can NI OPC server connect to fieldpoint cf-1808

[Roger CHAN]

Is NI OPC server is a standalone product from NI allowing OPC client to connect to NI compact fieldpoint?

Can NI OPC server connect to FieldPoint cf-1808 (the one without controller) just like the fieldpoint OPC server thats come with the FieldPoint?

Can NI OPC server be run as a service Windows 2003 and 2008?

[Roger CHAN]

The part number of the NI OPC server that I am referring to is "780012-03"

[StephenB]

My first question would be why would you want to do this. LabVIEW Shared Variable Engine (SVE) is actually an OPC server in its back-end implementation. So if you publish variables to the SVE that are linked to your cFP... then you have an OPC server there. Also, you have your Fieldpoint OPC server already. Is there any specific reason you want to use the NI Opc Server product instead?

Yes the NI OPC Server can be run as a service, I have it doing that right now.

[Roger CHAN]

Hi Stephen,

First of all, thanks for helping to solve my problem.

My ultimate goal is to have a OPC server fulfilling the following requirement

1, it can be run as a windows service. I want it run as a service because service can be restarted by windows if the program crashes. Service can be started automatically after server re-start. Also, service continues to run even windows is logged out. My proposed DAQ system is going to run 7-day x 24-hour, so a Window service is a better choice over exe program.

2, it can connect to fieldpoint IO module on cf-1808 without using the one with controller (cf-2xxxx). If I can get rid of cf-2xxxx, my whole DAQ system setup (talking about 100+ 8-channel compact field point modules) is able to be comprised of cf-1808 only. It will be much simpler, cheaper and easier to manage.

I know OPC server comes with the fieldpoint software CD, I tested it myself, it has no problem communicating with cf-1808. It is easy to setup. The only thing I am worried about is that it can only be run interactively in Windows. Now it is confirmed that NI OPC server can be run as a windows service. If it can connect to cf-1808 just like the fieldpoint OPC server, it is good news to me.

That's why I want to know NI OPC server be able to connect to cf-1808.

Regards,

Roger

[StephenB]

Ah OK. So the main requirement is to run an OPC server that can communicate with the cFP-1808 as a service.

You can turn your current OPC server into a service with Srvany.exe: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/137890

If that is a little confusing there is some good links on google as well: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=197

This will save you the $ of purchasing NI OPC Servers. Which I don't think can communicate with cFP-1808 anyway...

[Roger CHAN]

Hi Stephen,

Really thanks for the information. We will try and see if we can run the fieldpoint OPC server as a windows services.

Roger