OPC Server

Description

The AlphaCom OPC[1] Server implements the following OPC standards:

• OPC Data Access (OPC DA V2/V3)
• OPC Alarm & Events (OPC AE V1.1)

The Server is running on the Microsoft .NET framework and requires .NET 2.0 or higher, and OPC Core Components to be installed on the PC running the server.

The OPC Server communicates with the AlphaCom over the TCP/IP protocol on the TCP port 61112. This port must be opened in the Filter settings in AlphaWeb. For the server to operate a license has to be supplied to the AlphaCom. In an AlphaNet each exchange must have its own OPC license. When the OPC server initiates contact with the AlphaCom node, the node will report back the number of licensed station the server can handle.

The possible OPC station licenses are:

• 1009649902: OPC interface supporting 80 stations
• 1009649903: OPC interface supporting 138 stations
• 1009649904: OPC interface supporting 225 stations
• 1009649906: OPC interface supporting 400 stations
• 1009649907: OPC interface supporting 552 stations

When the number of licenses station for a node is reached it will stop registering more stations. Tags for the number of stations registered and the number of licensed status can be found in the item tree for each node.

For step by step instructions, see Installation of AlphaCom OPC Server

Server Configuration

The Server is very much self configured, but some parameters needs to be supplied during installation.

The one required parameter for the OPC Server is the IP address of AlphaCom it will be connected to. The following parameters are optional:

In an AlphaNet the Server needs to know for which nodes it shall build the OPC DA item tree from. This node list will also be used to filter which events are reported. If no node list is supplied the server will by default only handle the local node it is directly connected to. If a DA-Client application is set-up with one or more master stations, these should be added to a “Master Station List”. The Client can then use the unique ID from the list to refer to a Master station. For OPC AE all AlphaCom Events for a station can be individual configured. See also AlphaComOPC AE

A seperate ServerConfiguration Tool will be install togheter with the AlphaComOPCServer.

OPC Data Access

The OPC Server will at startup ask the AlphaCom for a list of all Stations with their current status. If AlphaNet nodes are configured, these stations will also be asked for. The Server will build an OPC item tree for these stations. The access path for a specific station will be a node number and directory number. Each station will have multiple items defining different properties of that station.

Station Item Table

These items relates to a AlphaCom station. Root DA Item is node{nn}.station{xxx} where nn is the AlphaNet node number and xxx is a station directory number, i.e node1.station101

Item Name	Data Type	Access	Description
busy	UI	RO	Station Busy state: 0 = Free, 1 = Busy
mailqueue	UI	RO	Station mail queue state: 0 = no mail, 1 = mail queue
linestate	UI	RO	Line State: 0 Board not present 1 SLI board present, no station 2 SLI board present, station with failure 3 Station connected to SLI board 16 IP station configured, not connected 17 IP station connected but not authorized 18 IP station connected and registered OK, auth not required 19 IP station connected and authorized 20 IP station connected but no license available
operational	UI	RO	0 – the station is not operational, 1 – the station is operational
phyno	UI	RO	Station Physical number
text	UI	RO	Station display text, maximum 16 characters
rco**	BSTR	RW	Station RCO bitmap 1: RCO 1, 0 = off, 1 = on 2: RCO 2....
related_to	UI	RO	Related station in connection A digit string representing the directory number of a connected station. Only set if the station is in active connection. Writing a valid directory number to this item will setup a call between the stations. The format of the station reference is the OPC access path of the related station, example: node1.station101 An AlphaCom Station reference format is also accepted for local and global numbers, example: L(1)101 G2000 Writing the string “null” to this item will cancel the call.
alarmmsg	UI	RW*	Set up (or disconnect) an ASVP Alarm message to a single station
signalled	UI	RO	Set to true for signalling to the client that the station needs some kind of attention. An AlphaCom call request sent from this station triggers this state. When the call request is removed this state will be reset.
connect	UI	RW	Used to connect to this station from a pre-configured “Master station”. A list of master stations can be programmed, and referenced to by its unique ID (1-100). Writing a ‘0’ will cancel the active connection.
synchronized	UI	RW	If this variable reads a ‘1’ the station information, and the stations call request queue should be in sync with the AlphaCom. If the event based synchronization is not trusted it is possible to write a ‘0’ to the “synchronized” item. All states and queue for this station will then be refreshed from the AlphaCom.
cr_queue_length	UI	RO	The length of this stations Call Request Queue.
cr_iterate_station	BSTR	RO	The ID (OPC station tag format) of the active station during a iteration process
cr_iterate_command	BSTR	RW	“First” gets the first station in queue to tag cr_iterate_station. “Next” gets the next station in the queue. If no more stations after a “Next” cr_iterate_station is set to “eol”
cr_delete_command	BSTR	RW	If a valid station ID is written to this tag and it exist in the queue list a $DELETE_MAIL is sent to the AlphaCom.
dialdigits	??	RW	Description mising
rci	??	RO	Future use
itemref	??	RO	Description mising

(*) Reads back last written value (or default if not written to) 
(**) Only implemented for IP substations with three RCOs

Node Item Table

These items relates to a AlphaCom node in an AlphaNet. Root DA Item is node{nn} where nn is the AlphaNet node number, i.e node1

Item Name	Data Type	Access	Description
NodeStatus	UI	RO	0 – No node connection, 1 – Node connection OK
ResponseTime	UI	RO	When connection OK the Ping return time from OPC server to node.
StationsAdded	UI	RO	0 – No stations added, probably no license or some other error, 1 – Stations has been successfully added
AddedMessage	BSTR	RO	A detailed status on the station add process
NumberOfStations	UI	RO	The number of stations added to this node tag tree.
StationLicenseCount	UI	RO	The number of stations licensed for this node.

