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Overview

This page contains information on the OPC UA Server Simulator Configuration and Runtime behavior.

The OPC Simulator can be Started from the DataExplorer User interface, or running its executable directly with the proper command line parameters. 

When running, it will

create an OPC

UA server, populating

the Address Space with simulated data. From the client point of view, the OPC Simulator, will just be found and act as it was any other OPC

UA server.

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Simulator Configuration

The simulator OPC UA Server Simulator is divided in three regions: a TreeView display, Configuration settings for simulation and runtime monitoring, and a Client Connections list.To start up the OPC Server, use the button in the top-right corner (1).

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Note: The OPC Server endpoint URL cannot be changed. Defaults is opc.tcp://127.0.0.1:4840. The OPC Server is configured for the following Security Policies:

• None.

• Basic256Sha256 - Sign&Encrypt.

• Aus128_Sha256_RsaOaep - Sign&Encrypt.

two main regions. Configuration (customize Server settings and DataStructure) and View (DataBrowser and Client Connection List).

Server Configuration

The Server Configuration component enables users to customize server-specific settings.

• Server URL: Read-Only field, indicating the communication endpoint URL for Client-Server interactions. It is composed by the localhost address and Server Port field.

• Server Port: Defines the OPC UA Server port to be used as Server URL.

• Security: Defines which security policies will be enabled in the Server

  • None.

  • Basic256

  • Basic128Rsa15

  • Basic256Sha256

• AutoStart: OPC Server is started automatically (valid for the next time the application is started).

• Start Minimized: Application starts minimized (valid for the next time the application is started).

• Auto Trust Client Certificates: Server will automatically trust incoming connections using security. If False, a popup window will appear, so the user can choose to Trust or Reject the Client certificate

Use the Trust button to allow the Client connection, or Reject to block it.

You can store the OPC Client in the Server’s trusted list, enabling the Save to Trust List CheckBox.

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Data Structure

In this tab, you will be able to configure the Data Structure for the OPC Server address space.

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Where:

• NodeName: Name of the Node (folder) that will be used in the OPC Server Address space. The final name will be a concatenation of the defined NodeName and NumberOfNodes.

• NumberOfNodes: Defines the number of nodes in the server.

• TagName: Name of the Tag (variable) that will be used in the OPC Server Address space. The final name will be a concatenation of the defined TagName and NumberOfTags.

• NumberOfTags: Defines the number of tags in each node.

Use the Apply button to make sure any changes are applied to the Server.

You can not alter any Simulation Settings parameters while the server is running.

Runtime Monitoring

In this tab, you will be able to monitor some properties of your OPC Server variables. The output fields will display information on the variable selected in the TreeView.

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Where:

• NodeId: DataStructure that represents an element of the OPC Server.

• DisplayName: Friendly name defined for element.

• NodeClass: Class of the node. E.g.: Object, Variable.

• DataType: Variable DataType.

• Value: Variable Value.

• Timestamp: Variable Timestamp.

TreeView

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The structure is defined based on a hierarchical structure that is illustrated below.

<MainNodeName> |-- Area1 | |-- Device1 | | |-- Var1 | | |-- ... | | |-- VarN | |-- Device2 | | |-- Var1 | | |-- ... | | |-- VarX |-- Area2 |-- Device1 | |-- Var1 |-- Device2 |-- Var1

To edit the structure, click on the Edit Data Structure and customize your OPC Server structure at the dialog window.

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There are some properties to be defined for Variables:

• Type: Define the Variable DataType. Options are:

  • Double

  • Integer

  • Long

  • Boolean

  • String

• VariationFlag: Flag that indicates if variable value will be simulated every second in Runtime.

• Min: Defines the minimum value for simulated data.

• Max: Defines the maximun value for simulated data.

Data Browser

In this region, you will be able to see the OPC Server Address space in a TreeView structure.

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Client Connections List

In this tab, you can monitor the clients that are/were connected to the OPC Server.

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Where:

• ClientName: Name of the Client’s session.

• Connected At: DateTime the Client connected to the Server.

• Disconnected At: DateTime the Client disconnected from the Server. The Client Connections list is cleared if the OPC Server is stopped.

