Getting
More from
OPC A&E
Easily access OPC A&E from multiple network sources, or
convert it to OPC DA, UA and other protocols using DataHub®
middleware.
OPC Alarms and Events (OPC A&E) is a data communications protocol for conveying
W H I T E P A P E R information about process alarms and events. A&E data can be used to notify
operators and management of system problems and convey sequences of events
to optimize operations. Such information is invaluable for scheduling maintenance
and predicting equipment failure. However, A&E data is often hidden away on the
plant floor, in multiple locations, making it hard to access from an IT department or
central office where it could provide valuable insights for corporate management.
To get the most out of OPC A&E, you need secure, redundancy, and conversion of the OPC A&E protocol itself
convenient and reliable access to the data. This is more for logging to a database and other purposes.
challenging than you might think, because unlike OPC For example, the recently-completed 1850-kilometer
DA, there are not many tools available for networking or Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) in Turkey
integrating OPC A&E. DataHub middleware stands out uses DataHub middleware to support highly redundant,
as one of the few widely-used and field-tested OPC A&E secure communications of OPC A&E data. This case study
integration solutions, offering networking, aggregation, describes how every aspect of operation is successfully
coordinated between remote stations and central control.
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Networking
OPC A&E is a COM-based technology, developed in the increasingly require, and it is notoriously difficult to
1990s, that relies on DCOM (Distributed COM) for configure. To make matters worse, there are very few
networking. Although it is now widely used, DCOM was diagnostic tools available for debugging A&E DCOM
never designed for real-time industrial applications. It is problems, so trouble-shooting becomes an arduous task.
not as robust or secure as these mission-critical systems Because of these problems, OPC A&E is often the weak
link when trying to secure an industrial control system.
Networking
OPC A&E A&E DHTP Tunnel A&E OPC A&E
Server DataHub DataHub Client
Server Computer Client Computer
To overcome these limitations, DataHub middleware offers The secure-by-design DataHub architecture allows it to make
A&E tunnelling to connect OPC A&E clients and servers over outbound connections from behind plant firewalls, keeping
a network, avoiding DCOM altogether. This uses the same all inbound firewall ports closed. It supports seamless
proven DHTP technology that the DataHub program uses for connectivity through proxy servers and DMZs, giving it
tunnelling OPC DA and OPC UA. DataHub tunnelling is unique high marks from IT departments responsible for corporate
in that it never blocks OPC or drops the local OPC connection. network security.
It detects network breaks in seconds, and recovers from them The DataHub modular design means that the OPC A&E
smoothly, without breaking the OPC A&E server or client tunneling can be integrated with other DataHub features,
connection. supporting aggregation of A&E servers, redundant A&E
tunnels, and A&E data conversions to OPC DA and UA.
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Protocol Conversion
The value of alarm and event data generated by OPC the data points in a DataHub instance are maintained as a
A&E servers often goes beyond the immediate context single, unified data set. Whenever it receives a change to a
of an A&E client. Many people find it useful to expose data point value, it immediately updates the data set, and
this A&E information to systems that don’t support the then forwards the new value to every application subscribed
A&E protocol at all, such as reporting packages and to that point, in that application’s own protocol. In this way,
SCADA systems. Others might need to convert it to OPC incoming OPC A&E data can be passed to OPC UA or DA
UA Alarms and Conditions (A&C) data. clients. This architecture also provides the ability to write
A&E data to SQL databases, Excel spreadsheets, custom
Again, the unique DataHub architecture plays an important
programs, and more.
role here, enabling protocol conversion. Internally, all of
Protocol Conversion
Local
OPC DA
Client
OPC DA
OPC UA OPC UA
A&E
DataHub DataHub Client
OPC A&E
Client Computer
Server
Server Computer
Aggregation
Seeing the big picture and locating the weak points and A DataHub instance connects to any number of OPC A&E
potential trouble spots in a system often requires pulling servers, and collects their current alarm and event data.
together alarm and event data from multiple sources. As All of this data can then be accessed by one or more local
systems grow in complexity, and as demand grows for more A&E clients, or tunnelled across the network to any number
remote monitoring of alarms and events, it can help to of remote A&E clients. Whenever any client acknowledges
simplify incoming OPC A&E data streams by consolidating an alarm, the server retransmits that to all connected
them. Aggregating A&E data also helps reduce network clients. In this way, you can have multiple OPC A&E servers
traffic and free up bandwidth on busy systems. communicating bidirectionally with multiple A&E clients.
