XiPLUS Server Toolkit

The XiPLUS Server Toolkit has a generic server with an abstract interface to the plug-in DLL with the application specific server functionality.

The generic server can run as a console application, a Windows Service or IIS hosted, in 32-bit or 64-bit mode.

The interface to the custom part is the same as in the Advosol .NET server OPC DA,AE, HDA server toolkits. Application plug-in DLLs can be used with the classic OPC or XiPLUS generic server, without code changes.

The XiPLUS generic server is designed to work with the same plug-in DLL as the Advosol .Net server toolkits for classic OPC:

• DANSrv OPC DA .NET Server Toolkit
• DANsrvAE OPC A&E option for DANSrv
• HDANSrv OPC Historian Server Toolkit

This has the following important advantages:

• Users of the Advosol .NET server toolkits can use their existing server plug-in DLLs with the Xi generic server and get Xi servers without software development effort.
• A decision for either OPC DA or OPC Xi has NOT to be made. Server providers can deliver their servers as DA or Xi servers depending on what the customers request.
• There is no performance tradeoff as in an approach with wrapper servers. The Xi server completely eliminates the troublesome DCOM.

The server developer only has to implement the plug-in .NET assemblies with the server configuration and the 'device' handling. No Xi knowledge is required. Actually the plug-in DLLs can also be used with the Advosol.NET server toolkits for classic (DCOM based) OPC servers. The plug-in interface is easy to implement, high performance and flexible enough for complex servers.

Server Development

Xi servers can be developed with Visual Studio 2005, 2008 or 2010 in C# of VB.NET for either .Net3.5 or 4.0. New server projects can be:

• Created with the XiPLUS template in the Visual Studio New Project wizard. The XiPLUS wizard shows a dialog and lets the user select the functionality of the created code.
• Based on one of the provided sample servers.

Sample Server

Several sample servers are provided as a Visual Studio solution. The servers are kept simple so that they are easy to understand and adapt. Each server is designed to show a particular feature. Users can select one of the sample servers as the base for their project. Missing features can be copied form the other sample servers.

Tools

Xi Config: The XiConfig utility creates and modifies the server configuration with:

• The WCF communication settings
• The server option in the AppSettings section
• Create and import/export certificates for secure communication

HttpHelper: The HttpHelper utility helps in the commissioning of Xi servers with:

• The reservation of Http namespaces for non-IIS hosted Xi servers
• The handling of SSL certificates for https communication

This utility requires Windows Vista or newer.

Xi Server Features

The XiPLUS generic server supports the Data Access, Events and Journal (History) Xi feature set.

Requirements

The Xi client/server communication bases on WCF (Windows Communicaton Foundation) and requires .NET 3.5 or newer with activated WCF. The XI server discovery bases on PNRP, which is default installed in Windows Vista and Windows 7 but needs to be downloaded for XP. PNRP also requires IPV6 being activated.

Vendor: Advosol

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Advosol Inc. is the leading provider of .NET components for the developer of OPC DA, AE, HDA and XML-DA client and server applications. Advosol’s client components are up-to-date with the latest technology. They work in 32-bit and 64-bit systems and are Authenticode signed to ensure quality and to simplify Windows Vista Certification. The server toolkits reduce the OPC server development to a .NET assembly for the ‘device’ access. The OPC system integrator can use our XML DA Gateways and Bridge to eliminate DCOM issues and achieve secure remote access. All Advosol products include extensive documentation and 90 days support.