Course T300, Engineering an 800xA System

Chapter 12 OPC Connectivity

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 12 OPC Connectivity ..................................................................................................................................................... 12-1
12.1 General Information......................................................................................................................................................... 12-3
12.1.1 Description ................................................................................................................................................................ 12-3
12.1.2 Objectives.................................................................................................................................................................. 12-3
12.1.3 Reference Documentation......................................................................................................................................... 12-3
12.2 AC800 M/C OPC Server ................................................................................................................................................. 12-4
12.2.1 General ...................................................................................................................................................................... 12-4
12.2.2 Communication Considerations................................................................................................................................ 12-4
12.2.3 Start Server................................................................................................................................................................ 12-5
12.2.4 Data Access Connection ........................................................................................................................................... 12-5
12.2.5 Alarm and Event Connection.................................................................................................................................... 12-5
12.2.6 Autoload Configuration ............................................................................................................................................ 12-6
12.3 OPC Connectivity in Process Portal................................................................................................................................ 12-8
12.3.1 Create Connectivity .................................................................................................................................................. 12-8
12.3.2 Check Connectivity................................................................................................................................................. 12-10
12.3.3 System Status Viewer ............................................................................................................................................. 12-11

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12.1 General Information

12.1.1 Description
In this chapter you will learn about the data stream from communication between the
controller and the Process Portal.

12.1.2 Objectives
After knowing this chapter the student will be familiar with the AC800M/C OPC
Server. He will learn to connect the server to a AC800M/C Controller (Softcontroller
as well) and to setup the connectivity in the Process Protal.

12.1.3 Reference Documentation

Control Builder manuals Software, OPC Server

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Chapter 12 OPC Connectivity

12.2 AC800 M/C OPC Server

12.2.1 General
The OPC Server for AC800M/C is needed for reading run-time data or alarms and
events from controllers. The Process Portal provides connectivity to the AC800M/C
OPC Server.
The OPC Server for AC800M consists of the following parts:
OPC Data Access Server
The OPC Data Access Server provides data from controllers programmed with
Control Builder through an OPC Data Access 2.0 and 1.0A interface.
OPC Alarm and Event Server
The OPC Alarm and Event Server generate a stream of information, mostly event
notifications, and distribute them to the Alarm and Event clients. OPC Alarm and
Event 1.02 standard is supported.

12.2.2 Communication Considerations

Communication handling has the lowest priority in a controller. It is therefore
important to consider controller CPU load if the communication handling is vital to
the application.
Running at the maximum cyclic load will result in poor capacity and response times
for peer-to-peer and OPC Server for AC 800M communication. It is recommended that
peak cyclic controller load will be kept below 65%, and static cyclic load below 60%,
under all conditions. Even lower cyclic loads (30-40%) are desirable if high
communication throughput is important.

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12.2.3 Start Server

Start the OPC Server from the Windows Start menu: All Programs ABB Industrial
IT 800xA System Control and IO OPC Server for AC 800M-C OPC
Server for AC 800M-C.

12.2.4 Data Access Connection

To get a Data Access to the controller select the tab card Data Access and type in the
controllers IP-Address into the Controller Identity input field. Click the button
Connect then.

The Data Access connection to the controller exists now. The Smily indicates that
the connection is up and running.

12.2.5 Alarm and Event Connection

To get the OPC Alarm and Event connection
1. In the OPC Server click onto the Alarm and Event tab card .
2. Type in the controller IP-Address and accept this by a click onto the Connect
button.

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3. The Alarm and Event connection to the controller exists.

12.2.6 Autoload Configuration

There is a simple way to get an automatically setup for the OPC Server. This is needed
in that case that the computer where the OPC Servers runs is rebooting. A
configuration file is loaded automatically into the OPC Server. Once the OPC Server
is running well, the OPC Server configuration can be stored into a configuration file.
Save the configuration file:
1. Click onto the menu entries File Save Configuration

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2. Type in a file name for the configuration file and navigate to the storing place
of this file.
3. Click the Save button to save the configuration file to disc.
Autoload the configuration file a startup:
1. Click onto the menu entries Settings Autoload Configuration
2. Enable the Autoload Configuration by clicking the check box.
3. Click onto the browse button and select the configuration file from disc.

4. Accept all dialogs. The Autoload Configuration is enabled now.

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Chapter 12 OPC Connectivity

12.3 OPC Connectivity in Process Portal

12.3.1 Create Connectivity
To get connectivity to the AC800M/C OPC Server some configuration adjustments are
necessary in the Process Portal. These adjustments are located on the Control Network
object, which is placed in the Control Structure of the Process Portal.
1. Move into the Control Structure of the Process Portal. Click onto the Control
Network object and select the OPC Data Source Definition aspect of this
object.
2. Select the tab card Connectivity of the OPC Data Source Definition aspect.

3. For selecting a Service Group click onto the New button of the tab card
Connectivity.
4. The new Service Group is named SG_Control_Network by default.
5. To get a connection from the Service Group to the OPC Server Node, click
onto the Add button.

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6. Select the OPC Server Node from the list and click OK.

7. The new Service Group is configured now. Click onto the OK button to create
the new Service Group.
8. To get a view about the kind of OPC Server which is used in the Process
Portal please click onto the tab card OPC Configuration. In our case we need
the AC800M/C OPC Server. This is configured by the entry
ABB.AC800MC_OpcDaServer.3 in the entry field OPC server identity,
ProgId.

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9. Click onto the Apply button to finish the OPC Server setup.

12.3.2 Check Connectivity

To check the connectivity you can open a control aspect for a control object in the
Control Structure, e.g. a program. The aspect for the program is called Program as
well. In the pictures below we use the Program aspect of the program Control1 to
check if the OPC connection is working well.
1. Open the Config View for the Program aspect of a program in the Control
Structure

2. In the Config View please select the tab card Property View. Enable the
option Subscribe for live data to get the live data from the OPC-Server.

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3. If the Quality column displays Good, then the connection to the OPC-Server
is ok.

12.3.3 System Status Viewer

The System Status Viewer is an aspect in the Service Structure (located at the Services
object). This aspect provides knowledge about the services of the Process Portal. The
service of the OPC-Server which is connected to the Process Portal is also existing in
the System Status Viewer.

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The green color indicates that the service is running well. In case of problems a red
color indicates a failed service (displayed in the picture below).

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