Add an OPC UA Server

Name:

Enter a unique name for the

OPC

UA Server. The server name displays in the

FactoryTalk

application tree and is included in the full tag path for all tags provided by the server.

(optional)

Description:

Enter a description for the

OPC

UA Server.

Endpoint URL

:

Enter the full network path or select browse to select the

OPC

UA Server. The path must be in the format

opc.tcp://hostname_or_ip:port/Endpoint/Name

where

hostname_or_ip

,

port

, and

/Endpoint/Name

are replaced with the hostname or IP address, port number, and endpoint name of an

OPC

UA Server and its local discovery service. The firewall on the

OPC

UA Server must allow incoming connections to the selected port for the connection to succeed.

None

- No security policy is enforced. (default)

Basic128RSA15

- This algorithm has been deprecated by the OPC Foundation and is no longer considered secure. It is provided for use with older systems that require encryption but cannot update to the newer policy.

Basic256

- This algorithm has been deprecated by the OPC Foundation and is no longer considered secure. It is provided for use with older systems that require encryption but cannot update to the newer policy.

Basic256SHA256

- Recommended. Appropriate for environments with high security needs.

For

Security Mode

, use either:

None

- No security mode is enforced. (default)

Sign

. Requires the communication between the connector and the server to be signed so that the sender of the data is authenticated. With this setting selected, if the signature is invalid or not present the incoming data is rejected.

SignAndEncrypt

. Requires the communication between the connector and the server to be signed, so that the sender of the data is authenticated, and encrypted, so that it cannot be read by a client without the corresponding key. With this option selected, if the signature is invalid or not present or if the decryption key is not present the incoming data is rejected.

Anonymous

. To use an anonymous connection to the

OPC

UA Server

User name & Password

. Specify the user name and password to use to log onto the

OPC

UA Server.

Operate on entire array at once (all elements)

-default

The entire array will be used each time the connector accesses data from the array.

Use this option to access data from specific array elements. This option improves performance and is recommended for use if supported by the

OPC

UA Server.

If

Operate on entire array at once (all elements)

was selected:

The entire array is read into memory, the elements that were modified are changed, and then the entire array is written back to the

OPC

UA Server. Depending on the update period of the

OPC

UA Server, there is a potential that the data on the

OPC

UA Server changed after it was read. These changes will be overwritten by the previously read data, which could lead to some data inconsistencies.

If

Access subset of array (indexed elements)

was selected:

The array is not read into memory. The client identifies the elements in the array to which it wants to write values and the

OPC

UA Connector writes the values to the server. This method is more efficient because it doesn't require reading and writing of the entire array data. Using this mode is preferred because it only modifies the elements explicitly directed by the client and does not introduce the risk of data inconsistencies.