OPC Book – Fourth Edition

OPC stands for Openness, Productivity, and Collaboration, symbolizing the new possibilities opening up in automation technology. The main objective of the new OPC generation Unified Architecture is to facilitate global interoperability and to define an information and data-exchange mechanism that is service oriented, multivendor, and cross-platform capable - from the field device on the shop floor to the ERP system on the factory level.

This book includes information on

• the birth, objectives, and fundamentals of OPC and OPC UA,
• the technical specifications that currently exist and those that are in preparation,
• the procedures for designing and implementing components,
• a transparent presentation of the technology through application possibilities and examples, and
• the outlook for the future of OPC and OPC UA.

Important perspectives and updates in this new edition include

• the new era and the exciting application possibilities developing with OPC UA,
• the new OPC UA specifications,
• the development of OPC products for Windows, Linux, and VxWorks,
• companion standards like FDI (EDD, FDT), ADI, or PLCopen (IEC 61131-3),
• new interoperability applications with SAP or Beckhoff Server embedded, and
• migration strategies from Classic OPC to OPC UA.

Fundamentals, implementation, and application of Classic OPC and OPC UA are discussed comprehensively in this book.

"Whether you are an end user of products from vendors that use the OPC foundation technology or you are a vendor that either currently builds products with the OPC foundation technology or potentially will in the future, then this is the book for you to truly get jump started on understanding the OPC technology and using the OPC technology in a highly efficient manner."

CD-ROM:

The included CD-ROM contains industrial OPC Server and OPC Client tools for evaluation, and also several demonstration programs for development, commissioning, testing, and for the simulation of OPC Clients and Servers. The OPC Toolbox is suitable for Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista, Windows 7, Windows CE, Linux, and VxWorks. Furthermore you will find videos and presentations of OPC UA.

Target audience:

With its introductory sections, detailed explanation of the specifications, and its comprehensive description of practical applications, this book is an ideal tool for

• beginners in OPC and OPC UA,
• software developers and product managers,
• decision makers in the industry, and also,
• college students that want to become familiar with current developments in automation technology.