4 new drivers: 24 enhanced drivers, components via OPC

Portland, ME—Kepware Technologies has released KepServerEx, which includes four new communications drivers to deliver support for WeatherBug for Automation, Fisher ROC, and Fisher ROC Plus protocols, and a memory-based driver for simulations.

By Control Engineering Staff October 15, 2007

Portland, ME

Kepware Technologies

has released KepServerEx, which includes four new communications drivers to deliver support for WeatherBug for Automation, Fisher ROC, and Fisher ROC Plus protocols, and a memory-based driver for simulations.This latest generation of Kepware’s OPC server technology permits users to quickly set up communications from equipment to control systems through a range of available plug-in device drivers and components. In addition to the drivers, the release includes enhancements to the KepServerEx server core, the free OPC Quick Client, the ODBC DataLogger component, and 24 existing driver protocols.“This release is a perfect example of the value Kepware represents to its partners,” said Tony Paine, vice president of engineering for Kepware.According to Jim Anderson, director of new business development at WeatherBug,l applications involving our weather data.” Kepware’s new WeatherBug for Automation driver provides real-time access to live weather data from the national network of WeatherBug Tracking Stations, forecasts and weather alerts.ss 103104, FloBoss 407, and FloBoss 500 Series, ROCPAC & FlashPAC of the ROC 300 Series, and RegFlo.  The ROC Plus protocol driver is intended for use with ROC809 and ROC827 devices.  The memory-based driver combines with Kepware’s existing advanced simulator driver to offer a new simulation suite to share, move, contain, and distribute data in automation applications.Other enhancements to existing protocols include Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, Allen-Bradley DF1, Allen-Bradley Ethernet, BACnet, DNP Ethernet and Serial, GE Fanuc Ethernet, GE Fanuc SNP and SNPX, Honeywell UDC Ethernet and Serial, Modbus ASCII Serial, Modbus Ethernet, Modbus Serial, Modbus Unsolicited Serial, Omron Host Link, Omron Process Suite, SattBus Ethernet and Serial, TIWay Host Adapter, Triconex, UCON, Yokogawa Controller Serial, and Yokogawa DXP. ARC Advisory Group research director Craig Resnick said, “Manufacturers have a preference to procure single source solutions that deliver the protocols they need to meet their communications and interoperability needs. While OPC may be a common denominator between the majority of automation and enterprise solution providers, manufacturers continue to seek server architectures that offer a single point of contact for all their protocols, which reduces their configuration, training, and troubleshooting costs. Kepware’s KepServerEx architecture appears to meet these criteria of offering their OEMs a single point of contact for all Kepware protocols.”

In related news, see:
Kepware delivers WeatherBug for automation

Control Engineering News Desk
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