Industrial

OPC General, Licensing & Data Integration FAQs

Softing OPC Servers are 32-bit applications that can be used on 64-bit systems in 32-bit mode without any limitations or performance reduction.

Background information from the German Wikipedia entry (translated excerpt):
The advantages of 64-bit CPUs include an easier calculation of large integer values. This offers benefits, for example, for encryption algorithms, graphical calculations (e.g. fixed point arithmetic for computer games), 64-bit file systems, or multimedia formats (MPEG2, MP3).

Another advantage over 32-bit architecture is that 64-bit systems can directly address more than four GB RAM. This is useful for applications with large memory requirements, such as video processing applications and database systems, provided they have been programmed for a 64-bit system. In most other applications – in particular, office applications – there is no subjectively noticeable speed advantage.

OPC Server: 
Softing OPC Servers provide an integrated web server interface where you can access the exact version information of an OPC server. To start the OPC server's web interface, open the context menu of the Tray Application and click “Show Web Pages.” The “Information” area can be accessed by all users
without any user login.

Note:
You can only access the web pages of the OPC server when the server is running!

Some of the tray applications also display the exact version information.

OPC Toolbox: 
In the OPC Toolbox, the exact version information is contained in the “SOVersion.h” file. The version number can also be determined from the version of the “OTB.dll” file. You can find these files in the following directories:

  • "C:\Program Files\Softing\OPCToolkit\V44x\Windows\core\common" and
  • "C:\Program Files\Softing\OPCToolkit\V44x\Windows\bin"

OPC ActiveX Controls: 
You can determine the version number from the file version of “C:\Program Files\Softing\OPCActiveX\bin\soaxcmn32.ocx.”

 

 

 

 

The OPC Foundation provides the binaries needed to run DCOM OPC server and OPC client application as Windows Installer packages. 
It is necessary to install the "OPC Core Components" on each machine where an OPC server or an OPC client is installed. 
The latest version of the OPC Core Components Redistributables can be downloaded from the OPC Foundation web pages.

Yes this is possible. First, create the desired configuration file (.soc) with the OPC Demo Client. You can then access the OPC Demo Client with this configuration by specifying the  parameter load.  SOClient /load filename.soc  This parameter can be pass

Generally the error codes beginning with 0x8 are operating system specific error messages. You can find a short description to such kind of error codes in the Microsoft Visual Studio Error Lookup Tool or in Internet.

The error 0x80070005 (Access denied) indicates a DCOM problem.

The problem often lies in the user context used by COM/DCOM to launch the OPC Server (Microsoft DCOM Identity Setting).  

The Identity setting (dcomcnfg) also plays an important role by a local connection and even with our OPC Tunnel! In order to handle the underlying OPC Server in the OPC Tunnel correctly, the identity should be set to "Interactive User".

This identity setting is applicable only when running in Application Mode and not as “Service”. Please configure the OPC Server/Client as “Application” in the OPC Tray (Running Mode) and change the identity in the DCOM configuration (dcomcnfg).  

In the most cases this DCOM setting is helpful. Otherwise, please configure a user with administrator privileges and password and start the application under this user (on client and server sides).

The DCOM settings are however not part of our scope since the DCOM is a service of the Microsoft Windows operating system. For further information about it please visit the Microsoft Websites.

When an OPC Client reports this DCOM error (0x800706BA) then the OPC Client is unable to connect to an OPC Server or loses an existing connection. The OPC Client doesn’t detect the loss of connection. The OPC Client can’t access data from the OPC Server. The callbacks for data exchange don’t get through from the Server to the Client.

This might have different reasons:

  • The OPC Server is not responding to a DCOM call due to deadlock / crash
  • The OPC Server is not responding to a DCOM call due to a bad DCOM configuration.
  • The Firewall is on
  • The OPC Server is not available due to network interruption.


The problem often lies in the user context under which the Server is running (DCOM Identity Setting). Therefore please configure a user with administrator privileges and password and start the application under this user. In the most cases this DCOM setting is helpful.

The DCOM settings are however not part of our scope since the DCOM is a service of the Microsoft Windows operating system. For further information about it please visit the Microsoft Websites.

