Rockwell Automation 1757-PROCESSLINX ProcessLinx OPC Server to Server Software User Manual - Manual (Page 3)

1 Publication 1757-UM002B-EN-P - January 2003
Preface
Introduction This document provides an overview of the ProcessLinx application.
ProcessLinx allows two OPC servers to communicate. Normally a server talks
to a client and visa versa. A server cannot talk to another server because the
interfaces are incompatible. ProcessLinx is specilized software that allows two
servers to communicate.
Overview The OPC (OLE for Process Control) Interface within ProcessLinx acts as an
OPC Client to a ProcessLogix OPC Server as well as to another OPC server.
To interface from ProcessLogix to another server, a ProcessLinx TagMap
configuration must be created. This configuration maps the items from one
system to the other. This is accomplished through the exchange of data with
entities known as tags or OPC items. The OPC items can be logically Grouped
together. ProcessLinx supports both local and remote OPC Servers.
This interface supports bi-directional data flow and supervisory control
between ProcessLogix and other control systems. It enables operators to
control digital and analog control loops implemented within ProcessLogix
controllers from external control system operator consoles. Likewise,
ProcessLogix operator stations may also be used for operator control of digital
and analog control loops implemented in other control system processors.
These capabilities depend on the functionality supported by the external OPC
Server being utilized. ProcessLinx is fully compliant with Versions 2.0 and 1.0a
OPC Data Access Servers.
Functional Description The ProcessLinx interface runs under the Windows NT/Windows 2000
Professional operating system(s). Two modes of operation are associated with
the interface, which are “configure” and “runtime”. In configure mode a user
can change settings and create TagMaps. In runtime mode the interface uses
the currently loaded configuration to communicate with the external OPC
Server(s). ProcessLinx supports the following:
• OPC Server configuration dialog allows user to define the external OPC
Server by browsing and selecting an existing OPC Server.
• Supports redundant ProcessLogix OPC Servers as well as redundant
external OPC servers by recognizing server fail-over mechanisms.
• Simple TagMap definition dialog allows mapping of an external OPC
Server tag to a ProcessLogix OPC Server tag. Tag Map definition will
include attributes such as OPC Item names, description and data source.
Optionally, scaling conversion using translation tables can be defined to
translate values from one system to the other.
• The number of user-defined TagMap definitions is unlimited.