OPC Server Item Table

These items relates to the OPC Server. Root DA Item is AlphaComOPCServer

Item Name	Data Type	Access	Description
Version	BSTR	RO	The AlphaComOPCServer Version (1st release is 4.0.0.0)
TCPConnected	UI	RO	0 - No TCP connection, 1 - TCP connection with AlphaCom is established.
AlphaIPAddress	UI	RO	The IP address of the connected AlphaCom
AlphaTCPPort	UI	RO	The port of the IP connection
PingTime	UI	RO	The application-level Ping time in milliseconds (monitored each 5th second)
NumberOfNodes	UI	RO	Number of AlphaCom nodes the OPC Server is registered with.
NumberOfStations	UI	RO	The total number of stations registered by the OPC Server
LicenseCode	??	RO	Description missing
LicenseStatus	??	RO	Description missing

Global Item Table

These items relates to the Master stations. Root DA Item is AlphaGlobal

Item Name	Data Type	Access	Description
Masters.NN	UI	RO	A list of the configured Master stations. When using the nodeXX.stationYY.connect item listed above the numeric ID from this list has to be used.

OPC Alarm & Events

A set of AlphaCom events can be sources for OPC AE Events. The OPC event type, state, severity and message text can be configured for each AlphaCom Event.

AlphaCom Event table

AlphaCom Event Name	Description/Parameters
CallStatus	A Call Initiated from Station A to Station B, with time, priority, and call mode.
StationConnect	A Call connection with connection time and reference.
StationDisconnect	A call disconnection with time, reference and duration.
CallReject	The Call was not accepted (Disconnect without a Connect) with time
CallRequest	A Call Request with Receiving Station, Sending Station, mail tag, priority, mail text and time.
RequestRemoved	A Call Request Removed with Receiving Station, and mail tag
StationOK	Station Up and OK with station type details. (sent when a station with failure is back up)
StationFail	Station Failure with details.
StationSignaled	The station has sent a Call Request (Requires Attention)
StationSignalHandled	The sent Call Request has been handled (removed from receiving queue)

For each of the above AlphaCom Event sources the following OPC AE parameters can be configured:

OPC Event parameter table

OPC AE parameter	Description
Type	The OPC Event type, possible values: Simple Condition NoEvent
Source Name	A string with the event source name. This will be appended to the access path of the station, example: node1.station1.{sourcename} The same sourcename can be used for multiple AlphaCom events, but then they need to be of the same type. Typically the same name will be used for two condition events with the Alarm/Normal state.
Severity	The Event severity in the range 1..1000
Condition State	The state to set for a condition event: Alarm Normal
Message Text	A Set of pre-defined formats or a custom format with possible parameter insertion.

OPC Event message format

The event message format is configurable from a separate configuration tool (see xxx). A set of predefined formats is defined but the OPC integrator can also chose to use a customable format:

Format	Description/Example
OneLine	Message formatted in a single line humane readable with most of the message information StationConnect: (Node 3, DirNo 1001)->(Node 3, DirNo 1000) at 31.10.2007 10:52:29, Ref:100
Detailed	A multiline format with all information in a message. AlphaNet Message: Station Connect Connection at time: 31.10.2007 10:52:29 Connection Ref: 100 Station A: Node 3, DirNo 1001 Station B: Node 3, DirNo 1000
Short	A very short message with little information (i.e for STATION_STATE only the directory number is presented). (Node 3, DirNo 1001)->(Node 3, DirNo 1000)
XML	Detailed information in a XML format with no formatting (line shifts, indenting etc). <ALPHAMSG TYPE=StationConnect><STATION_A><NODE>3</NODE><DIRNO>1001</DIRNO></STATION_A><STATION_B><NODE>3</NODE><DIRNO>1000</DIRNO></STATION_B>31.10.2007 10:52:29<REF>100</REF></ALPHAMSG>
XMLPretty	Same as above, but with line formatting. <ALPHAMSG TYPE=StationConnect> <STATION_A> <NODE>3</NODE> <DIRNO>1001</DIRNO> </STATION_A> <STATION_B> <NODE>3</NODE> <DIRNO>1000</DIRNO> </STATION_B> 31.10.2007 10:52:29 <REF>100</REF> </ALPHAMSG>
Custom	Customable strings. Format string: “Call Connect {0}->{1} at {2}, ref={3}” Call Connect Node 3, DirNo 1001->Node 3, DirNo 1000 at 31.10.2007 10:52:29, ref=100

Related articles

• OPC Server - Installation