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OMWT-SOFT-OPC Server Overview
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What is OPC?
OLE for Process Control (OPC) is a specific specification of Microsoft’s Object
Linking and EmbeOPCding (OLE) and Component Object Model (COM) that is
administered by the OPC Foundation (150 member companies including Microsoft
Corporation). OPC provides a common interface for devices and applications to
communicate. Devices that gather or originate data become OPC servers, providing
data to OPC client applications in a consistent fashion. At the heart of OPC is the
client/server model in which the OPC server provides and interfaces to the OPC
object, allowing client applications to control devices and manage device data in a
generic fashion. OPC servers can be accessed through most HMI software and
through a variety of languages, including C++, Visual Basic, and Delphi. The OPC
server collects data from physical devices for distribution to OPC client applications
and also has the responsibility for updating device data when an OPC client issues a
write.
An OPC client connects to and communicates with an OPC server through one of two
interfaces defined in the OPC specification. The OLE automation interface allows
users to access data through the use of a common, easily understood scripting
language. The COM interface is more complex, but provides finer levels of control
and flexibility for developers and users proficient in languages such as C or C++.
OPC client applications can access OPC servers locally within a computer or from a
networked server.
Data Logging
OMWT-SOFT-OPC Server can log data to an ASCII file at a programmable interval.
The default name of the file is OMWT-SOFT-OPC.LOG.
A client application can control logging through OPC variables. The client can
start/stop logging or just log a single record.
For diagnostic purposes, OMWT-SOFT-OPC can log errors that have occurred
while waiting or process device data.
For more information see the section “OMWT-SOFT-OPC Server Data Logging”.
Diagnostics
With OMWT-SOFT-OPC, you can monitor the health of your wireless network and
the devices attached. OMWT-SOFT-OPC reports, through OPC, errors that it
encounters while polling devices. These errors can be noted in an event error log.
See the section called "Server Item Names" for more information.