When you have installed the Data Access components on the third-party OPC client PC (see Install Data Access Components on a Third-Party OPC Client), you can use the Geo SCADA Expert Client applet to create a connection between the third-party OPC client and the Geo SCADA Expert server. This connection will allow the OPC client to communicate with Geo SCADA Expert.
To configure the third-party OPC client - system connection, on the third-party OPC client PC:
- In Windows, select the Start menu. Scroll down the alphabetical list of installed applications and expand the EcoStruxure Geo SCADA folder. Select the Configure Connections option.
The Geo SCADA Expert Client applet runs. - When the Geo SCADA Expert Client applet runs, select the Add button to display the Geo SCADA Expert Client Configuration window.
- Use the Geo SCADA Expert Client Configuration window to create a new connection. The configuration you need to define is exactly the same as that for a ViewX - System connection, with these settings available:
- System Name—see Define the System Name and Type for a Client - System Connection.
- Type—You need to select Geo SCADA Expert Server (see Define the System Name and Type for a Client - System Connection).
- Use Client Licensing—see Enable or Disable Client Licensing.
- Visible in ViewX—see Define Whether the System is Visible in ViewX.
- Node Name—see Define the Node Name for a Client - System Connection.
- Node Cost—see Define the Node Cost for a Client - System Connection.
- Compress—see Define the Client Compression Settings for a ViewX Client Connection.
- Advanced—see Define the Port and Poll Timeouts and Intervals for a ViewX Client Connection.
- When you have defined the connection settings, select the OK button to apply them.
The Client Configuration window is closed and the new connection is added to the list on the Geo SCADA Expert Client applet. - If you need to adjust the range of ports that the port will use for the server advise connection, select the Sockets button. (You can ignore this option if all of the clients and servers on your system are running Geo SCADA Expert 2020 or later versions of the software. The Sockets button, Sockets window, and port range for advise links only apply when one or both ends of the connection (server or client) are running a version of Geo SCADA Expert that is earlier than Geo SCADA Expert 2020.) Again, this feature works in exactly the same way as when configuring a ViewX - System connection. For more information, see Change the Range of Ports for the Client’s Incoming Data.
- Select the Licenses button to display the Client Licensing window. You will use this window to associate the third-party OPC client with an OPC license (see Associate a Third-Party OPC Client - System with an OPC License).
You will need to register the OPC components if the third-party OPC client runs on the Geo SCADA Expert server (and a ViewX client has already been configured). To register the OPC components, run the Geo SCADA Expert Client Applet and edit the Properties of the Geo SCADA Expert system. You do not need to make any changes to the Geo SCADA Expert system configuration - just display the Geo SCADA Expert Client Configuration window for the system and then select the OK button. Geo SCADA Expert will then register the OPC AE, OPC DA and OPC HDA components automatically. Once the components have been registered, the third-party OPC Client - System connection will be available.