SIEMENS
2/71
Siemens PM 21 · 2017
SIMOTION Motion Control System
OPC server
OPC server of SIMOTION and SIMATIC NET
2
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Overview
OPC (Openness, Productivity & Collaboration) is a
standardized, open, multi-vendor interface that is widely used in
automation engineering. A distinction is made between the
classic OPC and further developments of the classic version, i.e.
OPC XML-DA and OPC UA (Unified Architecture).
SIMOTION supports all three kinds of OPC.
•
Classic OPC DA (Data Access) and OPC AE (Alarm & Events)
with SIMATIC NET
By installing the SIMATIC NET PC software on a PC with a
Windows 7 or Windows 8 operating system, it is possible to
access SIMOTION data and alarms using an OPC client. In
this case, the OPC DA and OPC AE server is a component of
the SIMATIC NET software and it communicates with
SIMOTION by means of the S7 software via PROFIBUS or
Ethernet TCP/IP. The OPC server itself is installed on the
Windows PC and utilizes Windows COM and DCOM
mechanisms to communicate.
•
OPC XML-DA
The OPC XML-DA server of SIMOTION is located directly in
the SIMOTION system. The associated OPC client can be
installed on any external device. OPC XML-DA uses the SOAP
(Simple Object Access Protocol) communication protocol that
employs XML data structures to transfer data content. SOAP
utilizes HTTP communication and therefore Ethernet. This
open, standardized mechanism is based on web
mechanisms. It functions independently of Windows and is
thus extremely flexible to use.
•
OPC UA
OPC UA is an advanced version of OPC XML-DA. It has more
data transfer mechanisms than its predecessor. In addition to
its web service-based XML mechanism, it also offers
transmission in purely binary data format via TCP/IP, a method
that is optimized for speed and data throughput.
OPC UA provides an object model that permits the integration
of automation data (DA), alarms, events (AC) and historical
data (HA) and methods into a server. SIMOTION only supports
OPC UA-DA. OPC UA fulfills every requirement with respect to
security and provides mechanisms that ensure the
authentication, confidentiality and integrity of the data
exchanged between the client and server.
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Benefits
•
Functions independently of the communication technology
specific to a manufacturer, sector, operating system (OPC UA
and XML-DA) or programming language
•
Supports communication links to the smallest embedded
devices, other controllers, PCs, HMIs, control systems and
even cloud applications
•
Transmission security and authentication at user level
(OPC UA)
G_PM10_EN_00230
PC or embedded hardware with any operating system
OPC client (e.g. HMI, MES)
OPC DA/AE server
S7 communication
Windows PC
SIMATIC NET
software
OPC XML-DA client (e.g.
HMI, MES, web browser)
OPC UA client (HMI,
MES, PLC)
Control and machine data
Binary format
TCP/IP
XML format
TCP/IP with HTTP
TCP/IP
OPC XML DA server
OPC UA server
S7 communication
API
API
Communication
medium
Control level
SIMOTION
Runtime
PROFIBUS DP
© Siemens AG 2017