Implementing OPC UA in a

FactoryTalk Environment
XX • 03 • 2020
Alan Sanders • Consultant Engineer, Remote Support

CONFIDENTIAL
Unauthorized use and disclosure prohibited
Agenda

1 2 3
Connectivity Using Support for OPC
Portfolio FactoryTalk Linx Unified
with Studio 5000 Architecture (UA)

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Connectivity Software
Portfolio
 Enabling The Connected Enterprise

Provides OPC DA access for

third-party software, with
OPC UA CONNECTOR
Highest capacity and Provides connectivity to third- Delivers data from best support for legacy
performance party OPC UA Servers for FactoryTalk® Linx to third- control equipment
Logix data server for Rockwell FactoryTalk® Software party software via
Automation software (delivered with FactoryTalk® OPC DA and UA
(delivered withFactoryTalk® Service Platform) (Formerly FactoryTalk® Gateway)
Service Platform)
(Formerly RSLinx® Enterprise)
Communications service for
asset management of
EtherNet/IP process devices

Provides global namespace Test Client Moves data from one system KEPServer Enterprise
with tag browsing and deliver Monitor a user specified list of data source to another across
of data to FactoryTalk Software FactoryTalk® Live Data Enables FactoryTalk® software
tags from FactoryTalk® Linx,
(delivered with FactoryTalk® (Bundled with FactoryTalk Linx to access data from third-party
OPC UA Connectors or OPC
Service Platform) Gateway Professional) control equipment
DA servers

BootP / DHCP Tool

Provides Ethenet device IP
address provisioning

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Product Evolution

Classic
(Data Table Library API)

Allen Bradley Interchange Classic

(Data Table Library API) (Classic OPC DA Interface)

1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Enterprise
(FactoryTalk Live Data Server) (FactoryTalk Live Data Server)
V6.00 Feb 2018
V6.10 Dec 2018
V6.11 July 2019 (Classic OPC DA Interface) (OPC DA & UA Interface)

V6.20 Q2 CY 2020
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FactoryTalk® Linx Communications Services

Rockwell Automation® design software: Studio FactoryTalk® and third-party visualization and information
5000®, Connected Components Workbench software via FactoryTalk® Services Platform
(CCW), ControlFlash™, CommDTM… and FactoryTalk® Linx Gateway

Device Tag / Data Security

Topology / Network Application Global Data Scalable /
Commissioning access and Redundancy / (authorization,
Device Browsing and Program Model / Tag Distributed Data
(EDS file) and Subscription High Availability encryption and
Discovery Navigation Interface (API) Browsing Servers
Diagnostics Service auditing)

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Using FactoryTalk Linx with
Studio 5000
Connectivity Software Typical Uses

DESIGN MAINTAIN OPERATE

Browse a network to located

the desired device and View all connected devices Access runtime operational
communications service for and access details, diagnostics data for Visualization and
Rockwell Automation® Software and configuration Information Software
to manage equipment

EXTENDED
CLASSIC
New

New
KEPServer Enterprise

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FactoryTalk® Linx Communication Services
Adoption by Rockwell Automation® software

Overview
• FactoryTalk® Linx V6.00 added network browsing
component and communications services for
Studio 5000 Logix Designer® v31 and ControlFlashPlus
• V6.10 adds Connected Component Workbench (CCW)
v12.0 and FactoryTalk® AssetCentre v9.0
• V6.20 adds Studio 5000 View Designer v7
• Choose which Linx edition for on-line interactions
• Driver configuration integrated in network browser
• Enhanced usability, topology search and auto EDS
Upload

Benefits
• Reduces steps and time required to configure
network drivers
• Streamlines network setup and system navigation

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 Studio5000® Logix Designer

Network Browser Control

Communications Service

Demonstration of FactoryTalk® Linx Network Browser

 Using Logix designer with FactoryTalk® Linx to improve productivity

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Support for OPC Unified
Architecture (UA)
Rockwell Automation and OPC UA

 Founding member
 Contributed technology
 Numerous commercial activities with OPC
 Seat on OPC Foundation board
 Shipping OPC connected products 17+ years
 Actively developing OPC UA products
 Involved with many companion specifications
 Inaugural member of the Field Level Communications effort (new)

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 Third-party OPC®
Example FactoryTalk® Linx™ architecture Client Software

DA

UA
FactoryTalk®
FactoryTalk® FactoryTalk®
Linx™
Software Linx™ Gateway
Data Bridge

