Reliability where it matters
How it works…
CX-Server OPC has all the functionality needed to switch
automatically within a system of redundant PLCs and
networks, allowing software to see the configuration as
a single PLC. This makes it ideal for applications where
in-built redundancy protects against malfunction or damage.
This redundancy is further enhanced by PLC function blocks
that enable two PLCs to decide which is active and which
is on standby – with no intervention from the user. A sample
function-block included in CX-Server OPC can be added to
a PLC program to deliver the redundancy feature. Each PLC
has two network connections which are tried in turn before
fail-over happens.
CX-Server OPC automatically switches communications without data
loss, making it ideal for applications requiring redundancy, such as the
marine industry.
OPC is a standard published by the OPC Foundation. It enables
suppliers of industrial-control hardware to produce drivers (called
OPC Servers) and visualization software vendors such as SCADA
to produce applications (called OPC Clients) that use a standard
methodology for data exchange. In turn, this allows hardware and
software from different vendors to be used together.
For more information on OPC, see the OPC Foundation website at
www.opcfoundation.org.
About OPC