Course Length: 12 hours

Prerequisites:

• Level 1: OPC & DCOM Diagnostics
• Level 2: OPC Security
• Level 3: OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA)

Description:

Networks: Configure DCOM to work across network barriers

• Connect between different Workgroups and Domains
• Transfer data across software and hardware firewalls by restricting DCOM to static TCP ports or using dynamic ports with application exceptions
• Establish standards-based VPN connections to transfer data across a WAN or even the Internet while complying with strict IT security policies

OPC Best Practices: The class covers OPC Best Practices to ensure vendors, integrators, and end-users avoid common pitfalls. These are the unpleasant problems that consistently cause emergency activities such as late-night calls, international travel, and conference calls with C-level personnel.

Project Scope: Learn the differences between Machine, Plant, and SCADA communication. Find out how the number of measurements/controllers, communication bandwidth/reliability, and general project objectives influence the project direction and required tools. The hands-on examples illustrate the impact that subtle scope changes make on the project implementation and deployment.

Regulatory Compliance: Find out how federal, industrial, and plant regulations affect the project deployment with respect to security and tracking. The class covers the impact of regulations from 21 CFR Part 11 in Pharmaceutical operations, to NERC / FERC in Power, to Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), so that plants can ensure they are always in compliance.

Data Transportation: Students find out how their projects could be affected by various data transportation requirements to ensure reliability, availability, and recovery for possible data losses. The hands-on examples illustrate solutions to ensure plants meet their corporate objectives.

Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT): Students learn how to setup effective FATs that help plants discover critical architectural and implementation errors before solutions arrive on site. Students also take home a sample FAT document to help them with their next project. The hands-on examples show problems that vendors typically overlook.

Site Acceptance Testing (SAT): Students cover the unique requirements of effective SATs for their own plants. Students also take home a sample SAT document to help them with their next project. The hands-on examples show problems that integrators typically overlook.

To view a list of companies throughout the world with Certified OPC Professional (COP) designation staff, click here

Objectives:

Upon completion of this training, students will:

• Find out how to specify and utilize OPC properly in projects
• Configure DCOM with static or dynamic ports to work with both software and hardware firewalls
• Setup secure VPN connections to transport OPC over a WAN or even the Internet
• Explore key information to assure correct product specifications
• Learn OPC project implementation and deployment Best Practices
• Discover how project scope affects the usage of OPC components
• Learn the impact of various federal, industrial, and plant regulatory restrictions
• Improve system reliability even before users begin to access data
• Enable projects to provide for end-user requirements without sacrificing security and costs
• Troubleshoot systemic problems that are invisible in product testing but appear in large-scale projects
• Learn how to diagnose intermittent issues that only appear under unique circumstances

What's Included:

OPCTI provides the following during training:

• "Level 4: Advanced OPC Projects" manual
• "Certified OPC Professional Level 4" Certificate (upon successful completion)

Learning Environment:

Students view the live and interactive lecture from the instructor over the web. Students can ask questions and receive answers as the lecture proceeds.

Students also receive online access to 2 computers with which they practice the hands-on portion of the OPC training. These computers are setup with OPC software from various vendors to expose students to a variety of solutions and ensure a vendor-neutral message. OPCTI provides all the necessary software licenses at no additional cost.

Students must supply the following:

• Reliable internet connection
• Telephone connection (if desired)
• Computer (from which to access the online course):
  • Any version of Windows
  • Internet Explorer
  • Remote Desktop Connection
  • Speakers and microphone (if not using telephone)

Note: Students do not need to install any OPC software on their local computers