Lookout 6.1 build 27 OPCClient does not launch the Opto 22 OPC SEVER

[23r23]

In the same computer, with the same Lookout 6.1 a few weeks ago, I had communication between Opto 22 OPC Server and Lookout using the OPCClient in Lookout. Settings in OPCClient were for a really fast scanning rate (50 milliseconds) and de deadband was set to zero in order to see all the inputs changes with the best resolution. These I/O units are Opto PAC EB2 brains, and the OPC Server belongs to the suite of PAC 8.0 (I tried also 8.1) of Opto 22. The I/O Configuration and the OPC configuration was done with the same OPTO22 software version.This was a test done in order to see if I can get 20 samples per second from all the I/O's. It did go well, even a little faster than required. It was informed to my bosses, then I had the 'go' for the project I'm working on. That was the main concern of everyone here; the fast communication between Lookout an the Hardware.

The computer runs windows XP SP2, has two ethernet ports; one with dynamic IP address on motherboard (for the company network), and a PCI ethernet cad with a fixed IP address in the range of the IP addresses of the Opto 22 brains dedicated to talk to these I/O units.

I called first to the tech support of OPTO 22. They shown me how to double check and to launch manually the OPC Server, there is a tester software for it. The OPC Server was launched and I saw it in the task manager under processes tab.

When I create the object in Lookout, it does not see the server, neither launches the server. I can see the data members of the OPCClient, but I can not see the variables or tags from the server.

Again, it did work a few weeks before in the same PC, with the same Lookout and the same Opto 22 as a test. Now I need to add the OPCClient to my application and make the corresponding connections, but I can't.

This is becoming a kind of hurry, time is running and the application can not get to work.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[Ryan.S]

Do you mean that when you create OPClient object, you can't see and can't select the Opto 22 OPC Server?

Install Server Explorer. Let's see if Server Explorer can find Opto 22 OPC Server. If it's there, and you can make communication with OPC Server by NI Server Explorer, this is the Lookout's problem.

http://joule.ni.com/nidu/cds/view/p/id/569/lang/en

[23r23]

When the OPC Client object is created, I can select the OPTO22OPCSever.2 in the dropdown list of servers. It is there, and the object can be configured normally. I must see in the object explorer (expanding the OPCClient object) the tags configured in OPTO 22 Server,but they are not there. The Client object only shows its data members. Once Lookout is open with the OPCClient, the task manager/services does not show Opto22OPCSever.exe running, that tells me that Lookout's client does not launch the server and that's why it does not show the tags configured in the server.

I have uninstalled Opto 22 software and re-installed, I called Opto 22 tech support and they shown me a way to launch manually the server, even how to monitor some of the values of its tags. I saw the Opto22OPCServer.exe in the processes list of the task manager, I read values of some tags with the OPC tester, To me, the server side is working fine.

Then, I installed Lookout .During this process there was an error 1922 and a message saying that files mssgl.mdf, mssgl.mdl, and mssgl.ldl are not found, These files must be located in C:\ Program Files\ National Instruments\Lookout 6.1\ Database. During the first installation of Lookout 6.1, I followed the instructions in the README file, where some specific commands must be typed in the run windows and executed to create the database properly. It was done, no errors were displayed during the first installation.

The thing is that this OPCClient/OPCServer DID WORK before. For some reason it does not work NOW.

this computer didn't have any previous version of Lookout installed, there is no possible old database messing here.

Again; the computer runs windows XP SP2, it has a dual core processor.

[23r23]

Installed the server explorer, as you suggested. From the server explorer I can connect to the Opto 22 OPC Server.2, I got the green light. According to what you wrote, there is something wrong with Lookout 6.1 if the server explorer sees the Opto 22 OPC Server and lookout doesn't.

Any other suggestion?????

[blooter]

Did you ever rectify that problem as i am encountering the exact same issues.

Does not launch the opto22 server ,thus no data members visible in the database!!!!!!

any help? 

[Ryan.S]

When you create the OPClient object in Lookout, do you see the Opto22.OpcServer.2? After you create the OPClient object, do you see the OptoOPC.exe running in Task Manager?

I test with Lookout 6.x and Opto22 server on my computer, I don't see the problem.

[blooter]

Hi

I reinstalled loookout 6.1 and the server (Opto22.opc server) and find now server in the client object box and now running now as a process. The file with the items for the server is now visible in the data member area within the database. Server has the appropiate tags.

However a  i obtain a constant invalid item error (syntax error code c0008).in the alrm box It also hangs up lookout which needs the subsequent intervention of the task manager to alleviate the problem!!!I do not seem to get around this .On another computer  i have lookout 3.8 running with the same server which runs fast and with no hitches.!!! 

Any ideas

Thanks!! 

[blooter]

As addendum .Ran the NI server explorer.to check out the items.No problem!

[Rudy Lopez]

I started this request long ago. I have done my research by myself but I have been forced to give a quick solution. MY SOLUTION was to uninstall Lookout 6.1 and ask to the IT guys here to clean Windows from files that Lookout left here and there. Then, I installed Lookout 6.0.2 (I have the disk), and got it licensed with the serial number given for Lookout 6.1. Fortunately for me, I was sceptical about Lookout 6.1 since the beginning, my main programming was done with Lookout 6.0 and I always opened the lks file with higher revisions of Lookout. This way returning from 6.1 to 6.0.2 wasn't painful.

There is something in the database of Lookout 6.1 that does not work well with Windows XP, I have tried with Service Packs 1, 2 and 3. I have seem ghost lines in hyper trends, OPC that does not show the tags after configured, Hyper trend pens that won't work after configured, and so for. If I remember well, Lookout 6.1 was released for Windows Vista from the beginning, my expertice teels me that it is not 100% good for XP.

Another issue found here was that computers using AMD Dual core won't work well with graphics (hyper trends). Intel based computers work much better. CPU processing power is very important.

Good luck.

[Ryan.S]

Where do you get the syntax error, in Opto22 server or Lookout?

When you create the OPClient object, try to select OPC1. By default, it is OPC2. The Lookout 3.8 only supports OPC1. Maybe this is the issue.