Does Ignition Edge IIoT support OPC UA for connecting to OPC UA server

Ignition
1

I want to collect data from an OPC UA server residing inside a legacy system and feed it to Ignition's OPC UA server which could be on same premise or at remote location or even cloud edition of Ignition.

I am thinking of using Ignition Edge to connect to the Legacy OPC UA server and collect the required data using OPC UA client inside the Ignition Edge device. Then using MQTT I want to publish the data in spark plug format to the remote Ignition server. It is possible?

Is it possible to use EAM module inside Ignition Edge device in stead of MQTT to update the data bases in the remote Ignition gateway? There could be multiple Ignition Edge devices in the field. Even if I have to deploy full Ignition instead of Ignition Edge if it enables such a communication I don't mind a regular ignition server with minimum modules that enable this communication.

What's the solution if the Legacy OPC server is a DA not UA?

Any thoughts will be appreciated.

2

Yes. What have you tried?

3

I haven't tried Ignition Edge or EAM at all.

4

The EAM is not relevant here.

The GAN (Gateway Area Network) is what ties Edge to a central standard Ignition install, and through which an Edge instance can make scripted requests to the standard Ignition instance. This would not be possible over a pure MQTT solution.

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However We lose the store and forward feature of MQTT in case of temporary communication loss. Need to explore it further what suits my use case. Thanks.

6

If you need the GAN for other reasons, you can use Edge Sync Services to do the store-and-forward without MQTT.

7

That would serve my purpose and obviate the additional cost of MQTT modules! How does GAN work? Does it need a VPN ? How to configure it in Ignition? Is there a module for it?

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Direct TCP connections between gateways. Initiated from either end, as desired.

Technically, no. Practically, yes, unless you've gone to the effort to setup up publicly-accessible HTTPS on your standard Ignition gateway (including on the extra GAN SSL port).

Base platform.

You do need the tag historian module in the central server to receive data from Edge Sync Services.

9

Makes sense. Thanks.

Another question if the legacy system is OPC DA server based on windows then how to access it from Ignition Edge or standard Ignition.

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I don't do OPC DA, because I generally do not do Windows. Someone else will have to chime in. (Ignition installed in Windows should be able to use the OPC COM module.)

11

Yes you are right. Hope Ignition Edge Windows version is available with option for DA module as well a UA as in standard version! (though I am not sure right now if Legacy system is DA based or UA based)

12

I've been apart of a system reading data from a DCS that's was only available via DA. Client installed Edge on a DCS node that had the OPC-DA server on it and things worked flawlessly. Over the GAN data was delivered up to the plant gateway.

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13

I may have a similar situation. I am waiting for the config details of the existing Legacy system. I think there are plenty of DA servers still in use in the industry for whatever reason.

14

OPC-DA was the standard for years. Many DCS companies view OPC comms as a rare occurrence and take the stance if it's isn't broke don't fix it.

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15

Does Ignition edge IIOT support OPC DA now?

16

I would assume that it can connect to OPC-DA servers... see the manual here: OPC COM | Ignition User Manual on how to set it up. I don't see anything in the Edge docs that would not allow this to occur.

17

It is available at extra cost.

18

Hope it supports OPC DA on DCOM not just COM.
Hope HDA is also supported.

19

Your best bet is to get ahold of your Sales engineer and have them help you craft this solution. OPC DA isn't the cleanest thing to use.

20

You'll probably have to ask your sales contact. It is $475 for standard installs, but may be less for Edge.

Presumably:

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