- Open standardization of the addressing using logical names for objects from an automation component or an automation system
- Supports STEP 7 symbols
- Efficient data transfer from a process component to an application for further processing
- One client application can use several servers simultaneously
- Simultaneous execution of more than one client is possible on one OPC server
- The communication protocols can be operated in parallel
- Interfaces
- "Custom Interface“ for high-performance C++/NET applications
- "Automation Interface" for easily created Visual Basic applications (or similar)
- OCX Data Control or .NET Data Control for simple connection to Windows applications that support COM/DCOM
- XML DA interface;
Data access to S7 CPUs is therefore possible over the Internet.
Configuration
The communication parameters are configured using only the tools of the configuration software (configuration console, SIMATIC NCM PC or STEP 7 V5.1 + SP2 and higher)
Comparison of conventional client/server architecture with an OPC architecture