OPC Unified Architecture is the next generation OPC standard that provides secure and reliable access to real-time and historical data as well as events. OPC UA replaces the classic OPC COM architecture which is tightly connected to the Microsoft Windows platform and security model. OPC UA is based entirely on open standards and offers both a communication and security model that is suitable for cross-platform applications from the embedded to the enterprise. IGSS V10 includes both an OPC UA client and server.

OPC UA Client

The OPC UA client is a standard IGSS driver that makes it possible to retrieve real-time values from 3rd party OPC UA servers to IGSS objects. The IGSS OPC UA driver supports both TCP and HTTP communication layers and has full support for the OPC UA security model according to part 2 of the OPC UA specification release 1.01. Please note that the IGSS OPC UA client requires one IGSS driver license.

The IGSS OPC UA driver has full support for browsing the namespace of the 3rd party OPC UA servers when setting up the IGSS objects atoms. If the OPC UA server is not available at configuration time, the OPC UA node settings may be entered manually.

Main IGSS OPC UA driver features:

• OPC UA server discovery
• Support for both TCP and HTTP communication transport layer
• Connect to multiple OPC UA servers by adding multiple nodes
• Browse namespace of OPC UA server or enter OPC UA node settings manually
• Supports OPC UA Data Access for reading and writing live data values
• Data quality and time stamping is carried through from OPC UA server to IGSS object

OPC UA Server

The OPC UA server is a new component for IGSS V10 that gives access to live data (both reading and writing) from a compliant OPC UA client. The client can browse the IGSS object name space in a hierarchical manner similar to the one found in the IGSS object browser.

Activating the IGSS OPC UA server just requires a single setting in the system configuration for the IGSS station where the IGSS OPC UA is to run.

IGSS OPC UA server features:

• Gives client access to full IGSS object namespace
• Supports OPC UA Data Access for reading and writing live data values
• No additional IGSS license required
• Support for both TCP and HTTP communication transport layer
• Full OPC UA security model supported (none/signed/encrypted)
• Can run on either IGSS server(s) or operator stations