June 28, 2009 - Softing announced V2.1 of its Modbus/TCP OPC Server that has been enhanced to provide maximum data throughput, data security, and to save time and effort during commissioning. The versatile OPC Server V2.1 has the capability to run simultaneously as a Modbus Client and Modbus Server and facilitates an uncomplicated access to Modbus input and output registers as well as to coils. Softing’s Modbus/TCP OPC Server is a dedicated and lean application that does not bear the common disadvantages of multi-driver/multi-purpose OPC Servers.As an additional benefit, every Modbus/TCP OPC Server includes
an OPC ActiveX client control with examples on how to create small HMI applications using Excel, Internet Explorer, or Visual Basic,
a server-side OPC Tunnel (part of Softing's Easy Connect Suite), and
support for Modbus/TCP to serial RTU/ASCII GatewaysThere are five significant characteristics that identify any outstanding OPC Server.
High-Performance: Softing’s Modbus/TCP OPC Server benefits from Softing’s unique and proprietary algorithm to optimize the data throughput between the OPC Server and the Modbus/TCP devices by automatically re-combining Modbus/TCP Read and Write Requests for optimal performance. This feature renders Softing’s OPC Server as the best-in-class product in the data throughput category.
Robustness: For each Modbus connection, Softing’s OPC Server automatically generates an OPC-System-Item called “Connected.” This unique OPC item holds information about the state of connection to a specific Modbus device and is essential in developing robust applications.
Ease-of-use: The professional and intuitive user interface is designed to speed-up the commissioning phase. Optionally, the OPC configuration offers a feature to import configuration information directly from Excel. The configurator encourages the use of tag names (symbolic names) to clearly and user-friendly associate OPC items with process values.Furthermore, the included OPC configurator includes features to shorten the commissioning-time by
offering a test feature to immediately check a new Modbus-connection with one click of the mouse
starting the included Softing OPC test client any time during the commissioning phase to test the current configuration.
Data Security: The OPC Server V2.1 includes an optional and configurable user authentication service. This feature helps to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access by requiring a username and password if a connection request is received from a remote computer.
Integrated Diagnostics: The OPC Server includes an integrated web server that is capable of displaying within any standard web browser*OPC diagnostic information *process data *maintenance information. 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. 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.
