# Read Ignition tags from PLC **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Created:** [November 14, 2022, 2:55pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/read-ignition-tags-from-plc/66472 "2022-11-14T14:55:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nathan\_Higgins1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@Nathan\_Higgins1](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Nathan_Higgins1)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 2:55pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/read-ignition-tags-from-plc/66472/1 "2022-11-14T14:55:37Z")
How do I read Ignition tags from an external device? I have a HMI that needs to read tags out of my ignition project ---
**Author:** ![kcollins](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kcollins/32/19646_2.png) [@kcollins](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kcollins)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/read-ignition-tags-from-plc/66472/2 "2022-11-14T15:16:41Z")
You can connect OPC-UA clients to Ignition's OPC-UA server by adjusting the bind address (default is `localhost`). You can enable "Expose Tag Providers" in the [OPC-UA Server Settings](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC81/Ignition%27s+OPC+UA+Server) to make Ignition tag providers visible via the OPC-UA interface. Keep in mind, however, that tag security settings are **not** enforced on the _Devices_ folder within the Ignition OPC-UA server which will be accessible in addition to the tag providers themselves. If you've got devices configured on this gateway, clients will be able to read/write to device tags directly in the OPC-UA server. ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/read-ignition-tags-from-plc/66472/3 "2022-11-14T15:18:55Z")
There are a couple options: - Enable the Ignition OPC Server's Expose Tags feature. This is a global setting, and requires you to set tag security everywhere you _don't_ want something exposed. - Run an OPC driver that acts as a protocol server. I happen to have modules that offer two choices: [Logix-style EtherNet/IP](https://inductiveautomation.com/moduleshowcase/module/automation-professionals-llc-ethernetip-class-1-communications) and [Modbus](https://inductiveautomation.com/moduleshowcase/module/automation-professionals-llc-advanced-modbus). In these cases, you explicitly connect tags to OPC items in these servers, and the HMI can use that protocol to read/write those values. { /shameless plug } ---
**Author:** ![Nathan\_Higgins1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@Nathan\_Higgins1](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Nathan_Higgins1)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/read-ignition-tags-from-plc/66472/4 "2022-11-14T17:41:00Z")
I'm pretty new to Ignition, what would I set the bind address to? ---
**Author:** ![kcollins](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kcollins/32/19646_2.png) [@kcollins](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kcollins)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/read-ignition-tags-from-plc/66472/5 "2022-11-14T18:04:03Z")
With the default of `localhost`, Ignition itself is allowed to make a loopback connection to the OPC-UA server. If you were to set it to `0.0.0.0`, this would enable connections from all network interfaces (versus just the loopback adapter). Also note that making changes to OPC-UA Server configuration requires you to restart the OPC-UA module--I mention this because it is one area that is somewhat different than other typical settings that are immediately recognized upon _Save_. ---
**Author:** ![Nathan\_Higgins1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@Nathan\_Higgins1](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Nathan_Higgins1)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/read-ignition-tags-from-plc/66472/6 "2022-11-14T18:12:11Z")
would I leave the local host in there and add 0.0.0.0 after a comma ? ---
**Author:** ![kcollins](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kcollins/32/19646_2.png) [@kcollins](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kcollins)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/read-ignition-tags-from-plc/66472/7 "2022-11-14T18:24:01Z")
You'd just replace `localhost` with `0.0.0.0` to bind to all network interfaces instead of just the loopback adapter. ---
**Author:** ![Nathan\_Higgins1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@Nathan\_Higgins1](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Nathan_Higgins1)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 7:19pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/read-ignition-tags-from-plc/66472/8 "2022-11-14T19:19:05Z")
I will give that a try, thanks