The NETx BMS Platform provides standardized OPC UA (Unified Architecture) interfaces ,OPC UA is one of the most important communication protocols for Industry and the IoT.
OPC UA installation
OPC UA extension is available through Extension Manager. When the BMS Core Studio is stopped, the Extension Manager can be started from the BMS Studio menu Extensions / Manager / Start extension manager...
- Open the Extension Manager on the PC where you have the Internet connection.
- Navigate to the "Not installed" tab. Select the "OPC UA". Afterwards, press the "Install" button
After a successful installation the confirmation appears:
The close the BMS Core Studio and reopen it again; this is required before the extension can be used.
OPC UA as Server
After starting the BMS Core Studio and from the BMS Studio menu Modules/ OPC UA/ OPC UA server configuration...
To make BMS Core server runs as OPC UA server you need Enable OPC UA option. After that Server needs to be restarted.
BMS Core server datapoints will available through any OPC UA Client.
Integrate data points from another OPC UA Server
Adding Servers:
The NETx Server provides a OPC UA Client module to integrates data points from other OPC UA Servers. After installing the plugin, in the Modules>OPC UA>Server definitions. This menu is corresponding with adding another OPC UA Servers to the BMS Platform.In the following example a another BMS Platform that is running as a OPC Server.
Parameter | Description |
---|---|
Name | The given name of the OPC UA Server in BMS Server. |
Path | The generated Path in Item Tree. |
URL | The URL of the OPC UA Server. |
User Security | To enable a secure connection. |
Add Unknown Certificates | To enable Unknown Certificates(by default enabled). |
Username | If the OPC UA Server requires Authentication with a Username and a Password. |
Password | If the OPC UA Server requires Authentication with a Username and a Password. |
Write timestamps | Choose which timestamp to write. |
Adding data points:
In Server definitions Server has been configured. Now OPC UA data point can be defined.This is done within the "Modules>OPC UA> Data point definitions" . Datapoint definitions should match the the OPC UA Server item. In the following example a datapoint from another BMS Platform that is running as a OPC Server.
Parameter | Description |
---|---|
Server Name | The name of the OPC UA (should match Name form Server definitions). |
Name | The name of the Datapoint . |
Path | The generated Path in Item Tree. |
Namespace Index | The index of the namespace URI in the namespace array. |
NodeId Type | The Type of the Node ID (by default String). |
NodeId Value | The required Datapoint ID. |
Data type | The data type of the Datapoint . |
Access mode | Read, Read and Write or Write. |
Synchronize | If this parameter is set to “True (T)”, the value is synchronized between the main and backup server (if present). |
For further check on Namespace Index, NoteId Type, NodeId Value and Data type. You can use 3rd party Software like UaExpert to get those information.
The added Datapoints should appear in the ItemTree under the predefined Path:
Article applies to the following products:
- NETx BMS Platform
- NETx Multi Protocol Server
- NETx BMS Server 2.0