The following general types of licenses are available:

  • Node locked licenses with a corresponding software key.
  • Portable licenses with a hardware dongle for the USB port.

Softing dataFEED OPC Suite V4.01 enables/disables functionalities based on licensed features. All supported features (available starting with version 4.00) are enabled by the following licenses:

dataFEED OPC Organizer Classic License, enables the following functionalities:

  • OPC Bridge.
  • OPC Server Concentrator
  • OPC Optimizer
  • Interface for the communication with different clients - OPC DA (V1.00, V2.05 and V3.00) and XML-DA
  • Interface for the communication with different server -  OPC DA (V1.00, V2.05 and V3.00) and XML-DA
  • OPC Filtering

Note: The number of possible server connection based on DA/AE client interface is limited to 1 DA (DA, tunnel or XML-DA) and 1 AE sever connection – the first configured connection will be establish and all others will be rejected at the initialization time.

dataFEED OPC Server Extension License, enables the following functionalities:

  • 50 server connections  

dataFEED OPC Server Extension License 100, enables the following functionalities:

  • 100 server connections  

dataFEED OPC Tunnel License, enables the following functionalities:

  •  All features enabled by OPC Organizer Classic license 
  • OPC Tunnel DA server interfaces
  • OPC Tunnel DA client interfaces (the number of tunnel server connections is limited to 1 by Base DA license or to a specific number by Server Extension license)

dataFEED OPC Organizer UA License, enables the following functionalities:

  • All features enabled by OPC Organizer Classic license
  • OPC UA Server interfaces

dataFEED OPC Data Handler License, enables the following functionalities:

  • All features enabled by OPC Organizer Classic license
  • OPC to File add-on
  • OPC to Database add-on
  • Server to Server add-on (Exchange)
  • Client to Client – Storage local items (internal address space)
  • Store and Forward add-on

Note: The maximum number of items used for all running instances/configurations into add-ons is limited to 10.000 collector item.
Note: The number of server connections is limited to 1 by the dataFEED OPC Organizer Classic license. If you want to use the exchange functionality for Server to Server communication, the dataFEED OPC Server Extension license is needed.

dataFEED OPC Server Siemens License, enables the following functionalities:

  • All features enabled by OPC Organizer Classic license
  • Siemens family PLC connections (unlimited number of device connections)

dataFEED OPC Server Rockwell License, enables the following functionalities:

  • All features enabled by OPC Organizer Classic license
  • Rockwell family PLC connections (unlimited number of device connections)

dataFEED OPC Server Mitsubishi License, enables the following functionalities:

  • All features enabled by OPC Organizer Classic license
  • Mitsubishi family PLC connections (unlimited number of device connections)

dataFEED OPC Server Modbus License, enables the following functionalities:

  • All features enabled by OPC Organizer Classic license
  • Modbus family PLC connections (unlimited number of device connections)

dataFEED OPC Server B&R License, enables the following functionalities:

  • All features enabled by OPC Organizer Classic license
  • B&R family PLC connections (unlimited number of device connections)


dataFEED OPC Suite License, enables the following functionalities:

  • All features enabled by OPC Organizer Classic license
  • All features enabled by OPC Organizer UA license
  • All features enabled by OPC Tunnel license
  • All features enabled by OPC Data Handler license
  • All features enabled by MQTT Connector license
  • All features enabled by REST Connector license
  • All features enabled by MindSPhere license
  • All features enabled by OPC Server Siemens license
  • All features enabled by OPC Server Rockwell license
  • All features enabled by OPC Server Modbus license
  • All features enabled by OPC Server B&R license
  • All features enabled by OPC Server Mitsubishi license

Note: The OPC UA Store And Forward Server functionality is not part of the dataFEED OPC Suite license.
Maximum number of server connections allowed by this license is 100.

dataFEED OPC Suite Extended License – Enables all available functionalities from Softing dataFEED OPC Suite product including the OPC UA Store And Forward functionality.
Note: Maximum number of server connections allowed by this license is 100. If more than 100 server connections are needed a Server Extension license with a higher number of allowed server connections must to be activated.

 

Installation and Activation of Licenses
All licenses can be installed and activated with the external Softing License Manager. If there are no licenses installed, Softing dataFEED OPC Suite is executed in a time/function limited Demonstration Mode.

