OpcDbGateway 5.03.0.3

Overview

OpcDbGateway is a package that can be used to create a kind of central control tower for various devices and data sources that can be streamed into the software.

The software is mainly used in industrial locations like waste water processing plants, manufacturing sites, power stations and other businesses that need to keep a close eye on many different readings and data inputs from a central location.

Data can be pulled in from different office applications, machinery and databases, then integrated together. Floor plans can be included using ERP and MES systems.

Skip all the custom programming which needs to updated each time a plant changes to a new equipment, systems and code base. There are in-built software wizards that can help to integrate new systems. Historical trends can be recorded for different types of equipment being monitored. Address spaces can be imported from OPC servers. Visualization is also possible using development tools like Microsoft Visual Studio.

There is a soft controller to manage data flows and tasks. An OPC server processes the data via OPC open-source data format, various web-based services or via the GUI. An OPC client can also be used to communicate directly with external OPC servers elsewhere.

Parallel tasks can be run for collecting and processing data. Databases can be used via SQL commands to pull data periodically, analyze the results, create reports, log files or alarm warnings.

Installation

The software required 46.0 MB of available space to complete the setup package. The installation completed without any difficulties.

There are additional options during the installation to install the program runtime as a service and whether to install a DDE client.

There was no adware, toolbars, malware or spyware included with the setup program.

OpcDbGateway requires Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, or Windows Server 2003.

Interface

The interface includes an extensive menu system and a few mini toolbar buttons.

The left pane shows the External OPC servers, Sync Controller, Process Databases, Internal OPC Server, and Alarm Handling sections.

Detailed readouts can be seen in the right pane and at the bottom is a a Checker, Log Viewer or Find feature via a navigational link.

Pros

• Integrated control system for taking data inflows from a variety of sources including applications, OPC servers, and SQL databases
• Visualization tool SAEAUT OPC WebView included
• OPC DA client included for communicate with external OPC servers
• OPC server included to process data over OPC DA, AE, OPC UA binary and OPC UA, OPC XML DA web services for external applications
• Soft controller can manage data flows using custom DLLs and task management

Cons

• Advanced tool that needs specialists to set it up and run it

Alternatives

KempServerEx can provide the link between OPC devices and applications and this OPC server.

Conclusion

OpcDbGateway is an a useful industrial-based tool that can be used as a control center for OPC machinery which can supply data flow to an application.