OPC interconnection software: Comparison of data exchange and communication tools in industrial automation

With the development of industrial automation, intelligence and informatization, data exchange and communication between industrial equipment have become increasingly important. Efficient data interconnection can not only improve production efficiency, but also reduce operating costs and optimize management decisions. In order to achieve data exchange and communication between industrial equipment, a standard interface protocol is required, which is OPC (OLE for Process Control).

01

The emergence of OPCUA/Motrotech

With the changes in Internet technology and industrial needs, the traditional OPC Classic has gradually exposed its limitations. In order to solve these problems, the OPC Foundation released OPC UA (Unified Architecture) in 2006. OPC UA is a new industrial communication protocol based on Internet technology with the following characteristics: it does not rely on any specific platform or technology, can run on any operating system or device, and can be used across platforms; it uses XML or binary format to transmit data, is compatible with Internet protocols, and can achieve remote access and cloud docking; it uses encryption, authentication, authorization and other mechanisms to protect data, and uses redundancy, caching, reconnection and other mechanisms to ensure data integrity and availability. OPC UA is considered to be the future development direction of industrial communication protocols and one of the key technologies for realizing Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing.

02

How to implement OPCUA/Motrotech

At present, the domestic implementation of OPC UA usually involves building a server or client from the code level to send and receive the required data. Using a software development kit (SDK) can speed up the understanding of concepts and the implementation of applications. For example, the open source Open62541 (C language SDK) or commercial SDKs such as the C, C++, C# SDKs launched by Unified Automation and the Java SDK of Prosys. Although development from scratch is highly flexible, it also requires higher requirements. There are also ready-made tool software on the market that can realize data reading and writing functions, such as KepServer, MatrikonOPC and Connext.

What are the related products of OPC UA?

1. Kepware’s KEPServerEX is a powerful communication platform

It is specially designed for data connection in industrial automation and IoT environments. Its main advantages include: support for OPC Classic and OPC UA, and compatibility with different versions of OPC clients; support for serial, Ethernet, wireless and other communication methods, and adaptability to different network environments; support for multiple data formats such as numeric values, strings, arrays, structures, etc.; provide data processing functions such as data scaling, linearization, expression calculation, etc.; with encryption, authentication, authorization and other data security functions to protect data integrity and confidentiality.

2. Matrikon OPC is an OPC server software developed by Matrikon

Supports multiple industrial protocols and device types. Its main advantages include: support for multiple industrial protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, IEC 60870-5-104; support for multiple device types such as PLC, RTU, SCADA, HMI; support for multiple data types such as analog, digital, and string; in the event of network interruption or device failure, data can be cached and resent after recovery; data update frequency and quality can be adjusted according to client needs and network conditions.

3. Connext is a powerful, cost-effective and easy-to-use data collection, forwarding and management software

Based on OPC UA technology, developed and promoted by Emerson, an internationally renowned provider of industrial automation solutions, Connext is an important solution and software product in the field of industrial communications for Emerson. It can help customers solve data problems encountered in various industries and improve their work efficiency and quality.

Advantages of Connext

Compared with KEPServerEX and Matrikon OPC, Connext has obvious advantages in the following aspects: easy operation, user-friendly interface, and excellent visual interactive experience; supports multiple communication protocols, including Modbus, OPC UA, MQTT, etc., and its wide protocol support and stability are not inferior to KEPServerEX; relying on Movicon, it provides more possibilities. When used with the Movicon server, Connext can not only realize powerful data collection and management functions, but also provide rich visualization functions; it is cost-effective, and provides OPC UA interface software, OPC UA HDA/AE server and other functions for free, which is significantly better than other similar software; it supports multi-platform implementation, and can realize communication and deployment on both Windows and Linux platforms.

In addition to the above advantages, Connext products also have the following two important features:

Support screen function: It can be used with Movicon server to improve user experience. If customers need to view the status and data of the device on PC or mobile terminal, Connext can support screen function to achieve visual monitoring and control.

Multi-level redundancy mechanism: Supports multi-level redundancy mechanisms including PLC redundancy and server redundancy to improve system reliability and stability. If customers are worried about data loss or interruption due to device or server failure, Connext can automatically switch to the backup device or server to continue operation in the event of a failure.

Usually, highly segmented industrial software products do not have dedicated versions in different languages. In order to better facilitate the use of Chinese users, Connext also provides an excellent Chinese version, making it easier for users to get started and understand.

in conclusion

In the field of industrial automation data exchange and communication, the selection of suitable products should be based on specific application requirements, existing technical environment and future expansion plans. KEPServerEX and Matrikon OPC have their own advantages and are suitable for different types of users and application scenarios. Connext provides a more competitive solution with its convenient operation, good visual interaction, wide protocol support and stability, and deep integration with Movicon.