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Protocols

OPC DA client (OPC Classic)

Bring existing OPC DA servers such as RSLinx Classic, SIMATIC NET or vendor OPC servers into PLCGateway and make them available over OPC UA.

  • opcda_client

Many plants still run OPC DA servers that connect older controllers. PLCGateway's OPC DA client on Windows reads these servers through the classic COM interfaces, locally or on another computer over DCOM.

The servers installed on a computer are listed through OPCEnum, the item tree can be browsed, and reads come from the server cache or directly from the device. Combined with PLCGateway's OPC UA server this is a straightforward way to migrate OPC Classic data to OPC UA.

Driver id
opcda_client
Connection
COM / DCOM · Windows
Address browsing
yes
Writing
yes

What PLCGateway reads and writes

  • Items of OPC DA 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 servers through the DA 2.0 interfaces
  • Server discovery through OPCEnum
  • Browsing of branches and leaves with type and access rights
  • Cache or device reads
  • Remote servers over DCOM with domain, user and password
  • Writing of items

Address examples

AddressMeaning
Line1.Motor1.SpeedItemID of the server
[PLC1]N7:0RSLinx Classic topic and address
S7:[S7 connection_1]DB1,REAL0SIMATIC NET item

Connect in a few steps

  1. Install PLCGateway on Windows on the same computer as the OPC DA server, or configure DCOM for a remote server.

  2. Add an OPC DA device and use server discovery to select the ProgID.

  3. Browse the item tree and add the items as tags.

  4. Publish the values through PLCGateway's OPC UA server for modern clients.

Questions and answers

Does the OPC DA client work on Linux?

No. OPC DA is based on Windows COM/DCOM. On Linux, use an OPC UA wrapper of the OPC DA server and the OPC UA client.

Can PLCGateway replace an OPC UA wrapper?

Yes. PLCGateway reads the OPC DA server and publishes the values in its own OPC UA server, with security and user management.

Is DCOM configuration needed?

Only for remote servers. On the same computer the connection works without DCOM settings.

Connect your machines

Tell us which controllers you run; we show you PLCGateway with your own addresses.

Product and model names are trademarks of their owners. They are named only to show which equipment the drivers communicate with; PLCGateway is not affiliated with these companies.