Command Line Parameters

The OPC Simulator can be executed with custom parameters through the command line. The syntax is as follows:

"..\OPCUA_SimulatorOPCUASimulator.exe" /param1:<param1Value> ... /paramN

The existing parameters are listed below:

• Minimized: Application starts minimized.
• AutoStart: OPC Server is started automatically.
• AutoTrustClientCertificates: Server will automatically trust incoming connections using security. If False, a popup window will appear, so the user can choose to Trust or Reject the Client certificate
• Port: Defines the OPC UA Server port to be used as Server URL.
• ConfigDataSource: Full path for *.xml configuration file with Server Configuration and custom Address spaceDataStructure. More details on the syntax for the *.xml file in section 4.NumberOfNodes
• Path: Number of nodes for OPC Server Address Space. [Default configuration only].NumberOfTags: Number of tags in each node for OPC Server Address space.
  [Default configuration only].Full path of a FrameworX solution directory in which a configuration file can be found

Usage:

"..\OPCUA_Simulator.exe" /Minimized /AutoStart
                         /DataSourceConfig:"C:\Documents\CustomSource.xml"
                         /NumberOfTags: 4
                         /NumberOfNodes: 2

Custom

Configuration (*.xml)

With a custom configuration file, you will be able to define your own OPC Server Configuration and DataStructure. The syntax for the configuration is described below:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
  <MyCustomObjects>
    <Motors>
      <Motor1>
        <Current DataType="Double
<OPCServerConfiguration>
	<SimulatorControl>
		<ServerPort>4840</ServerPort>
		<AutoStart>false</AutoStart>
		<Minimized>false</Minimized>
		<AutoTrustClientCertificates>false</AutoTrustClientCertificates>
		<SecuritySettings>
			<None>true</None>
			<Basic256>false</Basic256>
			<Basic128Rsa15>false</Basic128Rsa15>
			<Basic256Sha256>false</Basic256Sha256>
		</SecuritySettings>
	</SimulatorControl>
	<DataStructure>
		<Node Name="OPCServerObjects">
			<Node Name="Area1">
				<Node Name="Motor1">
					<Variable Name="Current" Type="Double" VariationFlag="true" Min="-20" Max="20" />
					<Variable Name="Voltage"       <Voltage DataType="DoubleType="Double" VariationFlag="true" Min="12" Max="14" />
					<Variable Name="Temperature"       <Temperature DataType="IntegerType="Integer" VariationFlag="true" Min="40" Max="60" />
					<Variable        <Status DataTypeName="Status" Type="Boolean" VariationFlag="true"/>
					<Variable        <LastMessage DataTypeName="LastMessage" Type="String" MaxVariationFlag="10true" />
      </Motor1>
    </Motors>
    <Controllers>
      <Controller1>
        <Kp DataType="Double				</Node>				
				<Node Name="Controller1">
					<Variable Name="Kp" Type="Double" VariationFlag="false" Min="0" Max="50"/>
					<Variable Name="Ki"       <Ki DataType="DoubleType="Double" VariationFlag="false" Min="0" Max="100"/>
					<Variable Name="Setpoint" Type="Double" VariationFlag="false" Min="60" Max="65"/>
				</Node>
			</Node>
			<Node Name="Area2">
				<Node  <Setpoint DataTypeName="Motor1">
					<Variable Name="Current" Type="Double" VariationFlag="true" Min="60-20" Max="6520"/>				
				</Node>
				<Node Name="Controller1">
					<Variable Name="Kp" Type="Double" VariationFlag="false" Min="0" Max="50"/>
				</Controller1>
    Node>
			</Controllers>Node>
  		</MyCustomObjects>Node>	
</configuration>	</DataStructure>
</OPCServerConfiguration>

In this section:

You can customize the Levels and Variables in any way, as long as it follows the correct XML syntax. The Variables are customized with the attributes:

• DataType: Defines the variable type. Options are:

  • Double.

  • Integer.

  • Boolean.

  • Long.

  • String.

• Min: Defines the minimum value for simulated data.

  • If not present, defaults to 0 (zero).

  • If DataType is Boolean, not used.

  • If DataType is String, not used.

• Max: Defines the maximum value for simulated data.

  • If not present, defaults to 100.

  • If DataType is Boolean, not used.

  • If DataType is String, will define the string length to be simulated.