DA
FactoryTalk® 3rd Part OPC FactoryTalk®
DA Servers Linx™
Linx™ UA Connector
CIP

UA

UA
Third-party Third-party
OPC OPC
UA Server UA Server

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FactoryTalk® Linx™ OPC UA Connector

Overview FTSP=>v3.00

Live Data Namespace Vis & Info Software • New connector adds OPC UA communications for
SYSTEM TAG BROWSER RUNTIME DATA REQUESTS FactoryTalk® software
• OPC UA data definitions merged into FactoryTalk®
namespace with other controller definitions
• OPC UA TCP data exchange vs OPC DA DCOM
• V6.00 Released Jan 25, 2018 with FTSP v3.00
Linx™ OPC UA Connector
• V6.10 added security, signing and encryption

Benefits
UA TCP

BROWSER DATA DIAGNOSTIC • Permits FactoryTalk® Software to interface with

SERVICE VALUES VALUES
third-party data servers
THIRD-PARTY OPC UA SERVER • More productive system namespace browsing
• UA enhances capacity, stability and security

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Connecting FactoryTalk® Software
External OPC UA Servers

All Software on a FactoryTalk to External OPC Isolated Software

Software Software
Single PC External OPC Server Server on Different PCs

FactoryTalk® Services
Software Software Software Software

OPC UA Connector OPC UA Connector

OPC UA Connector OPC UA Connector OPC UA Connector OPC UA Connector

OPC UA

OPC UA

OPC UA

OPC UA
OPC UA Server OPC UA Server OPC UA Server OPC UA Server
Software Software Software/Hardware Software/Hardware OPC UA OPC UA OPC UA OPC UA
Server Server Server Server

Endpoint Endpoint Endpoint Endpoint

Endpoint Endpoint Endpoint Endpoint
Endpoint Endpoint Endpoint Endpoint

Scalable solution for multiple system configurations Distribute connectors for larger configurations

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 OPC UA Connector

KEPServer Enterprise

Demonstration of FactoryTalk® Linx OPC UA Connector

 Extending the reach of The Connected Enterprise®

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FactoryTalk® Linx™ Gateway OPC UA Support

THIRD-PARTY OPC THIRD-PARTY OPC Overview FTLGW=>v6.00

DA CLIENT UA CLIENT • FactoryTalk® Linx Gateway server data to OPC

UA OR DA clients
DA DCOM UA TCP
• Uses FactoryTalk® Linx high performance,
distributed server capabilities
ENHANCED • Browse service to deliver controller data definitions
to external OPC Clients
Linx™ Gateway • V6.00 with OPC UA released April 2018
(9355-OPDxxxxENE)
• V6.10 added OPC UA security, signing and
encryption
• Old FactoryTalk Gateway activations supported

Linx™ & Live Data Benefits

SYSTEM TAG DATA DIAGNOSTIC • Scalable from single station to multi-server
BROWSER VALUES VALUES
systems
• Provides third-party software access to Allen
Bradley® controllers and equipment

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 Serving Data to External OPC Clients
FactoryTalk® Linx Gateway

All Software on External OPC Isolated Linx Isolated Software Distribute and redundant Solution for
a Single PC Client Data Server on Different PCs larger configurations

OPC Client OPC Client OPC Client OPC Client OPC Client OPC Client OPC Client
Software Software Software Software Software Software Software

FactoryTalk® Services

Basic or Standard
Distributed or Professional
Scalable solution for multiple system configurations

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FactoryTalk® Linx OPC UA Connector
Redundant Connector Plan
FTSP=>v6.20
Overview
• With V6.20, the FactoryTalk® Linx OPC UA Connector
Software added an option for redundant operation
• Second workstation for UA connector operation
• Warm standby operation (similar to FactoryTalk® Linx)
• Tag requests simultaneously made to both
• Only active server delivers data
• FactoryTalk® Directory notifies standby to go active
• Minimize secondary activation time
• Ability to force switchover (GUI or @tag)
Primary Secondary
OPC UA Connector • Option to switch back to primary when its active
• Access status @diagnostic,S1/S2 for both servers
• Target release early 2020
Benefits
• Permits connectivity to OPC UA servers in systems
requiring high availability
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 OPC Foundation
Sample Client

Demonstration of FactoryTalk® Linx Gateway

 Extending the reach of The Connected Enterprise

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