Configuring OPC Settings

Configure Open Platform Communication (OPC) settings to enable OPC server functionality, which publishes ztC Endurance system performance data for an OPC client to receive and display. This allows you to monitor the ztC Endurance system alongside other industrial equipment.

In order to use OPC functionality, you must install OPC client software (of your choice) on a separate computer and then configure the OPC client (see To install and configure an OPC client). The OPC client must be configured to receive data from the port on the ztC Endurance system that you configure for OPC. The default port is 4840, though you can specify another port number.

To configure OPC settings

  1. In the left-hand navigation panel, click OPC Configuration under Notification.
  2. On the OPC Configuration page, activate the check box next to Enable OPC Server.

  3. The default port number is 4840. If necessary, specify another number.

  4. Activate either or both of the following check boxes, as appropriate for your system:

    • Allow anonymous OPC client connections: OPC clients do not need to provide a username and password when connecting to the OPC server on the ztC Endurance system. (When the check box is not activated, OPC clients must provide a username and password.)

    • Allow OPC client connections using usernames and passwords configured from Users: OPC clients can connect to the OPC server on the ztC Endurance system with the same username and password used to log in to the ztC Endurance console​. (When the check box is not activated, OPC clients cannot log in to the OPC server using local-user account usernames and passwords, as specified on the Users page. See Managing User Accounts.)

  5. Click Save. (Or click Cancel to restore the previously-saved values.)

You must install OPC client software and configure an OPC client on a separate computer. You can choose OPC client software from the many versions that exist in the marketplace. The procedure below describes how to install and configure an OPC client using UaExpert® software from Unified Automation.

Installing and configuring an OPC client using UaExpert software

Note: In addition to reading the procedure below, follow instructions with the UaExpert software.
  1. Download and install the Windows version of the UaExpert software. See https://www.unified-automation.com/products/development-tools/uaexpert.html.
  2. If starting UaExpert software for the first time, follow the instructions with the software for an initial start-up.

  3. Run the UaExpert software.

    The Unified Automation UaExpert - The OPC Unified Architecture Client - NewProject main window opens.

  4. In the menu bar, click Server and select Add. The Add Server dialog box appears.
  5. Click the Advanced tab.
  6. In the Endpoint Url box, enter the URL of the endpoint, which is the ztC Endurance system's cluster IP address (for example, opc.tcp://tcp_cluster_ip_address:4840/).
  7. For Security Settings, select None for both Security Policy and Message Security Mode.

  8. For Authentication Settings, Select one of the following, as required for your configuration:

    • Anonymous: Select if you activated the check box for allowing anonymous OPC client connections.

    • Username and Password: Enter values if you activated the check box for allowing OPC client connections using usernames and passwords. The username and password you enter must be identical to the username and password that you add for a read-only user on the ztC Endurance system for OPC access. See Managing User Accounts for information on adding a user to the ztC Endurance system.

  9. Click OK to close the Add Server dialog box.

    The main window reappears. In the left panel, the name of the server appears in the Project box, under Servers.

  10. Select the new server and then click the connect button, which appears in the tools bar to the right of the minus sign icon.

    When the client connects successfully to the server, the Address Spaces box of the main window displays the end point of the server.

In the Address Spaces box, you can click the top level to expand and explore the available data values. In the Attributes box, the Value column displays the current value of the selected item.

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