User guide

The C-Bus OPC Server is a stand-alone software package made available

by Clipsal to allow OPC communication between C-Bus networks and

building management systems. The OPC Server acts as a gateway for

transmitting Lighting Compatible and Error Reporting application

information to entities such as building management systems, which are

capable of handling OPC messages.

What is OPC?

The need for system interoperability for the process control,

manufacturing, and building management industry sectors propelled

members of these industries to set up an organisation to develop an open

communication protocol.

The OPC Foundation was created to develop a Microsoft Windows

specification which would make it possible for the development of OPC

servers which can transmit process control data to client software

applications. The specification was later expanded to include

manufacturing and industrial automation.

OPC originally stood for OLE for Process Control, which identified a

Microsoft Windows based specification for system interoperability within

the process control industry.

In building management, OPC interoperability can be utilised to access

data across many lighting networks and building automation systems

over one or more buildings. The diagram below illustrates how OPC

messages travel between applications via an OPC interface and OPC

Servers. Each OPC Server transmits data across a TCP/IP network to

potential building management applications.

Figure 1: OPC Interoperability

1.0 Overview