U-CON OPC Server

Product #OPC-UCOND-NA00
$795
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Profile Development
$295 for 4 Hours | Call

The User-CONfigurable (U-CON) driver for KEPServerEX allows you to quickly and easily create your device driver for those Serial and Ethernet devices where there is no off the shelf driver. The U-CON driver’s intuitive interface was designed for the non programmer. All you need is a basic knowledge of protocols, the protocol manual, and the device. OPC and other proprietary client interface technologies are handled within KEPServerEX making client side communications a non issue. The U-CON driver also supports all feature sets available within KEPServerEX. Typical devices U-CON is used for include barcode readers, weigh scales, various sensors, and RTU’s to name a few.

Kepware offers a special program based around our U-CON driver. If you need to have your profile developed we can provide you a list of certified integrators or we can do it for you. We also provide numerous examples that will provide you an excellent starting point and tutorials to help you in your own development. For a list of Certified U-CON developers please search our SI database and look for the U-CON Certified logo. To download an example profile please visit our U-CON Profile Exchange.

Driver Name Manual (PDF)

U-CON OPC Server connected to a variety of different devices

Analyzers	Controllers	Recorders
Balances	Counters	RFID Devices
Bar Code Scanners	Displays	Sensors
Check Weighers	Guages	Weigh Scales

Plug-in Driver Features:

Function Block Support
Solicited and Unsolicited Modes (Master/Slave)
Global, Scratch and Initialization Buffer Support
Event Counter support to automatically keep track of how many times it is executed.
Multi-threaded design ensures optimum performance
Scalable, with support for up to 100 concurrent serial port and network interface card (NIC) configurations
Built-in Ethernet Encapsulation for device/terminal server connections
Error recovery, adjustable timeouts, write optimizations
Robust communication diagnostics system w/ protocol display
Runs as a service under Windows NT/XP/2000/2003
Full Time On-line operation allows on the fly changes
Dialup modem features for serial device connections
Supports direct scaling of device data which allows raw device data to be converted to engineering units for OPC client applications

Available Protocol Transaction Commands:

With each of these transaction commands, U-CON provides a wide range of formatting options allowing data to be sent and received in packed binary, ASCII, ASCII Hex, and simple text formats.

Write Character
Write Device ID
Write String
Write Checksum
Write Tag Data
Transmit Message
Read Message
Test Byte
Test Device ID
Test Checksum
Jump to Step
Update Tag

Protocol Requirements

In order to create a profile you must obtain protocol documentation from the device manufacturer. Many hardware vendors will provide the protocol documentation with the device or will post it as a .pdf on their website. Be sure to have the device model no. and determine whether your device has either a serial or Ethernet option.

The U-CON's transaction editor uses a menu driven interface, which allows the configuration of read & write transactions (data packets) to establish runtime communications with the device. After you create these transactions upload them as Tags in our reliable and field proven OPC/DDE server.

U-CON Support and Profile Development

Kepware will provide basic assistance with your U-CON project and can review the device protocol to determine if a profile can be created. Kepware Developers and U-CON Certified Developers are available for consultation and profile development for a fee. You can review and download submitted profiles at the U-CON Profile Exchange, search our database of System Integrators or contact Kepware Technical Support for assistance. If you are interested in becoming a Certified U-CON Profile Developer please submit this short form for additional information.

Creating Read / Write Transactions

The development of a custom communication profile begins by defining the tags or data that needs to be read from or written to a serial device. After the tags have been defined the next step is to define the transactions needed to communicate with the device. The transaction editor provides a wide range of tools and actions that can be used to build the messages that will be sent to a device. Additional actions allow the responses from the device to be processed and turned into tag data available to your OPC client applications.

Step 1: Defining Tags

The first step is to define the tags required by your OPC application.

Defining tags required by your OPC Client

Defining tags required by your OPC Client

Step 2: Defining the Transactions

The next step is to define the transactions that read or write data from your tags.

Define transactions that read or write data from tags

Define transactions that read or write data from tags

Step 3: Testing your Profile

Finally use the diagnostic view and OPC Quick Client to test your driver profile.

Use Channel diagnostics and OPC Quick Client to test the U-CON profile

Additional Information and Resources:

Related Products:

Drivers "Plug-in" to KEPServerEX

The Driver Name OPC Server is branded version of KEPServerEX, incorporating only two plugin drivers; SNMP and Ping. A "Plug-in" is a software program (.dll) that extends the capabilities of KEPServerEX to fit the communication requirements of a specific device or system. The plug-in driver handles all of the proprietary communications between the device/system and the OPC layer, KEPServerEX. The KEPServerEX core then handles all OPC and Proprietary Client communications between the plug-in driver and the Client application. For a complete list of features and capabilities please visit the KEPServerEX overview page.

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