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GETTING MORE FROM OPC A&E | WHITE PAPER
Aggregation
OPC A&E
A&E OPC A&E
A&E
DataHub Client
DHTP Tunnel
OPC A&E A&E
DHTP Tunnel
A&E
DataHub
OPC A&E
A&E OPC A&E
Servers DataHub Client
Server Computer Client Computers
Redundancy
System integrators and plant engineers often use redundant Should one of the connections fail, the redundancy broker
data paths to ensure the effectiveness of OPC A&E. After all, immediately switches over to the other tunnel connection
if an alarm message doesn’t reach its destination, it’s useless. and the client continues to operate with the current data.
Since networks are never 100% reliable, adding redundancy The DataHub Redundancy feature lets it act as a redundancy
for A&E connections significantly improves the chances of broker. It channels the incoming data from the two tunnels
alarms being received and acted upon. into two identical input data domains. One of those
Implementing OPC A&E redundancy typically means domains is used to feed a third (output) domain for the
configuring two OPC A&E servers to connect to the same client. Switchover logic configured in the DataHub instance
data source and then tunnelling the data from each A&E determines how and when a data stream is considered invalid,
server to a redundancy broker on the client side. The and triggers a switchover to the second, identical data stream.
redundancy broker monitors both tunnel connections and This switchover happens in a matter of milliseconds, which
sends the data to the OPC A&E client (or clients). allows the client to continue uninterrupted.
Redundancy
OPC A&E A&E Redundant Redundancy broker
data
streams
Server DataHub
A&E OPC A&E
Data DataHub Client
Source
OPC A&E A&E
Server DataHub
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GETTING MORE FROM OPC A&E | WHITE PAPER
Data Logging
The DataHub program is often used for logging OPC It can be configured to extract the data from a single
A&E data. It is possible to maintain a permanent record A&E message by assigning each A&E status variable to a
of events in a database, and access that data with your separate data point. Each of these data points can then be
preferred reporting tool. sent via the ODBC protocol to an SQL database, for easy
Rather than simply logging an event as a single block of text, access by analysts and others on the IT team.
a DataHub instance can manipulate the messages.
Data Logging
OPC A&E A&E ODBC
Server DataHub Database
Server Computer Database Computer
With the advent of Industrie 4.0 and the Industrial IoT, About Skkynet
plant engineers and managers are receiving more and
Skkynet is a global leader in real-time middleware products
more requests from management for production data of and services that allow companies to securely acquire,
all kinds. Having proven its worth for on-site, day-to-day monitor, control, visualize, network and consolidate live
operations, OPC A&E is now attracting attention from process data in-plant or in the cloud. DataHub®, Skkynet
analysts and upper management who envision applying it DataHub in Azure, and Embedded Toolkit (ETK) software
in broader, large-scale planning and efficiency initiatives. enable secure, real-time data connectivity for industrial
DataHub middleware can play an important role in turning automation, Industrial IoT, and Industrie 4.0. For more
this vision into reality. All over the world companies are information, visit skkynet.com.
using DataHub software to aggregate OPC A&E data, send Skkynet®, DataHub®, SkkyHub™, WebView™, the Skkynet and DataHub
it across redundant networks, and convert it to OPC DA, UA, logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks used under license
and other protocols. Maybe yours will be next. by the Skkynet group of companies (“Skkynet”). All other trademarks,
service marks, trade names, product names and logos are the property
of their respective owners.
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