Operating Instructions

Chapter 2 – System Architecture
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Chapter 2 – System Architecture
Chapter 2 contains the following topics:
• System Components
• System Recommendations
System Components
To establish communication between OPC servers, you need OPC compliant servers, the OPC Data
Manager, Insight software with the OPCServer Option, and either an MEC, MBC, or a Soft Controller.
Figure 3 shows the connections between each system component.
Figure 3. System Component Connections.
Data transfer between system components is accomplished through shared points and virtual points.
Shared Points
In the OPC Data Manager, shared points link two OPC items: a virtual point in an MEC, MBC, or a Soft
Controller and an OPC item in a third-party server. After shared points are created, you can use the
Insight workstation to view and command information in OPC items on third-party servers. For
information about creating shared points, see the Creating and Modifying Shared Points section.