29PLC Connections
Echochange - Manual / PLC Connections
29
5.8 OPCpipe – General Information
OPCpipe is a tunnel protocol that tunnels the data exchanged in an OPC communication between a
client and a server.
OPCpipe comprises two parts:
OPCpipe server: Runs on the same computer as the OPC server or on the echo device.
OPCpipe client: Runs on the same computer as the OPC client.
The OPCpipe client receives the request from the OPC client and converts the OPC communication
to a “normal” TCP/IP communication. The data can thus be transmitted in a tunnel to the destination
computer or echo device via the network by using a standard TCP/IP connection. There, the OPCpipe
server receives the data, “decrypts” it by converting it back to OPC communication and forwards the
data to the OPC server or the protocol logic of the echo device. The server or echo device performs
the requested action and sends the data back to the OPC client. The tunnel mechanism works the
same way in both directions.
Establishing an OPCpipe connection
The OPCpipe connection must be configured both on the server side (computer or echo device) and
the client side (computer where the OPC client is running).
For this purpose, the OPC server with OPCpipe functionality must be installed on both sides of the
communication. Usually, the OPCpipe client initiates the active connection. The default port number
is 4444.
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