This technology supports multi-vendor, multi-platform interoperability for moving data and information from the embedded world to the enterprise. Those who deploy OPC UA will be able to better leverage plant floor-to-enterprise communications as a vehicle to participate in IIoT and Industrie 4.0 applications. Developers can exchange rich data with even greater levels of interoperability, while enhancing security and providing new levels of value and performance. OPC UA represents a major step forward for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) device manufacturers developing the latest breed of automation solutions. It extends the capabilities of the original OPC model by improving upon security and employing standard web technologies. OPC UA is a platform-independent, scalable, service-oriented architecture (SOA) that integrates all the functionality of the original OPC specifications into a single, flexible framework. Furthermore, the design of the new architecture works with any operating system (OS) without compromising the performance of the data exchange mechanism, making it the perfect solution for embedding OPC technology into devices. The OPC UA standard was developed to break down communication barriers that have been limited by dependence on Microsoft’s underlying DCOM technology. The easiest and by far the most common topology is the cascading sus, but a star topology offers benefits. When integrated with the IIoT, it helps automation users to visualize, analyze and mobilize critical data without the need for added IT infrastructure. OPC UA supports cloud integration to scale operations when necessary, protects against IT hardware obsolescence, and delivers global access to connected systems. With OPC UA, the next generation OPC technology, the vision of “global” interoperability will become a reality. The use of multiple OPC Servers to connect all devices and applications may, however, lead to the internal communication structures becoming unclear and difficult to manage. In order to guarantee interoperability using OPC Classic, a separate OPC Server is needed for each device in a plant application. Programmers are able to quickly realize interface implementations thanks to these close connections with Microsoft’s object-oriented COM and DCOM technologies, but this comes at the expense of the flexibility and expandability of interfaces. All control systems, machine interfaces, and automation applications that are based on the Windows platform can exchange data smoothly with OPC Classic. These OPC variations are based on communication protocols from Microsoft: Component Object Model (COM) and Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM). The most widespread specifications of the classical OPC standard include: OPC DA for the transmission of real-time data, OPC HDA for the communication of run data (or historical data), and OPC A&E, with which alarms and events can be communicated. Countless OPC–based systems are in use around the globe, ensuring the safe and reliable exchange of data between industrial software components. OPC Classic is the world’s leading technology for integrating different automation products. The OPC standard, first issued by the OPC Foundation in 1996, allows for secure and reliable exchange of data across manufacturing and other enterprises. The OPC UA standard offers key advantages in integrating industrial systems from the sensor to the cloud. This article provides an overview of the key features of OPC UA, a comparison with the legacy OPC Classic standard, and strategies for upgrading to OPC UA based on a managed, secure and seamless migration path. OPC UA is a standard for moving information vertically through the enterprise of multi-vendor systems, as well as providing interoperability between devices on different industrial networks from different vendors. Organizations that deploy the OPC Unified Architecture (UA) will be able to better leverage plant floor-to-enterprise communications as a vehicle to participate in lloT applications. Growing adoption of the Industrial Internet of Things (lloT) and lndustrie 4.0 is also driving requirements for open and secure connectivity between devices and edge-to- cloud solutions. To support the variety of applications necessary today, information must be delivered with context so it can be understood and used in various ways by a variety of people. Now more than ever, industrial firms need to make sense of vast quantities of data having a critical impact on their performance.
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