Product Comparison

Use the following table of information about OPC Systems.NET to compare third party proprietary SCADA and HMI packages against the open solution of OPC Systems.NET. If you do not see a feature listed here that you are interested in please contact us as support@opcsystems.com.

Feature	OPC Systems.NET	Proprietary Software
Service Oriented Architecture	Central communications implemented as a Windows Service. Scalable deployment.
Networking	.NET communications over TCP/IP Use Internet for global communications Eliminates DCOM
OPC Server Support	Data Access 2.0x and 3.0 Certified
OPC Client Support	Data Access 2.0x and 3.0 Certified
Visual Studio App as Data Source	Easy to use Write Method from your WinForm, WPF, or Web application.
Database as Data Source	OPC Recipe.NET with SQL Server Oracle Access mySQL
Number of Clients	Unlimited No restriction on the number of local and remote HMI applications No restriction on the number of local and remote web applications No restriction on the number of trend windows No restriction on the number of alarm windows No restriction on the number of users
Licensing	Service based licensing with unlimited numbers of local and remote client applications. Click here for more information on Licensing.
Cost	Pricing starts at $195 US for 1 feature, and purchase all features for $995 for 100 tags. Scalable licensing up to 100,000 tags. Corporate Licensing available to OEMs and end users.
Client Container	Microsoft Visual Studio 2003 2005 2008 2010 Expression Blend 2 Expression Blend 3 Free Express versions can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com No programming is required Easy to implement Microsoft and other third party .NET components into client applications, no VBA or custom scripting language needed. All native .NET support for the CLR. Works with other third party containers that support .NET components.
100% Managed Components	All .NET components are 100% managed No ActiveX, COM, or DCOM WinForm and Web Trend Components WinForm and Web Alarm Components WinForm and Web HMI Components Data Component for real-time data Programmatic interface for service
Remote Configuration	Use LAN, WAN, or Internet
Open Configuration Support	All configuration parameters including tags, data logging, alarm logging, alarm notification, recipes, reports, and security can be programmatically defined, manually setup with the Configure application, or from Excel or other CSV file compatible program.
Drag and Drop Support	The Trend, Alarm, and HMI WPF, WinForm, and Web components can be used without writing any code.
Programmatic Support	All properties for all features and components can be programmatically set from Visual Studio Application.
Delivery of Data	Queued to process all values received, not just the last value. Important to deliver and process all values received so no values are missed for data logging, alarming, trending, notification, and logic calculations.
Data Source Time Stamp Resolution	100 Nanoseconds
Calculation Support	Real-Time equations from local and remote tags and OPC Items.
Track Time On	Keep track of how long a value or alarm condition is on and how many times it has changed state over the current instance, current day, last 24 hours, or any amount of time you desire.
Real-Time Database	Mix multiple data sources. OPC Servers. OPC Clients. Database data from SQL Server, Oracle, Access, and mySQL. Custom Data from Visual Studio. Calculations for real-time math and logic processing.
Data Types	Boolean, String, 8-64 bit Signed and Unsigned Integers, 32 bit and 64 bit floats, and Object type for your own custom structures.
Security	Server based configuration Unlimited numbers of security groups Unlimited numbers of users Restrict all service configuration parameters Limit read and write access Restrict real-time and historical trend data Restrict real-time and historical alarm data Limit alarm acknowledgement Restrict tag, OPC, and configuration browsing. All properties can be changed during runtime manually or programmatically, even over the Internet. CSV Import and Export is also available. Security can be enabled to restrict access of viewing and changing security parameters.
Deployment of Client Applications	Smart Client compatible WPF and WinForm applications. Central deployment with automatic update to remote clients with new version. Keep all clients up to date with the latest application. Components that include COM or legacy ActiveX controls are not Smart Client compatible, so make sure not to use components from other vendors that talk directly to OPC Servers from the components. Visit the Smart Client page for more information and a live demonstration. Web applications contain no java applets or ActiveX controls so web applications developed with OPC Systems.NET can be used on a vast number of different browsers and on different operating systems like Linux, Mac, and cell phones with web browsers like the iPhone. All components are 100% managed.
Data Buffering on Network Loss	No data is lost during temporary network disconnect or database engine failure. Data Logging is buffered to disk or RAM on network failure or database engine failure. Alarm Logging is buffered to RAM on network failure or database engine failure. Real-Time trend data is cached in central service. Real-Time alarm data is cached in central service.
Data Confirmation on Write	All client applications update with confirmation only after the value has changed state at the data source. No fake updates with OPC Systems.NET.
Drag and Drop HMI WPF and WinForm Components	OPC WPF.NET and OPC Controls.NET components can be used to develop HMI applications with Visual Studio to run on local and remote systems. No programming is required. Automatically update properties based on real-time data. Text, BackColor, ForeColor, Location, Enabled, Visible, Size, Image Index, and more. Refer to the VB.NET Example that installs with the software or Smart Client example for demonstration of all of the controls functionality.
