How to connect to an OPC DA server

Summary

  1. Download and install Cogent DataHub software.
  2. Start the DataHub, select the OPC DA option and click Add.
  3. Choose a server, set the update rate, and select points.
  4. Click OK and Apply.
  5. View your data in the Data Browser.

For more details and options, see the documentation.

Transcript

  1. How to connect to an OPC DA Server.
  2. First, download and install Cogent DataHub software.
  3. Start the DataHub, and from the Properties window, select the OPC DA option and click the Add button.
  4. Choose an OPC server.
  5. Set a maximum update of 100 milliseconds for now.
  6. Leave the other options at the default settings.
  7. Manually select the points you want to connect to.
  8. Or choose Load All Items on Server.
  9. Click OK and Apply.
  10. Click View Data to see your data in the Data Browser.
  11. Now you are connected.

Background

OPC Classic Data Access (OPC DA) is a legacy protocol with a wide user base. Learning how to connect to an OPC DA server with Cogent DataHub software is a good way to integrate the OPC DA protocol with all of the other supported protocols, like OPC UA, A&E, A&C, as well as MQTT, Modbus, ODBC, and more.

Networking OPC DA requires DCOM, which is difficult to configure and not very secure. Instead, you can use the DataHub Tunnel/Mirror feature to bypass DCOM altogether. It is easy to configure, and allows you to keep all inbound firewall ports closed on the OPC server side of the tunnel.

Skkynet provides Cogent DataHub secure-by-design software and services to let you acquire, aggregate, monitor, control visualize, and network live process data in-plant or over insecure external networks. You can isolate control networks from cyber attacks and integrate industrial data under a unified namespace, all without compromising the plant.

Cogent DataHub products wheel diagram