OPC Help

[JustinWelch]

I want to be able to have a NI-PXIe 8135 talk to the NI OPC server so I can in turn have GEs iFIX talk to the NI OPC server and us it as the HMI. 

PXIe-8135 <->NI OPC Server <->iFIX

I am running Labview 2017. I bought the HIL and Real-Time Test Software Suite ( https://www.ni.com/en-us/shop/product/hil-and-real-time-test-software-suite.html) and the NI OPC server (http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/en/nid/209059). 

According to https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/labview-opc-ua-toolkit-api-ref/page/opcuavis/opcua_pal.html, "You must activate the LabVIEW Real-Time Module to use the OPC UA VIs on a real-time target" 

I have the LabView Real-Time Module activated. 

Do I actually need the Labview OPC UA Toolkit (https://www.ni.com/en-us/shop/product/labview-opc-ua-toolkit.html) for these VIs? They do not current show up in "C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\LabVIEW 2017\examples\comm". Plus if I right click on the real-time target in Labview and select New -> I/O Server, I do not see OPC as an option (only EPICS).

Or is there a simpler way to connect to iFIX to get the data off of the PXIe?

[Reyquaza · Accepted solution]

Justin,

Short answer: yes.

You have linked to the LabVIEW 2016 Help. From 2013-2016, OPC UA VIs were included in the LabVIEW Real-Time and DSC Modules. in LabVIEW 2017, they were separated into their own OPC UA Toolkit. 

OPC with LabVIEW Software Options
https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z0000019MwxSAE&l=en-US

[JustinWelch]

Thank you for your reply. 

If I am reading about DataSocket correctly though, I should be able to communicate using that? By communicate I mean that I could have an HMI (GE's iFIX) read/write data to the PXIe?

Is there a good guide somewhere that explains how to use that functionality?   

[Reyquaza]

Justin,

Here are a few articles about establishing that connection:

DataSocket Connections for OPC Items
https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z000000P7fWSAS&l=en-US

Connecting LabVIEW to an OPC Server Using Front Panel DataSocket
https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000x2C7CAI&l=en-US

[JustinWelch]

I bought the OPC Toolkit, dowloaded, installed, and activated. 

I would have thought that this meant if I right-clicked on my device, go to NEW>> I/O Server and see OPC Client. All I see is EPICS and Modbus.

If I try to downal the OPC UA Demo project, I get the following error.

Failed to load shared library bi_opcua.*:

niopcua_client)closeClient:C.

Put simply, I want to have my variables in my program read by an OPC Server. Any suggestions on what else I need to do to set it up? 

[Reyquaza]

Justin,

In the LabVIEW OPC UA Toolkit, this is done programmatically. Look through the tutorial below, which has examples on how to do so:

Tutorial: Creating an OPC UA Server and an OPC UA Client
https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/labview-opc-ua-toolkit-api-ref/page/opcuatool/creating_opcua_sv...