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(sUA Server(s))

UA Client(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)UA Product(s)

PeoplePeople

Connect please…

approved

… check my trust list

Value Point #3

UA Server(s)UA Server(s)

UA Client(s)UA Client(s)

DCOMDCOM

Unified Architectureenables communications

and data sharingenterprise-wide

Value Point #4: Enterprise Data Communications

EmbeddedEmbedded

ControllersControllers

MobileMobile

WorkstationsWorkstations

ServersServers

EnterpriseEnterprise

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?

What is TOP Server?

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

DCOMDCOM

Contact Information & Other Learning Opportunities

• Questions later?– Support@softwaretoolbox.com– +1 704 849 2773

• For More Information:– Visit our OPC UA portal: http://softwaretoolbox.com/OPCUA– TOP Server: http://toolboxopc.com– OmniServer: http://www.omnidssi.com/– OPC Data Logger: http://opcdatalogger.com– SLIK-DA 5: http://nordyn.com

• Other learning opportunities:– Visit http://softwaretoolbox.webex.com for a listing of other

webinars.