Using the TOP Server with an OPC Alarms and Events Client leverages TOP Server’s ability to deliver notifications regarding abnormal process status.  All TOP Server licenses include the ability to generate “Simple Events” described below that tell you about the operating status of TOP Server.   Add the TOP Server A&E Plug in to your TOP Server installation to enable the configuration of alarm limits based on changing conditions monitored by any of the 100’s of TOP Server drivers

OPC Alarms and Events (OPC A&E) connections are the second most commonly used OPC Standard after OPC Data Access.   The OPC A&E standard defines a common way of exchanging alarm and event data between various vendor’s applications, just like OPC DA defined a standard way to exchange live process data between vendors.   By adding the OPC A&E plug-in option to your TOP Server installation, you can expand the value you receive from TOP Server beyond just live process information.

Events

Events generated by TOP Server are used to signal an occurrence in the server, similar to data updates in OPC Data Access. The OPC A&E functionality in TOP Server allows users to receive simple events from the server, including system startup and shutdown messages, warnings, errors and so forth.  These events will be displayed in the TOP Server event log and by OPC A&E clients connected to the server.  

These TOP Server event log OPC A&E events (“Simple Events”) are supported for all TOP Server licenses and don’t require the separate purchase of the OPC A&E plug-in.

Alarms

The TOP Server Alarms & Events Plug-In provides the ability to generate notifications regarding abnormal operating conditions for all devices connected to the TOP Server, regardless of whether or not the device natively supports generating alarms and event information.  TOP Server does this by allowing users to configure alarm thresholds such as HI, LO, HI-HI, LO-LO (and others) that are compared to live device data read by TOP Server’s drivers. 

Your Alarm & Event client application can then utilize the notifications generated by TOP Server to trigger operator and staff notifications using whatever capabilities it supports (i.e. email, pager, phone, etc).   If you haven’t heard of OPC A&E check with your HMI/SCADA supplier, as they likely have some alarm management and notification capabilities, and would be able to use the alarm notifications that TOP Server delivers.

Enabling & Configuring OPC A&E Connections