Allen Bradley OPC Server Suite – MatrikonOPC OPC Servers

How to connect to Allen Bradley PLC’s using OPC

Allen Bradley PLC’s are very popular in North America and are increasing in popularity in Europe. There are a variety of media and protocol options to communicate between the PLC’s and PC housing an Allen Bradley OPC Server .

Media and Protocol options
Allen Bradley speaks a variety of communication protocols such as:
  • Data Highway Plus, aka DH+ (blue hose)
  • DF1 (serial RS232)
  • Satellite
  • DH485 (serial RS485)
  • Ethernet/IP (Ethernet)

    • Ethernet is by far the most popular media option for new and upgraded installations. Ethernet/IP is related to CIP (common industrial protocol). Ethernet/IP is the most popular protocol for new and upgraded installations.

    Allen Bradley OPC Servers options:


    The OPC Servers for Allen Bradley from MatrikonOPC don’t require any special hardware or additional software to connect, nor do they require any programming. Simple just install-connect-access.

    When choosing an OPC Server for Allen Bradley, consider the vendor’s:

  • Automatic discovery of devices
  • Automatic configuration of tags
  • Support for Controllogix routing
  • Support for device or connection redundancy
  • Support for custom, user defined structures

    • Because of Allen Bradley PLCs’ immense popularity, many different media and protocol converters exist. To connect a PC using a connection that a PC doesn’t natively support, such as RS485 or blue hose, one can either use an external converter, or an internal card to make the connection. In our experience, PKTX cards are the most popular.


    OPC Server for Allen Bradley

    Supported Devices
    This product supports many devices; here is a subset list of devices that it connects to:

    Allen-Bradley CompactLogix 1768-L43
    Allen-Bradley CompactLogix 1769-L32
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 1756 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 1756-61 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 1756-L55 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 1756-L63 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 1756-L83 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 5550 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 5553 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 5555 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 5561 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 5562 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 5563 over Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley DF1
    Allen-Bradley DH+
    Allen-Bradley DH+ Gateway PLC-5
    Allen-Bradley DH+ Gateway PLC-5/04
    Allen-Bradley MicroLogic 1100B over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Allen-Bradley MicroLogix 1000 over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Allen-Bradley MicroLogix 1100 over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Allen-Bradley MicroLogix 1100B-DWD over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Allen-Bradley MicroLogix 1200 over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Allen-Bradley MicroLogix 1400 over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Allen-Bradley MicroLogix 1500 over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/10 over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/15 over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/20 over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/20C over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/20E over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/25 over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/40 over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/40C over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/60 over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/80 over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC 5/80C over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLC5 over DF1 or DH485
    Allen-Bradley PLCs
    Allen-Bradley SLC 5/01 Modular I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Allen-Bradley SLC 5/02 Modular I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Allen-Bradley SLC 5/03 Modular I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Allen-Bradley SLC 5/04 Modular I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Allen-Bradley SLC 5/05 Modular I/O Processor over DF1, DH+, DH485, or Ethernet/IP
    Allen-Bradley SLC 500 Fixed I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Allen-Bradley SLC 500 Fixed I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Allen-Bradley SLC500 over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Rockwell CompactLogix 1768-L43
    Rockwell CompactLogix 1769-L32
    Rockwell ControlLogix 1756-61 over Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell ControlLogix 1756-L55 over Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell ControlLogix 1756-L63 over Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell ControlLogix 1756-L83 over Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell ControlLogix 5550 over Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell ControlLogix 5553 over Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell ControlLogix 5555 over Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell ControlLogix 5561 over Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell ControlLogix 5562 over Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell ControlLogix 5563 over Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell DF1
    Rockwell DH+
    Rockwell DH+ Gateway PLC-5
    Rockwell DH+ Gateway PLC-5/04
    Rockwell MicroLogix 1000 over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Rockwell MicroLogix 1100 over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Rockwell MicroLogix 1100B-DWD over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Rockwell MicroLogix 1200 over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Rockwell MicroLogix 1400 over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Rockwell MicroLogix 1500 over ENI, DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/10 over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/15 over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/20 over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/20C over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/25 over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/30 over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/40 over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/40C over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/60 over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/80 over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC 5/80C over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell PLC5 over DF1 or DH485
    Rockwell SLC 5/01
    Rockwell SLC 5/01 Modular I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Rockwell SLC 5/02 Modular I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Rockwell SLC 5/02 over DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Rockwell SLC 5/03 Modular I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Rockwell SLC 5/03 over DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Rockwell SLC 5/04 Modular I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Rockwell SLC 5/04 over DF1, DH+, or DH485
    Rockwell SLC 5/05 Modular I/O Processor over DF1, DH+, DH485, or Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell SLC 5/05 over DF1, DH+, DH485, or Ethernet/IP
    Rockwell SLC 500 Fixed I/O Processor over DF1, DH+ or DH485
    Rockwell SLC500 over DF1, DH+ or DH485