Attention: If the actual licenses are changed during the runtime of the local dataFEED OPC Suite application, the local dataFEED OPC Suite application will be stopped and the configurator and the tray application will show the yellow 'Demonstration Mode Expired' icon for the corresponding configuration.

 

Demonstration Mode
If no license is installed on the local computer Softing dataFEED OPC Suite runs for 72 hours in a limited demonstration mode. All dataFEED OPC Suite features are enabled, however the available license items are restricted to the following values:
When the demonstration period ends after 72 hours, the local dataFEED OPC Suite application stops all functionalities. The user is notified by a warning message from the dataFEED OPC Suite tray application, and both the configurator and the tray application show the corresponding yellow icon.

Restarting the local dataFEED OPC Suite application will start a new 72-hours demonstration period.

Note: The demonstration mode is only available if no licenses are installed on the corresponding computer. Installing at least one license key will disable the demonstration mode completely.

Please refer to Licensing with the Licence Manager V4 document to answer your query.

The runtime license enables the full functionality of a product on one computer. You cannot use the same license a second time.

If you like to transfer the runtime license from one PC to the other, then please send us your license key (format: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX) or a copy of your license sheet per e-mail to: [email protected]

The license key can be found on the delivery CD case or a separate license sheet.

The state of license will be reset by Softing.

Please delete the license file (.lic) for the product on your old PC. To do this, navigate to the license directory in the License Manager V4:Configuration -> Settings -> License path… -> Open License DirectoryDelete here the old license file.

After that you can activate your license once again on another computer.

Note:
The hardlock driver blocks the access to the dongle when using Terminal Server or connecting through Remote Desktop! In these cases please use a software license key.

You can download the current Aladdin Hardlock driver from the website here:
https://sentinelcustomer.gemalto.com/sentineldownloads/


See application note: The License Manager fails to detect the hardware dongle (Aladdin Hardlock Key) license. Applications covered by the hardware key license indicate a demo version on startup of the computer.

This FAQ is only relevant if you are using an old blue USB dongle.

Dongle license is working for some time (>90 Minutes, usually some days / weeks). Then, suddenly the message “Software is running in Demo Mode” shows up.

Cause: energy-management of Windows shuts down USB-Ports to save energy.

Solution: 
Control panel -> Device manager -> Universal Serial Bus controllers -> USB-Root-Hub(s). 
In the tab “Power Management” switch off „Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”
Do that with all USB-Hubs.

Furthermore please update to the latest Easy Connect version and/or S7/S5 OPC Server version if any used.

This only happens if you try to assign station parameters (such as name, IP address) to a new or undeleted echochange.
In all probability, you have attempted to assign these parameters via the second network adapter TP2. A correct assignment of the station parameters is technically only possible via the first network adapter TP1.

Use the registry script from the attached ZIP file to unregister the "start DDE server as service" function. After rebooting, you can restart the DDE server's user interface.

With respect to the problem of the server not working as a service, please contact our support team.

The reason is probably that the "Windows Terminal Server" is (also) running on the server operating system.

How to solve the problem:

The INAT software can only be installed by selecting

"Start - Settings - Control Panel - Software - Add New Programs".

When you use Windows Server 2003, it may happen that after the language selection, the installation of an INAT software application is aborted either without an error message or with a Logger error message.
In all probability, the following registry entry is empty in this Windows Server 2003 version:
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MicrosoftWindows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Fonts"
Entering the correct value (C:\Windows\Fonts) is not successful. 

How to solve the problem: 
Install the INAT software by selecting
- Start 
- Control Panel 
- Software 
- Add New Programs

 

dataFEED Secure Integration Server

Secure and Flexible OPC UA-based Solution for IT/OT Integration with the full range of OPC UA security features
 

 

TCP/IP-H1 OPC Server

All-in-one OPC Server With Maximum Protocol Scope Via TCP/IP and H1 (Included in Former INAT Multi-Protocol OPC Server)

x

Softing Industrial Support

USA, Canada, Mexico
(865) 251-5244
(Knoxville, TN)
E-mail Request  
Callback

«