Ping OPC Server - KEPServerEX OPC Servers

Overview

Overview:

The Ping driver is part of the iSNMP OPC Server Suite because not all Ethernet network devices are SNMP managed. To help monitor any system from within your HMI, the Ping driver automatically generates OPC tags for each unmanaged device defined. These "heartbeat" and "response time" tags provide a standardized and reliable way to monitor all devices in the Ethernet network.

Ping OPC Server Diagram

Devices

Supported Devices

Any device (IP or Host address) that can communicate via TCP/IP

Building Control Systems
Device Servers
Drives
Gateways
Hubs
HV AC Equipment
PCs and Servers
PLCs & Controllers
Printers
Scanners
Security Systems
Sensors
Switches (Unmanaged)

Not all Ethernet network devices are SNMP managed. To help monitor any system from within your HMI, iSNMP automatically generates OPC tags for each unmanaged device defined. These "heartbeat" and "response time" tags provide a standardized and reliable way to monitor all devices in the Ethernet network.

Features

Specific Driver Features

Specific

Kepware purchased all SNMP-related assets of COI Software in September 2007. Kepware has developed a new iSNMP suite that "plugs-in" to Kepware's award winning OPC server architecture. The new drivers in the suite are, the SNMP driver for Managed devices and the Ping driver for Unmanaged devices. The OPC server which houses these drivers is Kepware's field proven KEPServerEX which supports the widest range of connectivity for OPC, DDE, and Native Interfaces.

The Ping Device Driver is provided for monitoring your network devices via the ICMP protocol (Ping). The Ping driver was designed specifically for use with 32 bit OPC Server products. The Ping driver provides the ability to monitor the Status of a network device, and the time that it takes for the ICMP message to reach its destination and return a response, the RoundTripTime.

All plug-in device drivers including the Ping driver provide communication timeout settings for Connect Timeout, Request Timeout, and an adjustable Retry or Fail After setting.

The Ping driver also supports Device Auto-Demotion for Unmanaged devices. Users can adjust Auto-Demotion parameters to allow drivers to temporarily place a device off-scan in the event that it is not responding. This allows the driver to continue to optimize its communications with other available devices on the same channel as well as notify the client application of the event.

General

Multi-threaded design ensures optimum performance
Full Time On-line operation allows on the fly changes
Channel Diagnostics with protocol display
OPC Diagnostic feature provides a real-time and historical view of OPC events that occur between any OPC client and the server
Additional System Tags provided for monitoring and diagnostics
Free OPC Test Client provided
Modem support included on all Serial port drivers
CSV file import and export of Server tags for easy configuration on large projects
Auto Demotion of Devices
Supports running as a Windows service
Supports direct scaling of device data which allows raw device data to be converted to engineering units for OPC client applications
Automatically backup project file on save
Includes a built-in User Manager that allows complete control over what types of functionality each individual user can access
Allows the user to specifically select a NIC card for use with any Ethernet driver or serial driver running in Ethernet Encapsulation mode
Supports up to 16 concurrent serial ports and PC card configurations

Client

OPC Client Support

OPC DA 1.0
OPC DA 2.05a
OPC DA 3.0

DDE Client Support

DDE CF-Text
NetDDE
AdvancedDDE
FastDDE for Wonderware’s Intouch

3rd Party Client Support

NIO for GE Fanuc’s iFIX
SuiteLink for Wonderware’s Intouch

Required

Required Software and Hardware

Supported Operating Systems

Windows 2000 (SP4 or greater) (32 bit and 64 bit)
Windows Server 2003 (SP2 or greater) (32 bit and 64 bit)
Windows XP (SP2 or greater)
Windows Vista Business/Ultimate (32 bit and 64 bit)
Windows Server 2008 (32 bit and 64 bit)

PC Hardware

Minimum

400 Mhz Pentium CPU
128 Megs of RAM
100 Megs of Free Hard Drive Space

Recommended

600 Mhz Pentium CPU
512 Megs of RAM
100 Megs of Free Hard Drive Space

Hardware Requirements

For Device and Hardware Requirements see the Devices tab.
Hardware Accessories

Protocol

Communication Protocol

Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)

The Ping driver leverages the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) to determine whether a defined IP or host address is reachable in the IP control network. Use the Ping driver when you need to incorporate device availability status into your automation applications when target devices are not SNMP managed.

VB

Visual Basic

KEPServerEX Visual Basic OPC Client
Complex and Simple Visual Basic OPC Client Examples
Using Modems and Visual Basic with KEPServerEX.
Download the Modem and VB Example with Source Code
Knowledge Base

Help

Help/Links

Need to upgrade your legacy version of iSNMP?

Please check the following links for technical instructions on upgrading legacy (COI) projects to the new iSNMP suite based in Kepware OPC technology.

For the cost of upgrading please contact the Kepware sales team or a local authorized reseller.

Revisions

Ping Driver OPC Driver Revisions

Driver updates below coincide with Server Release V4.280.435.0 (04/30/08)

Ping Driver (V4.0.9.0)

- New Driver (Suited with SNMP in the iSNMP Suite)

Ping OPC Driver