SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server

Exploitation of SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server

The common way for managing industrial and network devices is to run SNMP manager on a workstation while SNMP agents run on devices themselves. In order to be able to integrate the network management into various HMI and SCADA systems with implemented OPC clients, it is very useful to incorporate SNMP manager into OPC server application.

SAE-Automation therefore provides elegant solution for managing computer networks - SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server, which is equipped with devices with implemented SNMP agent functionality.

The SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server features

• from SNMP point of view, it acts as a network management system
• implemented protocols SNMPv1 and SNMPv2c
• implemented specifications OPC DA 1.0, 2.05, 3.0, and OPC AE (Alarms and Events) 1.10, 1.1
• manages and monitors unlimited number of devices with SNMP agents **
• ability to define tags by using the object identification from MIB file
GET and SET
• built-in MIB Browser sends requests to SNMP manageable devices to get SNMP variables which correspond to objects in MIB database, providing the user with object IDs, data types and values ***
• ability to browse MIBs off-line (SNMP variables are loaded from MIB file, provided with SNMP device) ****
• ability to manipulate the acquired data by using JScripts which can be configured directly in the SNMP OPC server *
• IP Scanner module for scanning of computer network in a given IP range, in order to find connected SNMP devices *
• recognizes SNMP trap data
• the installation package contains OPC XML DA 1.01 wrapper which enables communication with SAEAUT SNMP OPC server through web services
• the installation package includes a simple demo configuration
• logging of server events *
• configuration can be done in an user friendly configuration software
• allows to obtain information about manageable and unmanageable network devices
• contains examples of OPC clients together with source codes in VB.NET and VB6
• Find tool, which allows you to search for a text within current configuration and immediately browse the occurences in user friendly views

* These modules are available only in Extended and Professional version.
** Basic version has limited number of the devices(10), which can be connected to the server.
*** Basic version includes MIB Browser but without possibility to add new items to configuration.
**** Available only in Professional version

How to use SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server?

SAEAUT SNMP OPC server allows operators to obtain the status information from network devices. Such information can be effectively used for system monitoring and network diagnostic.

However, not all networks are manageable through SNMP. For such cases, SAEAUT provides the possibility to configure OPC tags, implemented as a sort of “heartbeat”. This allows us to get the basic information from devices that are unmanageable.

The manageable devices are able to provide managing application with the trap messages. These are sent without a request (e.g. in case of some significant value is changed), reducing the traffic between SNMP agent and SNMP manager. The traps are fully supported in SAEAUT SNMP OPC server.

The main components of SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server

• Configuration tool
• Runtime application
• OPC XML DA wrapper
• OPC DA 3.0 Test client (including the source codes in VB.NET and VB 6.0)
• Test client that communicates to SNMP OPC server through web services
• Electronic manual (Slovak and English version)

In order to fulfill various demands of customers, the SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server is available in three editions: Basic, Enhanced and Professional. The differences are shown in the following table:

SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server	Basic	Enhanced	Professional
Configurator
Built-in monitoring client in configurator
Max. number of connected devices	10	unlimited	unlimited
MIB Browser (On-line)	(without the option to add new items)	(full-featured)	(full-featured)
MIB Browser (Off-line)
Alarm management
SNMP GET operation can be called from the configurator
SNMP SET operation can be called from the configurator
JScripts
IP Scanner
Events logging
Find tool
XML DA wrapper
SAEAUT SNMP OPC Agent
SAEAUT SNMP OPC Client
OPC Client applications source code

Configurator

The configuration tool (also called configurator) is GUI part of SAEAUT SNMP Server which allows user to configure the server easily and effectively. It provides features for configuring devices, their variables, as well as the configuration of JScripts, alarms and simulation signals.

List of data items in the SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server Configurator.


Detail of a data item in the SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server Configurator.


Off-Line MIB browser in the SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server Configurator.

Monitoring client

The monitoring client is a part of the configurator. It is able to monitor network devices and to provide the information about parameters selectable by a user. These kinds of information are displayed in well-arranged tables which contain not only the value itself, but also other useful information such as timestamps and the quality of connection.

Alarm administration

The built-in alarm system allows user to configure how critical values will be displayed by the server, using predefined alarm messages.

JScripts

SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server provides the possibility to further process the data obtained from SNMP agents using J-Scripts. The server offers simple built-in editor where the scripts can be modified and executed. This allows user to preprocess data on the server side, before they are provided to clients.

MIB Browser

SNMP variables received through SNMP protocol actually represent objects in MIB database. The MIB database comprises of attributes (MIB objects) which can be used for the configuration, management and analysis of SNMP manageable devices. Each MIB object is identified by its ID. The main task of MIB browser is to request applicable IDs of MIB objects.
Besides of standard on-line browsing features, MIB Browser provides off-line MIB browsing (note that this feature is available only in Enhanced and Professional editions). This is achieved by loading the information about SNMP variables from MIB file, which is usually delivered together with SNMP device.

IP Scanner

This module provides the feature of scanning computer network in a given IP range, in order to find connected SNMP devices. After completing this process, all search results (IPs with SNMP devices) are available in the device panel so that the user can later select valid SNMP address from this list.

SAEAUT SNMP OPC Client

A simple OPC client which allows you to connect to SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server through standard interfaces DA 3.0, 2.05, and XML-DA 1.01. To simplify the process of connecting to the server, the client already contains predefined links for the most typical connection methods.

OPC Client applications source code

Besides of the above mentioned SAEAUT SNMP OPC Client, the installation package contains several example client applications, demonstrating the easy use of SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server and providing very good source of inspiration for the user.

Events logging

The purpose of event logging is to record the occurrence of significant events of SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server. The events are stored in a log file so that it’s possible to check and analyze them later on.

Find tool

SAEAUT SNMP OPC Server is able to manage and monitor very complex network configurations. In such cases you'll appreciate the Find tool, which allows you to search for a text within current configuration and immediately browse the search results in user friendly views

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

For more information about OPC Data Access and OPC AE interfaces support,
see the document

SAEAUT SNMP Agent version 1.00.00 (FREE) - Solution how to simulate SNMP devices.

OPC Foundation Self‐Tested for Compliance logo.