OPC errors after upgrade

[PDR]

I was running a LV 7.1 VI connecting to objects through the OPC server and after upgrading to 8.0 I had errors on all objects reading either "Not executable in RUN mode" or Incorrect frame check SUM (FCS)" when the OPC server would start.  Even after running the LV and LV DSC 8.0.1 patch, mass compiling and converting the .scf file, I still received the error.  Desperate I uninstalled 8.0 / 8.0.1 and ran the VI under the 7.1 version but still receive the same errors when the OPC server starts. Is there other files effected by the DSC upgrade that I can check to make sure I am back to the starting (7.1) version or is this a total wipe and re-install case?

[Lorenz03Tx]

Any application that has OPC support (client or server) will install some common OPC parts. It is possible that the server you are using for some reason can not handle the update to the OPC common components or that for some reason the install of those common parts is not in a "good state".

The OPC Core components can be installed directly of the DSC CD or you can find the latest OPC redistributable at www.opcfoundation.org

If the OPC Server still errors out, then a possible workaround might be to reinstall the server so it can stick down the version it came with. You might also check with the server vendor and see if they have an update to correct this issue.

-Lroenz

[PDR]

Lroenz, thanks for the prompt reply.

I uninstalled the LV DSC Module (7.1) and OPC Server (5.1) but after re-installing I still get the same errors.  I have noticed that under NI Server Explorer that two servers, VariableEngine and VariableEngine.1, still existed.  I don't believe that these were there before and wonder if this is still a carrry over from LV 8.0 install.  Is there a way of removing these servers or a way of getting back to the original LV server list? 

-Paul

[Lorenz03Tx]

PDR,

    That is the left over registration from the Variable Engine (installed with LV 8+). We are looking into a possible issue with the uninstall process not cleaning up those registry entries. However, I can't help but think it is unrelated to your current issue.

    Did you get a chance to try running just the install for the OPC core components? There have been reports that the DSC installer does not always update the OPC common parts, and in the other cases the issue was fixed by doing a manual install/reinstall of the OPC core components.

    Perhaps you could give that a try while I look into getting you some info on how to remove those leftover registry keys from the LV 8+ install.

-Lorenz

[PDR]

Lorenz,

I would like to install core components directly from the DSC CD.  Do you know under which folder in the DSC CD that I can directly install these components from?

[REM1]

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@PDR wrote:

Lorenz,

I would like to install core components directly from the DSC CD.  Do you know under which folder in the DSC CD that I can directly install these components from?

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On the install CD the msi should be in a folder labelled Bin\OPC Update. 

The msi is called OPC Core Components 2.00 Redistributable 2.20.msi

[PDR]

Robert, thanks for the reply.

I have installed the core components from the DSC CD ver 8.0 (I was looking in the 7.1 CD initially) but still have the same results of all objects reading either "Not executable in RUN mode" or "Incorrect frame check SUM (FCS)" when the OPC server starts.

Any ideas on what has changed on the OPC side from the 8.0 install?  I had no problems running in 7.1 initially.  No matter what I try to do even when creating a new .scf file, I always get these errors.

[nickf]

PDR,
 
   Where exacly do you see the errors "Not executable in RUN mode" and "Incorrect frame check SUM (FCS)"?  Do they show up in the alarm area of Industiral Automation OPC Servers window?  If so, this indicates an error with the device or with the serial communications to the device, not OPC.  Which driver are you using?  Check the communications settings for the device and make sure the device is in the correct mode.  Does the user manual for the device you're using reference either of these errors?

  Also, have you tried connecting to the Industrial Automation OPC servers using another OPC client, such as Server Explorer?

  Though DSC 8 does not directly modify any exising DCOM or OPC settings the DSC installer does execute the OPC Foundation core components installer, which installs and updates the OPCEnum component.  Also, DSC 8 does not affect the settings or properties of the Industrial Automation OPC Servers product. 

When using Industrial Automation OPC servers 5.1 with DSC 8.0 you must the following updates:

LabVIEW DSC 8.0.1 Update: http://digital.ni.com/softlib.nsf/websearch/e7e0a9231f42e511862570eb0060e7ff
Industrial Automation OPC Servers Update: http://digital.ni.com/softlib.nsf/websearch/6D13C35CC7DB108B862570EE0052B484

-Nick

[PDR]

Nick, thanks for the reply.

The errors show up in the alarm area of the Industrial Automation OPC Servers window.  I can connect to the server through Server Explorer but do not have any info coming into the tags (all read bad).

I have downloaded both 8.0.1 patches and the OPC update when I was trying to convert my initial .scf file from 7.1.  I tried to define a new variable in LV 8.0 (really 8.0.1) project file but still could not connect.  I am to the point now that I have uninstalled 8.0 and now trying to get things working again like they had been prior to the 8.0, 8.0.1 patch and OPC updates.  I don't quite understand why I cannot revert back to my initial .scf file and under 7.1 connect to the server through the DSC module and read data tags from those objects.  Can the updates to the OPCEnum component from the 8.0 DSC installer be giving me the errors?  I have changed nothing from my initial 7.1 settings.  I had communication to all my devices prior to the 8.0, 8.0.1 install.  Is there a way to get back to my initial OPCEnum component?

[nickf]

PDR,

  Since the errors show up in the Industrial Automation OPC servers window and the DSC tags presumably do show "bad" quality, this means that the OPC connection between the DSC Engine (7.1) and Industrial Automation OPC servers is functioning correctly.  The errors that you described indicate an error with the device or with the serial communications to the device, not OPC.

  Actually, DSC 7.1 is not even aware of OPCEnum.  Instead, DSC 7.1 (and earlier) uses registry browsing to list OPC servers on the local and remote PCs.  OPCEnum is only used by OPC clients to list which OPC servers availabe on a computer.  After that, OPC clients connect to OPC servers using DCOM.  DSC 8 doesn't modify the DCOM settings of any previously installed OPC servers or clients in the installation process.  Besides OPCEnum (used only to list which servers are available on a particular computer), DCOM, and the actual server and client, nothing else is involved in making OPC work.

  Thus, based on the evidence you have presented in this thread, the only determiniation that I can make is that, 1) there is a communications problem between IA OPC servers and the device you're connecting to and, 2) the problem does not involve OPC.  The communications problem is related to either the physical connection between the device and your PC or is related to the communication settings defined in IA OPC Servers for the device you're using.

Regards,
Nick