OPC server: Matrikon introduces new design for Allen-Bradley PLCs

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Users of Allen-Bradley PLCs and DCSs can extend the connectivity of those platforms using OPC and the new MatrikonOPC server . This device is an industrial-strength OPC server providing communication with A-B’s most common protocols:

• Allen-Bradley Data Highway Plus (DH+);

• Allen-Bradley DF1 (DF1);

• Allen-Bradley Data Highway 485 (DH485); and,

• Ethernet/IP.

The server connects to devices via serial connections, single-port Allen-Bradley 1784- PKTX PCI cards, and Ethernet connections.

This new server reportedly includes time-saving features not found in other drivers, including:
Automatic discovery and configuration of devices;

• Competitive system expansion;

• Loading of device configuration files such as .l5k, .pc5, and .slc;

• Automatic configuration of serial connections;

• Automatic generation of tags are for each device; and,

• Support for device-level redundancy through fail-over channels.

—Edited by Peter Welander, process industries editor, PWelander@cfemedia.com , Control Engineering Weekly News