OPC Servers

An OPC Server is an application that communicates with one or more Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) to exchange data with OPC clients. OPC Server applications are hosted on a Windows PC or Server. However, modern PLCs include a built-in OPC Server embedded, eliminating the requirement to host the software separately.

Regardless of whether the OPC Server is hosted externally or embedded within the PLC, you must configure the OPC Server separately for each OPC Client to collect data.

The OPC Server is defined with an endpoint that specifies where the OPC Client must connect, using this format:

opc.tcp://[hostname]:[port]

The OPC Server also provides security configuration options that control the level of security applied communications between OPC Client and OPC Server. These settings can be required when the OPC Server is configured to work only at a specific level of security, or when testing communication with a lower level of security initially.