May 28, 2009 - Softing upgraded its S7/S5 OPC Server. The new version V4.0 effortlessly integrates with the Siemens Step7 programming software by offering a direct import of the tag names (S7 symbols) from the S7 project. This high-performance OPC Server is designed to operate simultaneous communication links to up-to 256 SIMATIC S7 and S5 or compatible controllers. As an additional benefit, the S7/S5 OPC Server includes an OPC ActiveX client control with examples on how to create small HMI applications using Excel, Internet Explorer, or Visual Basic and a server-side OPC Tunnel (part of Softing's award-winning Easy Connect Suite).
Dedication is Key
Typically, automation system designers have a combination of key requirements for OPC related components. These requirements include, but are not limited to ease-of-use, high-performance (high data-throughput), 24x7 reliability, and security. Today, there is no multi-purpose OPC Server solution in the market that is able to fulfill all these key requirements at the same time. In contrast, Softing's dedicated S7/S5 OPC Server is specifically designed to address every aspect of a system designer’s needs. Listed below is a summary of all new and updated features that are included with this release:
Ease-Of-Use
- Tag Names (S7 Symbols) - Import all tag names (symbols) from a S7 project into an alias file that can be edited/optimized to fit the need of the application.
- Commissioning Support – Speed-up commissioning by starting the included OPC test client any time during the commissioning phase to test the current configuration.
- Program change during runtime - Re-configure/Re-program any communication link between the S7/S5 OPC server and an individual PLC without interrupting the data exchange to other controllers.
- Time Synchronization - For each PLC connection, the system time of the OPC server (PC time) can be synchronized with the system time in the PLC.
- test and diagnose the communication link between the OPC Server and a controller
- easily detect and resolve problems with the help of diagnostic notifications that are displayed in clear text
- define a relevant set of indicators to monitor the health of a communication linkSecurityThe integrated (server-side) Softing OPC Tunnel can be configured to demand user authentication from a remote OPC client to prevent unauthorized remote access.
- Ethernet *Communication Processors (CPs) from other manufacturers (e.g.
- PROFIBUS *Softing's PROFIBUS Interface Boards
- USB *Softing's USB to MPI/PPI gatewaySofting's PROFIBUS USB network adapter
- Serial link - with or without a modem About Softing In industrial automation, Softing is a specialist for fieldbus technology and has established itself as a world-leading partner for networking automation systems and control solutions.
There is no need to re-enter any tag names using the cumbersome S7 notation!
High-Performance
The S7/S5 OPC Server employs a unique and proprietary algorithm to optimize the data throughput between the OPC Server and the SIEMENS controllers by automatically re-combining PLC Read and Write Requests for optimal performance.
This feature alone renders Softing’s OPC Server the best-in-class product.
Reliability
The included OPC configurator offers new features that allows control engineer to
Data Access Options
The S7/S5 OPC Server supports data access via
Siemens CP243-1 for S7-200, CP343-1 for S7-300, CP443-1 for S7-400) *Softing's single-channel Ethernet to PROFIBUS gatewaySofting's multiple-channel Ethernet to PROFIBUS gatewaySofting's Ethernet to MPI/PPI gateway *Softing's Ethernet to Simatic S5 Link
Softing provides customers the key technology to connect devices, controls and systems with the leading communication technologies.
In fieldbus technology, Softing is a world-class expert for FOUNDATION fieldbus, PROFIBUS, and CAN/CANopen/DeviceNet.
The company’s wide range of expertise includes solutions for OPC, FDT, and Real-Time-Ethernet protocols such as, PROFINET IO, EtherNet/IP, or Modbus/TCP.
Many of the products and services developed by Softing since the company was founded in 1979 have become reference standards throughout the world.
In addition, Softing has established itself as a provider of sophisticated diagnostic tools for fieldbus systems.
