Installing and configuring Vista OPC Server

[Product_Support]

Issue

What are the typical steps to install and configure Vista OPC Server?

Product Line

TAC Vista

Environment

• Vista 5.1.x
• Vista OPC Server 1.6.1

Cause

OPC Server can be used in many integration situations to provide data to other parties or bring third party data into the Vista front end.

Resolution

1.  Install TAC Vista OPC Server 1.6.1 installation package
2. Add a Windows Account for Vista OPC Server
   1. Start Computer Management
   2. In System Tools\Local Users and Groups\Users click New User
      1. Name the user OPC_Communication
      2. Provide a password
      3. Uncheck the User must change password at next logon checkbox
      4. Check User cannot change password checkbox
      5. Check Password never expires checkbox
      6. Click Create and Close.
   3. Add user to the Administrators group
3. Configure Service
   1. In Services right click on TAC Vista OPC Server and click properties
      1. Ensure Startup type is Manual
      2. On Log On tab select This Account
      3. Browse to the local account OPC_Communication
      4. Provide the password in the Password and Confirm password fields
      5. Click OK
4. Configuring DCOM
   1. Start Component Services
   2. Double click Component Services\Computers\My Computer\DCOM Config
   3. Locate the COM Server TAC Object Server OPC DA Services and select properties
      1. Click the Identity tab
      2. Select This User
      3. Select the local account OPC_Communication
      4. Provide the password in the Password and Confirm password fields
      5. Click OK
   4. Locate the COM Server TAC Object Server OPC AE Services and select properties
      1. Click the Identity tab
      2. Select This User
      3. Select the local account OPC_Communication
      4. Provide the password in the Password and Confirm password fields.
      5. Click OK
5. Create a Vista User Account
   1. Start Vista Server
   2. Start Vista Workstation and Log In
   3. In the root TAC Vista folder create a new account (User - Vista or User - Windows Domain Group)
   4. Name the user TACOPC
   5. Modify the properties of the account
      1. Set the password
      2. Set an authority level that OPC Clients should use when accessing the OPC Server
      3. Set the Logout time to zero(0)
6. Configure the Vista OPC Server Login
   1. Open TAC Vista OPC Server Setup (Program Files\Schneider Electric\TAC Vista OPC Server\Vista OPC Server Setup)
      1. Ensure the Retry connect period is 360 seconds.
      2. In the logon to TAC Vista Server click Login using the following Vista Account
      3. In the Username type TACOPC
      4. Type the password
      5. Click OK
      6. Confirm the change took place, if it is not refer to OPC server for TAC Vista will not keep the login settings in the TAC Vista OPC Server setup.
7. Configuring Windows Firewall
   1. If Vista Server and OPC Server are on the same computer then no firewall exceptions are required. Consult the OPC Server manual (Chapter 4) for the firewall exceptions if using a separated OPC Server and Vista Server setup.
8. Configuring OPC Client DCOM Settings
   1. If the OPC Client is on another computer then create a user account to match the one used by Vista OPC Server.
      1. Start Computer Management
      2. In System Tools\Local Users and Groups\Users click New User
         1. Name the user OPC_Communication
         2. Provide a password
         3. Uncheck the User must change password at next logon checkbox
         4. Check User cannot change password checkbox
         5. Check Password never expires checkbox
         6. Check Create and Close
   2. Configure Access Permissions
      1. Start Component Services on the Vista OPC Server computer under Administrative Tools
         1. In the Tree Structure right click on Component Services\Computers\My Computer and click properties
         2. Click the COM Security tab
         3. In Access Permissions click Edit Limits
            1. Click Add
            2. Select the local account OPC_Communication (EXAMPLE: W7USCNU1342VXXX\OPC_Communication)
            3. In the allow column select Local Access and Remote Access
            4. Click OK
         4. In Access Permissions click Edit Default
            1. Click Add
            2. Select the local account OPC_Communication
            3. In the allow column select Local Access and Remote Access
            4. Click OK
         5. In Launch and Activation Permissions click Edit Limits
            1. Click Add
            2. Select the local account OPC_Communication
            3. In the allow column select Local Launch, Remote Launch, Local Activation, and Remote Activation
            4. Click OK
         6. In Launch and Activation Permissions click Edit Default
            1. Click Add
            2. Select the local account OPC_Communication
            3. In the allow column select Local Launch, Remote Launch, Local Activation, and Remote Activation
            4. Click OK
   3. Configure Local Security Policy
      1. Select the Local Policies\Security Options\Network Access: Sharing and security model for local accounts policy
      2. Set the policy to Classic - local user authenticate as themselves
      3. Click OK
   4. Repeat these steps for the OPC Client computer
9. Configuring OPCEnum
   1. Start Component Services on the Vista OPC Server computer
      1. In the tree structure Component Services\Computers\My Computer\DCOM Config right click on OPCEnum and click properties
         1. On the general tab change Authentication Level to Default
         2. Ensure Run Application on this computer is checked on location tab
         3. Click the Identity tab
            1. Select This User
            2. Browse to the local account OPC_Communication
            3. Provide the password in the Password and Confirm password field
            4. Click OK
   2. Repeat these steps on the OPC Client computer
10. Start the TAC Vista OPC Server
    1. In Services right click on TAC Vista OPC Server and click start

For more OPC Server issues please see Vista OPC Server Installation and Known Issues.

A good overview of  OPC integration and the necessary COM and DCOM settings is located here.