Overview; Introduction To The Panasonic Fp Opc Server; Opc And Its Underlying Technology; Opc Foundation - Panasonic FP OPC Server User Manual

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Overview

1.1

Introduction to the Panasonic FP OPC Server

The Panasonic FP OPC Server is a 32-bit Windows application with a modern user interface.
It realizes the server end in the standard client/server model and incorporates the OPC DA
standard. It allows you to share information between our proprietary devices (Panasonic FP
Series PLCs) and any other device or application that supports the OPC DA standard.
OPC DA technology succeeds Microsoft's Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) technology in the
demanding industrial environment.
1.2

OPC and its underlying technology

OPC (OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) for Process Control) is the successor of DDE
technology.
According to the OPC Foundation, "OPC is open connectivity in industrial automation and
the enterprise systems that support industry. Interoperability is assured through the creation
and maintenance of open standards specifications. There are currently seven standards
specifications completed or in development ("What is OPC?"; www.opcfoundation.org)".
OPC is based on a series of approved standards and technologies of the consumer
computer world. It was originally based on OLE COM (Component Object Model) and DCOM
(Distributed Component Object Model), which provide the framework. Microsoft even added
OPC standard to the OLE specification. OPC interface applications are built once and used
several times, thus are approved and under constant quality control.
With OPC, data can be exchanged efficiently using a standardized interface, hence vendors
do not have to implement their own communication drivers. Therefore it allows vendors to
reduce implementation costs and save time, thus reducing the project cycle time.
1.2.1

OPC Foundation

The OPC Foundation defines itself as being "dedicated to ensuring interoperability
in automation by creating and maintaining open specifications that standardize the
communication of acquired process data, alarm and event records, historical data, and
batch data to multi-vendor enterprise systems and between production devices. Production
devices include sensors, instruments, PLCs, RTUs, DCSs, HMIs, historians, trending
subsystems, alarm subsystems, and more as used in the process industry, manufacturing,
and in acquiring and transporting oil, gas, and minerals (OPC Foundation; "What is the OPC
Foundation?"; www.opcfoundation.org)".
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