A free utility used to troubleshoot OPC client/server interoperability issues
For integrators installing and configuring OPC, MatrikonOPC Sniffer is an objective investigator for troubleshooting OPC client/server interoperability issues. MatrikonOPC Sniffer does away with finger-pointing when OPC servers and clients don't communicate properly. It seamlessly logs the activity between OPC servers and clients to isolate interoperability issues and help solve problems quickly and easily.
Background Information
The creation of the OPC Foundation and the development of the OPC Specification have been essential to the progress of the interface market in process control industries to date. OPC provides a set of common interfaces for communicating with diverse process-control devices.
Sometimes, however, small differences in the interpretation of the OPC specification can lead to problems with interoperability between clients and servers. Even with compliance testing and certification, a number of issues may still arise.
|
OLE for Process Control (OPC™ ) is a technology designed to bridge Windows based applications and process control hardware. It is an open standard that permits a consistent method of accessing field data from plant floor devices. This method remains the same regardless of the type and source of data. OPC servers provide a method for many different software packages to access data from a process control device, such as a PLC. Traditionally, any time a package needed access to a device’s data, a custom interface, or driver, needed to be written. The purpose of OPC is to define a common interface that is written once, then reused by any business, SCADA, MMI, or customs software packages. Once an OPC server is written for a particular device, it can be reused by any application that is able to act as an OPC client. OPC servers use Microsoft’s OLE technology (also known as the Common Object Model, or COM) to communicate with clients. COM technology permits a standard for real-time information exchange between software applications and process hardware to be defined. Sometimes, however, small differences in the interpretation of the OPC specification can lead to problems with interoperability between clients and servers. Even with compliance testing and certification, a number of issues may still arise. The OPC Sniffer acts as a “data scope” into the communication between OPC clients and servers, outputting a “script” of the activities of both components. The resulting information is invaluable for determining where a problem exists in a non-biased and objective way. The OPC Sniffer acts as a “data scope” into the communication between OPC clients and servers, outputting a “script” of the activities of both components. The resulting information is invaluable for determining where a problem exists in a non-biased and objective way. |
 |
Resolve OPC client/server issues effortlessly
Download MatrikonOPC Sniffer for free and streamline your troubleshooting today!OLE for Process Control (OPC™ ) is a technology designed to bridge Windows based applications and process control hardware. It is an open standard that permits a consistent method of accessing field data from plant floor devices. This method remains the same regardless of the type and source of data
Supported OPC Specs
How it Works
The MatrikonOPC Sniffer is intended to be as simple as possible, both in terms of design and use. Conceptually, the component "shims" in between the OPC client and the OPC server to generate a log of detailed information about the interactions between the two pieces of software. The uncomplicated design of the OPC Sniffer allows it to perform this function transparently without influencing the system's behavior or introducing new errors.