Remote OPC DA Server with Zenon OPC Client

[jose.torres@indexum.com]

Hi,

We have to connect a Zenon Supervisor (OPC DA Client) with a third party SCADA (OPC DA Server) in the same network (actually there will be connected in the same ethernet switch). I was reading the manual and you don´t recommend use OPC Client in network (you said only local connection are supported). Also, third party vendor will not accept use OPC UA (that means buy license for them), neither other protocol; and i think it will be very difficult install our Zenon software in their computers (neither OPC datahubs like Matrikon or Cogent).

However, they accept do some test together (modyfing DCOM and other settings) in laboratory to establish OPC DA communication before go to site. The question is: it´s possible establish the communication working together (I know it´s the complex way), or it´s no possible to establish this kind of communication?.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Regards,
José Luis Torres

[markclemens]

Hello José Luis Torres,

Let me phrase what is written in the help in a different way.

When this is a non-critical communication, when you are OK with the fact that the communication may fail at any given time, without the OPC2Cli32 driver noticing right away, when you are OK with the fact that after communication failure or restart of the OPC Server, there may not be automatic reconnect and when you are OK with the fact that it may be necessary to restart both the system with the OPC client driver (zenon runtime) and the system with the OPC server, and when you are OK with the fact that advanced DCOM configuration in Windows is required, and when you are OK with the fact that a future Windows Update may require you to make changes and when you are OK that there will be no support for configuring DCOM or any issues with the OPC2Cli32 driver while using DCOM, you are free to give it a try. Since we do not recommend it and officially do not support it, there will be no guarantee that you can make it work although technically it might.

I'd suggest contacting your local COPA-DATA support to look again what alternatives there may be.

Best regards,
Mark

[negin]

Hello José Luis Torres,

Let me phrase what is written in the help in a different way.

When this is a non-critical communication, when you are OK with the fact that the communication may fail at any given time, without the OPC2Cli32 driver noticing right away, when you are OK with the fact that after communication failure or restart of the OPC Server, there may not be automatic reconnect and when you are OK with the fact that it may be necessary to restart both the system with the OPC client driver (zenon runtime) and the system with the OPC server, and when you are OK with the fact that advanced DCOM configuration in Windows is required, and when you are OK with the fact that a future Windows Update may require you to make changes and when you are OK that there will be no support for configuring DCOM or any issues with the OPC2Cli32 driver while using DCOM, you are free to give it a try. Since we do not recommend it and officially do not support it, there will be no guarantee that you can make it work although technically it might.

I'd suggest contacting your local COPA-DATA support to look again what alternatives there may be.

Best regards,
Mark

Dear Mark 

For simillar situation, when the aim is to connect a SCADA software to zenon SCADA by OPC-DA( because the only available and possible communication is OPC-DA),
In order to fulfill this statement: " The OPC client/server is optimized for local use",
is it possible to run Opc2Cli32.exe on the Computer which the SCADA with OPC-DA server is installed and then 
in a same network zenon RT fetch the data from Opc2Cli32 Image ?

I would appreciate your response ASAP

Thank you so much

Negin

[markclemens]

Hello negin,

All zenon drivers are started by the zenon runtime on the same PC in the same session in the same user context. A driver on one PC with a runtime on another PC is not possible.

Best regards,
Mark

[negin]

Dear Mark

Thank you for the quick answer.
So i should look for possibility on installing OPC-DA server of the Third party SCADA software (YOKOGAWA) on zenon PC.

Do you think it is meaningful?

Thank you

[negin]

Dear Mark

Thank you for the quick answer.
So i should look for possibility on installing OPC-DA server of the Third party SCADA software (YOKOGAWA) on zenon PC.

Do you think it is meaningful?

Thank you

Dear Mark

I already ask below question from COPA-DATA support, but i am waiting for the answer yet.in the meanwhile i would appreciate to have your
advice for my question as mentioned below:



" I am investigating on establish connection between zenon SCADA and YOKOGAWA DCS by OPC-DA protocol.
As the DCS systems is an old legacy system installed on site, there is no other way to make communication with them except OPC-DA.

In such a situation, is it possible to connect zenon to DCS through OPC-DA client driver(Opc2Cli32) in zenon? Please be aware that DCS system already has the OPC-DA server.

-Is there any limitation or error prone facts in this condition?
-What should I concern about to have clear overview on possibility of such a communication?
Any detail information in this regard is appreciated.
 
Besides, as I search for requirements of using Opc2Cli32 driver in its manual, on page 8-9 of the manual -version 8.10, it is mentioned that “The OPC client/server is optimized for local use”.
Could you please describe this sentence more and in details. It is not clear to me the concept."
 


Thank you so much for your concern and I appreciate your reply


Best regards
Negin

 

[ursulak]

The sentence in the manual: “The OPC client/server is optimized for local use” - means that OPC DA is a communication protocol designed to communicate between client and server which are both running on the same PC, and not via network.
On your own risk (around stability, reliability and security) you can try to configure OPC DA communication via network, but we do not recommend it. Please read again answers Mark already posted in this thread.