OPC2net

The figure below shows a schematic overview of the system and how it integrates with other system parts. The red parts make up the OPC2net system. Green parts are thrid party plugin(s).

On the bottom we have the Control Hardware from different vendors. Let us take the PowerBus hardware as an example: It is connected to the PC running OPC2net Server via a PowerBus enabled gateway like PowerGate Domosys or NetMan from Janus. The Gateway connects to the power line network through a normal outlet and to the computer via direct serial port, dialup or IP/RS232 converter over the Internet. OPC2net Server implements a so called Intelligent Buffering System (IBS) and connectivity to the PowerBus protocol.

OPC2net Server

On top of the different hardware plug-ins runs the common OPC2net Server logic. This Server server manages the underlying plug-in(s). At startup it reads in the hardware-configuration(s) (created by an administrator using OPC2net Network Builder), as well as inforamtion about how to poll, access permissions, network setup etc. 
Among other things the OPC2net Server manages:

• Report variable changes to all clients.
• Intelligent Buffering to minimize control network traffic and maximize variable quality.
• Load balancing between multiple plug-ins (if needed).
• Multiple Client connections. E.g. you can have a light control system running, on the same time as you a import hardware configruation in the Network Builder.
• Mirror hardware variables. Client applications only need to retrieve variables from the server. Accessing the control hardware directly is seldom needed (Intelligent Buffering). 
• Sense hardware failure on the network and create alarms.

OLE fro Process Control (OPC) is the only standard accepted as an interface between software and PLCs (Industrial Computers). All new PLCs on the market support OPC and all major vendors of development tools for SCADA systems, support OPC connectivity. Enabling OPC connectivity to the Network Server opens up a whole new world of possibilities both for the OPC2net software as well as for Control Network Hardware. Therefore this is one of the most important parts of the system. Among possibilities is connectivity to specialized WEB servers like Intellution WEB server opening SCADA systems on the WEB in a particularly powerful manner. Opening up this world of SCADA systems has newer been done before for PowerBus, CEBus or similar technologies. The same is true for Fire systems like NOTIFIER Fire Panels.

Clients

All clients connect to the OPC2net Server via standard OPC (Ole For Process Control) interface.

Network Builder

The Network Builder (NB) is an application that connects to the OPC2net Server. Its main purpose is to manage and set up control networks easily and painlessly. Multiple networks can be managed locally or centrally over a intranet. Among NB’s capabilities are:

• Easy maintenance of database tables that store the different hardware specifications.
• Downloading control network configuration and store it in the database.
• Hardware configuration upload. Configuration changes, firmware etc. can be uploaded via the NB. Not all hardware supports such uploads. 
• Virtual Variable (V²) Builder. This Builder greatly simplifies configuring of bindings between hardware variables and OPC2net V²s. This Builder allows you to define how the OPC2net Server will guarantee best the quality of the bound values, by defining poll rates etc. This builder is also used for defining OPC-access to individual V²s, plus OPC-poll rates allowed.
• V²s Monitor, for monitoring quality and status of all V²s of a selected control network. 
• "Hexadecimal pain solver". You can shift between hexadecimal and alphanumerical interpretation of variables of all types except Binary Data. 
• Drag & Drop. In a tree view (Network, Subnet, Node etc.) the user can drag objects from one configuration to another (copy,cut, paste etc.). 

Plug-in Builder

System Overview

About OPC2Net

About OPC

OPC2net for NOTIFIER

OPC2net for PowerBus

Price Information

Domosys PowerBus®

NOTIFIER®

OPC Foundation®