OPC (Openness, Productivity & Collaboration) is a standardized, open, and vendor-independent interface that is widely used in automation.

A fundamental distinction is made between the classic OPC and its consistent further development OPC UA (Unified Architecture). Smooth migration to the new OPC UA standard is easily possible; this offers further value added such as security. The SIMATIC NET OPC servers offer the two interfaces OPC UA and classic OPC for PROFIBUS.

The following communications interfaces are available over OPC for PROFIBUS:

• DP communication for PROFIBUS DP
• DP-V0 Master Class 1 and Master Class 2
  DP-V1 Master Class 1 and Master Class 2
  PROFIdrive V3 interface for profile server
• FMS communication for PROFIBUS FMS
• S7 communication
• Open communication (SEND/RECEIVE) based on the FDL interface

The OPC server offers:

• Data Access interface 2.05
• Alarm&Event interface 1.1
• OPC XML DA interface 1.0
• Integration of automation products of different manufacturers
• The same, easy-to-use user interface for different components
• Can be accessed from every computer in the LAN
• High-performance data access over the Custom Interface (C++, NET)
• Easy to use with the “Automation Interface“ (VB, NET) or the supplied OCX Data Control or .NET Data Control
• Grouping of variables (items); this way large quantities of data can be processed in a short time