OPC Training Day in Germany

Deutsche Version

Solve common system connectivity issues using field-tested OPC technology

Reduce integration time by learning to install, configure, and test OPC

Improve system reliability using standards-based technology

Reduce long term ownership costs by building robust systems

Quickly troubleshoot and diagnose Windows security problems

Receive a detailed description of the OPC DA specifications

Develop OPC clients and servers and standard software interface requirements

For engineers, developers and integrators who are integrating new systems, expanding current operations, replacing legacy equipment and looking for ways to improve data communication. Our OPC Training Day provides a practical approach to learn and understand the methods of accessing data through OPC technology.

Unlike other OPC courses that only provide basic lectures, MatrikonOPC provides interactive, hands-on workshops that enable participants to install, configure, and test OPC servers and applications using a variety of OPC specifications including OPC Data Access, Redundancy, and Alarms & Events.

Upon completion of our OPC Training Day, graduates will have the following knowledge and skills:

• Understand the various OPC specifications including Data Access, Historical Data Access and Alarms & Events.
• Configure, and test OPC servers & clients.
• Understand the benefits of OPC and how OPC components can be used to build efficient and flexible systems.
• Troubleshoot and diagnose common networking problems.
• Learn how to optimize an OPC solution to maximize the performance of a system

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The OPC Training Day is held within a classroom environment (max. 12 attendees) where each student will be supplied with their own computer for the duration of the workshop. The workshop will be made up of lectures, PowerPoint presentations, and hands-on exercises. It will be an open and friendly environment that encourages discussion and participation. Students are welcome to discuss current connectivity issues they are faced with and learn from one another.

Module 1: Introduction to OPC: The course begins with an introduction to OPC and explains the fundamental concepts and vision of OPC. Through examples and case studies, participants will understand how OPC compares to traditional or proprietary connectivity methods. Emphasis will be placed on the OPC Data Access (DA), the most common specification. Also discussed is the history of OPC and how it has evolved into the largest connectivity standard used within the process control industry today. An introduction to the various OPC specifications will be presented along with the benefits of OPC.

Module 2: OPC Communication: OPC technology enables easy and reliable data movement from one device or application to another.  DCOM is the number one problem reported when working with OPC applications.  DCOM issues typically occur with the exchange of process data across different domains, through firewalls, WANS, unreliable networks and low bandwidth infrastructures. The factors that impact these environments will be explained and participants will be shown how available OPC technology is used to resolve these issues. A hands-on exercise will configure and demonstrate the transfer of process data across different domains with and without DCOM.

Module 3: OPC Alarms & Events: The OPC Alarms and Events module begins by explaining the differences between alarms and events. OPC A&E types, conditions and sub-conditions, notifications, and states are all covered throughout the presentation. Alarms & Events State Diagrams are used to depict specific scenarios at the end of the module.

Module 4: OPC Client Server Architecture: This module begins with a hands-on exercise of installing and configuring both OPC servers and clients. Students will become familiar with the concept of OPC by working through practical exercises that includes connecting to simulated devices and testing connections. Using an OPC client, students will read, write and configure data points.

Module 5: OPC Redundancy: This module explains how redundancy can be applied to the different levels of the plant network to achieve the highest degree of communication reliability possible. Device, driver, and application level redundancy will be presented and discussed including connection policies, watchdog tags, diagnostics and statistics. Some discussion will include the business and economic impact redundant systems have on a plant.

Module 6: OPC Historical Data Access: This module looks at the intricacies of the OPC HDA (Historical Data Access) specification and how it differs from OPC DA (Data Access). Common OPC client applications such as trenders and spreadsheets will be demonstrated and OPC utilities will be used to transport and migrate historical data from one source to another. The module will conclude with a hands-on exercise that involves installing, configuring and collecting data using an OPC archiving client application.