OPC Classic

OPC Standard Interfaces (based on COM/DCOM Technology)

OPC defines standard interfaces that enables different possibilities for access on information of the production process e.g. process data, alarms, historical data. The OPC interface specifies the data transfer between OPC Server and OPC Client applications. The OPC Server provides the process information and the OPC Client accesses the data.

The OPC interfaces are specified by working groups build by employees of the member companies e.g. leading automation suppliers like Siemens, Rockwell, General Electric, Honeywell und ABB. These companies increase the use of OPC interfaces within their products. Therefore OPC is distributed more and more even in other levels of companywide communication concepts.

Driven by the intensive use of windows based systems, especially industrial PC, OPC technology is spread out from the automation level up to the enterprise domain. The acceptance of OPC interfaces on the enterprise level was advanced by using the same IT technology than common office applications.