MX-AOPC UA Suite

Features and Benefits  

• First OPC UA server for industrial automation supporting both push and pull communication
• One-click active tag creation
• Efficient database uploads
• Automatic data updates from SD cards following network failures
• Simple and easy viewing of tag values and UA server status
• OPC UA: The next generation of interoperability, reliability, and security

Introduction

The MX-AOPC UA Suite includes the MX-AOPC UA Server, Viewer*, and Logger*, which are all based on the OPC UA (Unified Architecture) standard. OPC UA is the next generation OPC standard (IEC 62541),
which provides a cohesive, secure, and reliable framework for accessing real-time and historical data. The MX-AOPC UA Server not only inherits Moxa’s patented active monitoring technology, but also supports Modbus protocol for polling data, to provide a secure and reliable gateway bridging edge devices to the SCADA system. The MXAOPC UA Viewer is an OPC UA client that allows users to easily view
tag values and server statuses. The MX-AOPC UA Logger is another handy client for converting and uploading data logs to the central database. With Moxa’s MX-AOPC UA Suite, users can now instantly
receive alarms, real-time updates, and save historical data, allowing for both timely risk prevention and solid maintenance response.

*MX-AOPC UA Viewer and Logger will be available in June 2015.

First OPC UA Server for Industrial Automation Supporting both Push and Pull Communication

Moxa has pioneered the concept of “active type” OPC software in the automation industry. The patented MX-AOPC UA Server offers both polling and non-polling architectures alongside the standard OPC UA protocol, giving users the alternative of pull or push-based communication from Moxa’s devices. With push technology, I/O status is updated to the MX-AOPC UA Server only when there is an I/O status change, a pre-configured interval is reached, or when a request is issued by a user. This application of push technology cuts metadata overhead, resulting in faster I/O response times and more accurate data collection than traditional pull-based architectures. With Moxa’s “active technology” advantage, users can now instantly receive alarms and real time updates, allowing for timely risk response.

One-Click Active Tag Creation

MXMX-AOPC UA Server supports automatic tag generation, which eliminates the headache of specifying individual target IP addresses, I/O channels, and data formats, and does away with the need to edit and import configuration files. Working from Moxa’s utilities, users only need to select specific tags, set the update criteria, and then click a single button for their active tags to be automatically generated and configured.

Efficient Database Uploads

With most remote data acquisition systems, during daily operations additional human resources are needed to collect data manually from remote storage devices for loading into a database. Even with RTUs remotely collecting data over the network, software must be developed to handle the task of converting and uploading these data logs. Moxa’s MX-AOPC UA Logger not only makes real-time data collection much easier, it also simplifies the conversion of historical data into database-ready formats. MX-AOPC UA Logger interacts directly with our MX-AOPC UA Server, working as a bridge between field data and stored databases or spreadsheets. Furthermore, the MX-AOPC client converts and uploads data logs to the central database. The MX-AOPC
UA Logger can collate tags from individual Moxa RTUs or remote I/O devices into the same database or spreadsheet, freeing users from the need to manipulate data after processing.

Automatic Data Updates from SD Cards Following Network Failures

One of the benefits of using RTUs is that data can be collected over a network from a central site. In an ideal operation, following a network failure RTUs should be able to transmit data logs that were collected while the network was offline. Moxa’s MX-AOPC UA Logger makes this not only possible, but easy. MX-AOPC UA Logger provides a standard OPC interface that interacts with MX-AOPC UA Server for real-time data collection. After each network connection, MX-AOPC UA Logger will compare historical data stored on the SD cards located in
individual devices with the real time data it has already stored locally, and then supplement any missing data by requesting that the RTU retransmit the lost data.

Simple and Easy Viewing of Tag Values and UA Server Status

MX-AOPC UA Viewer is an OPC UA client that allows developers, testers, and integrators to easily view tag values and test MX-AOPC UA Server and connections. The viewer’s intuitive user interface makes it easy to read data and server status. With this handy client tool, users can complete OPC server settings sooner than ever.

OPC UA: The Next Generation of Interoperability, Reliability, and Security

Moxa’s MX-AOPC UA Suite is designed based on the OPC Foundation’s UA (Unified Architecture) specification. OPC UA is a new technology that features more secure and reliable data communication between OPC servers and clients. It ensures protection against unauthorized access or sabotage of process data, as well as against errors due to careless operation. In addition, OPC UA defines a robust architecture with reliable communication mechanisms, configurable timeouts, and automatic error detection/recovery mechanisms. By using Moxa’s MX-AOPC UA Suite, users can enjoy more secure and reliable data exchange and control.

Download

• MX-AOPC UA Suite Datasheet