OPC Expert

About OPC Expert^®

Current Release: Version 8.1

OPC Expert is a software application enabling automation personnel to easily view and manipulate OPC information. OPC Expert's powerful diagnostic capabilities, and intuitive user interface, make OPC Expert a unique tool.

OPC Expert is aimed at automation personnel with little to no OPC experience. It automatically diagnoses communication problems and provides actionable suggestions in clear and concise messages. It also ensures communication reliability by automatically changing communication tactics when new network barriers appear. With OPC Expert you have the world's most knowledgeable OPC expert at your side ready to provide helpful advice.

View OPC Expert tutorial videos:
Getting started
Trending
Tunneling
Redundancy
Alarms and Events
Monitor OPC connections
Bridging (connecting OPC servers)
Connecting to Microsoft Excel:
      Export item data to Microsoft Excel
      Transfer real-time information to Microsoft Excel
Troubleshooting OPC/DCOM errors:
      Troubleshooting steps
      0x80040153 - Class not registered
      0x80040154 - Class not registered
      0x800706BA - The RPC server is unavailable

Feature comparison table

Product feature	OPC Expert Free	OPC Expert Pro
Communication diagnosis
Detailed OPC repair instructions
Monitor OPC servers in real-time
Bridge OPC servers
OPC Tunneling
OPC Redundancy
OPC to Microsoft Excel
Check OPC connection health
Send SMS and email alerts
Network performance assessment
Support for OPC Classic (DCOM)
OPC Data Access (OPC DA)
OPC Historical Data Access (OPC HDA)
OPC Alarms and Events (OPC A&E)
Support for OPC .Net (OPC Xi)
Support for OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA)
Register OpcEnum
Port scan	Unlimited	Unlimited
Time limit	4 hours	Unlimited

View: Display OPC information

• Connect to any OPC server: Connect to any OPC server and display only the relevant data in a concise and easy-to-read format.  Includes support for OPC Classic and OPC .Net (OPC Xi).
• Visual OPC connections: Visually connect to OPC servers with an easy point-and-click interface.
• Trend: Trend real-time data from OPC servers on 2D or 3D charts.

Troubleshoot: Communication diagnostics

• Complete communication: Establish OPC communication and setup asynchronous callbacks.
• Immediate feedback: Get immediate feedback on failures, their causes, and recommended repair actions.
• Secure data updates: OPC Expert respects cyber-security measures by ensuring automatic data updates do not require callbacks that could potentially put the network at risk, eliminating potential conflicts with IT policies.

Bridge: Transfer data between OPC servers

• Bridge control systems: OPC Expert can connect multiple control systems and seamlessly transfer real-time data for console replacement or data aggregation (collection).
• Intuitive user interface: Visually drag and drop items from one OPC server to another.
• Unattended operation: OPC Expert can optionally be configured as a Windows service, so it can automatically start after a reboot without requiring a logon.

Tunneling: Connect even when OPC (DCOM) is in the way

• Remote OPC connection: Quick alternative when the usual security configuration does not work.
• Easy configuration: Enter the remote computer name and OPC Expert automates the rest.
• Vendor independent: Works with OPC applications from any vendor.

Monitor: Check OPC server connection health

• OPC server health: Find out when an OPC server fails, the reason for the disconnection, and root cause of the problem.
• Intermittent connections: Diagnose intermittent network failures responsible for OPC communication stop and start behavior.
• Port availability: Alerts when TCP ports are not available due to faults in network appliances (firewalls, switches, routers, etc.).

Watchdog: Send email and SMS (text) messages

• Notification: Automatically send email and text (SMS) messages when a PLC loses data.
• Trigger: Trigger actions based on OPC data quality, connectivity, or stale (freezing / frozen) data.

Network: Traffic performance assessment

• Intermittent connections: Help account for intermittent OPC connection problems by assessing network performance metrics such as timeouts, lost packets, and out-of-order transmissions
• Throughput: Measure effective throughput (speed) and compare with theoretical documented network speed
• Network outages: Discover overlooked network outages and sporadic communication causing OPC failures

Compliant: No installation or registry changes

• No installation required: Simply copy OPC Expert and run it; there are no changes to the registry and no DLLs to install.
• No trace removal: If you are only using OPC Expert for diagnosis, simply delete its folder and all traces of OPC Expert will disappear from the computer (automatic approval from vendors).

Contact

Please direct all feedback and questions to opc.expert@opcti.com.
To download the latest unreleased OPC Expert, click here.
To purchase OPC Expert Pro, click here.

Vendor: Randy Kondor

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OPCTI is the global leader in OPC training for automation professionals, and is the largest OPC training company in the world. OPCTI offers hands-on training workshops in-person and online.

OPCTI is vendor-neutral, meaning that we will teach you how to establish and implement a robust and secure communication infrastructure, no matter what OPC products you use - the training that you receive from OPCTI can be immediately implemented at your workplace. Our progressive training will enable you to increase your efficiency, security, and productivity.

The Certified OPC Professional (COP) designation is only offered by OPCTI. The designation is awarded to those who have successfully completed our training, and who demonstrate proficiency with OPC technology, design architecture, and installations. The COP designation is endorsed by many OPC Foundation member companies.

OPCTI is an active member and a strong supporter of the OPC Foundation. Randy Kondor, President and Chief Instructor at OPCTI currently serves as the Vice President of Education at the OPC Foundation.

Visit our Training Schedule to see where OPCTI is currently offering training workshops, or contact us to find out more about private trainings for you and your team at your site.