The OPC Training Institute (OPCTI) has released the 20 most common OPC Technology questions asked by automation integrators:
- When should I consider using an OPC Tunneling product?
- Can OPC UA (Unified Architecture) be used on non-Windows Operating Systems?
- What are the security holes when working with OPC?
- Why can I not see OPC Servers when ‘browsing’?
- How many OPC servers can I install on a single PC?
- What is OpcEnum and why do I need it?
- My OPC application cannot connect to an OPC server. Why?
- In light of the OPC UA (Unified Architecture) specification, should I avoid OPC servers based on the DA (Data Access) specification?
- Can I run an OPC Server as a Windows service and what would be the benefits?
- Why do I get DCOM error 0x80040202 when my OPC application fails to receive a callback from an OPC server?
- What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous reads?
- What ports does DCOM use?
- What is the OPC Interoperability session?
- What is the OPC Subscription feature and when would I use it?
- Why can I not ‘browse’ an OPC Server?
- Where does OPC get its timestamp from?
- How do I know when my OPC Server has lost its connection with the PLC?
- How fast can an OPC Server transfer values?
- Will OPC work across a firewall?
- What is OPC self certification?
In addition to compiling the list of OPC integration questions, OPCTI calls upon industry experts to provide answers. Experts like Tony Paine, Executive VP and CTO of Kepware Technologies, Colin Winchester, VP of Operations at Software Toolbox and OPCTI’s Randy Kondor, President and CEO.
On August 13, 2008, OPC experts will form an online panel giving insight and practical answers to the top 20 questions.
“OPC is an outstanding technology”, says Randy Kondor of OPCTI, “however it takes know-how to integrate it. Our goal by releasing the top 20 list and providing answers is to make it easier for integrators to use the technology. In turn, manufacturing processes become more finely tuned and efficient.”
Kondor goes on to say, “Control surveyed their readers in June 2008 regarding PLC programming software and just over one-third reported using OPC. The number is growing daily. Wonderware reports there are over 300,000 plants worldwide with 20 or more employees. As the demand for OPC technology grows so does the need for education and support.”
Join OPC industry experts online on August 13, 2008 as they discuss the answers to the top 20 OPC integration questions. More information can be found at http://www.opcti.com/top20.
OPC technology is the fastest growing industrial connectivity standard among automation professionals with well over 15,000 available OPC applications supported by over 3,000 companies. OPC is a global industrial connectivity standard that enables process control and manufacturing applications to communicate with each other using an interoperable, reliable and secure connection. OPC enables manufacturing environments to host a multitude of applications created by a variety of vendors.