active if an OPC or DDE client is communicating with it.

18. OPC Group Diagnostics
RSLinx Classic Troubleshooting
Select DDE -> OPC Group Diagnostics to display the following diagnostic counters.

19. Test Clients
RSI OPC
FactoryTalk Live Data

20. Data Monitor
RSLinx Classic Troubleshooting
Use RSLinx Classic Data Table Monitor to view ControlLogix, PLC-5, SLC, and MicroLogix data. You can open a separate data table monitor for as many processors as needed.
The data table monitor is read-only. Values in the data files cannot be modified directly from the data monitor window.

21. Predefined Items RSLinx Classic Troubleshooting
RSLinx Classic can obtain general processor information or trigger events using DDE/OPC predefined items.
@Mode returns the current mode of the processor as a string (Run, Program, Remote Run, or Remote Program).
@ProcessorName returns the name of the program running in the processor.
@Revision returns the firmware version of the processor as a string.
@PLCType returns the processor type as a string.
@Status returns the current status of the processor as a string (Ok or Faulted).
@StatusNumber returns the current status of the processor as a number.
@IsPresent allows you to check if your ControlLogix processor is available prior to performing reads or writes. The time out value is consistent with the communication timeout value in the configured PLC-5 topic.

22. FactoryTalk Gateway Troubleshooting
FactoryTalk Diagnostics
FactoryTalk Diagnostics Counter Monitor
FactoryTalk Live Data Test Client
Diagnostic Items

23. FactoryTalk Diagnostics
FactoryTalk Gateway Troubleshooting
Log can be found in the Windows Event Logs and logs information regarding FactoryTalk Applications.

24. FactoryTalk Diagnostics Counter Monitor
FactoryTalk Gateway Troubleshooting
FactoryTalk Diagnostics Counter Monitor provides the ability to check the status of tags and to monitor the runtime values of counters and strings that are made available by network clients for diagnostic purposes.

25. FactoryTalk Live Data Test Client
FactoryTalk Gateway Troubleshooting
FactoryTalk® Live Data Test Client is client software for testing OPC and FactoryTalk communications. You can use the Live Data Test Client to connect to RSLinx Classic, FactoryTalk, or third-party OPC servers. Once connected to a data server, you can monitor the status of data items, and read and write the values of data items.
Live Data Test Client allows you to group data items together, and then test the communications network by enabling or disabling individual data items or groups of data items.
The HMI Emulation Mode allows you to simulate the network traffic generated by an HMI system by automatically switching from one group of data items to the next, to simulate operators changing graphic displays.
You can save groups of data items from a data server for re-testing later.

26. Diagnostic Items Provides information for diagnostic purposes.
FactoryTalk Gateway Troubleshooting
Provides information for diagnostic purposes.
Mainly for Logix5000 Platform.

27. Useful Recommendations and Information
Rockwell Automation OPC Servers

28. OPC Data Server Recommendations
RSLinx Classic
Preferred data server for PLC/SLC platforms and applications that require complex network routings.
Maximum 10 clients per data server.
PLC/SLC systems - Maximum 20 controllers per data server via an Ethernet network.
Logix5000 systems Maximum:
10 controllers per data server via an Ethernet network.
10,000 active (on-scan) tags per data server.
Three RSLinx data servers per controller.
FactoryTalk Gateway/RSLinx Enterprise
Preferred data server for Logix5000 platforms.
Maximum 20 clients per data server.
PLC/SLC systems - Maximum 20 controllers per data server via an Ethernet network.
Logix5000 systems Maximum:
20 controllers per data server via an Ethernet network.
20,000 active (on-scan) tags per data server.
Three RSLinx Enterprise data servers per controller.

29. Data Server Decision Tree
Your application contains…
FactoryTalk® Products
Included w/products
RSLinx® Enterprise
Third Party OPC Clients
Complex Routing
Alias Topics
Unsolicited Messaging from PLC5 or SLC-500
Sold by tag count
FactoryTalk® Gateway
Sold by Device count and Client location
RSLinx® Classic
Non-RA Control Equipment
OPC Server
KEPServer Enterprise
Optional

30. Tech Articles and Manuals
– Using the FactoryTalk Live Data Test Client
33541 – Setup Procedure for FactoryTalk Gateway
28465 – Create and Test OPC Topic in RSLinx Classic Software
– Troubleshooting Data Collection Issues with RSLinx Classic DDE/OPC
– Data Server Decision Guide
63247 – Compare RSLinx Classic and RSLinx Enterprise Software
7709 – Using RSI OPC Test Client to Troubleshoot OPC
DDE/OPC predefined items in RSLinx Classic
9398 – Logix Platform: Diagnostic information via DDE/OPC or RSLinx Enterprise
30094 – RSLinx Classic: DDE/OPC Communication Event Log Error Messages
RSLinx Classic Getting Results Guide
FactoryTalk Gateway Getting Results Guide

31. Q & A