Data Component for Visual Studio	Use the OPC Controls.NET Data component to read and write data to OPC Servers, OPC Clients, remote Visual Studio applications, and Databases like SQL Server, Oracle, Access, and mySQL. To read data involves one AddTags method and the ValuesChangedAll event. The write data involves one WriteTags method with optional Timestamps. This simple feature turns your Visual Studio application into a data source for OPC Systems.NET. By including the Timestamps with the WriteTags you can maintain data accuracy with 100 nanoseconds as OPC Systems.NET will queue multiple values for each packet. Refer to the VB.NET Example that installs with OPC Systems.NET for working examples. This is the easiest to use data component for OPC Servers and Clients and includes support for communications over the Internet. No more DCOM headaches. The data component can be used in both WinForm and web applications.
Drag and Drop HMI Web Components	OPC Web Controls.NET components can be used to develop HMI web applications with Visual Studio to run on local and remote systems. No programming is required. OPC Web Controls.NET can be included in any ASP.NET web application and is compatible with many different browsers and client operating systems including Safari on the iPhone. Automatically update properties based on real-time data. Text, BackColor, ForeColor, Location, Enabled, Visible, Size, and more. Refer to the OPC Web Controls Example that installs with the software or the on-line Internet web example for demonstration of all of the controls functionality.
Drag and Drop HMI Mobile Components	OPC Mobile.NET components can be used to develop pocket PC applications for Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0. Develop and deploy unlimited numbers of pocket PC applications for each licensed service. No programming is required. Use the OPC Mobile.NET Data component to read and write data to OPC Servers, OPC Clients, remote Visual Studio applications, and Databases like SQL Server, Oracle, Access, and mySQL.
Programmatically Create Applications	All components and all service configurations can be programmatically defined to create your SCADA application from your own custom database of information. Automatically adjust SCADA applications based on site, company, and even real-time data. Use the free to use OPC Systems component to programmatically make changes to tags, data logging, alarm logging, alarm notification, recipes, reports, security, and all default options of the OPC Systems Service.
Real-time and Historical Trending	OPC Trend.NET can be included in your own Visual Studio application for real-time and historical trending. This easy to use 100% managed .NET component is superior to other legacy ActiveX controls providing 3D trending with all properties accessible for user and programmatic control. Refer to the VB.NET Example that installs with the software or Smart Client example for demonstration of all of the controls functionality. OPC Web Trend.NET can be included in any ASP.NET web application and is compatible with many different browsers and client operating systems including Safari on the iPhone. Refer to the OPC Web Controls Example that installs with the software or the on-line Internet web example for demonstration of all of the controls functionality. The OPC Systems Service caches real-time data and the component use .NET communications over TCP/IP so it is extremely simple to provide remote real-time and historical data over the Internet.
Data Logging	OPC Database.NET can log to the following database engines in an open easy to query table format. SQL Server Oracle Access mySQL CSV Tables are automatically created with the data logging group configuration. Event data from your Visual Studio application can be logged with 100 nanosecond accuracy. Refer to the Data Logging section in the Training Guide on how to log High Speed Data from Visual Studio Application. OPC Servers typically only support 10 millisecond accuracy, OPC Systems.NET will still be able to log with 100 nanosecond accuracy provided the Time Stamp of the data is set from the data source. Data buffering can be written to disk during temporary network loss or database engine failure. Feedback confirmation can be enabled to verify data has been delivered from data source successfully to the database. All properties can be changed during runtime manually or programmatically, even over the Internet. CSV Import and Export is also available. Security can be enabled to restrict access of viewing and changing data logging parameters. Runs as a Windows Service for unattended execution.
Data Logging Accuracy	100 Nanoseconds
Access to Historical Data	OPC Systems.NET logs data and alarms in an open easy to query format. There is no proprietary format at all, no special database providers required. CSV files are also possible to read directly from Excel.
Real-time and Historical Alarming	OPC Alarm.NET can be included in your own Visual Studio application for real-time and historical alarming. This easy to use 100% managed .NET component is superior to other legacy ActiveX controls providing alarm data with all properties accessible for user and programmatic control. Refer to the VB.NET Example that installs with the software or Smart Client example for demonstration of all of the controls functionality. OPC Web Alarm.NET can be included in any ASP.NET web application and is compatible with many different browsers and client operating systems including Safari on the iPhone. Refer to the OPC Web Controls Example that installs with the software or the on-line Internet web example for demonstration of all of the controls functionality. The OPC Systems Service caches real-time alarms and the component use .NET communications over TCP/IP so it is extremely simple to provide remote real-time and historical alarms over the Internet.
Alarm Logging	OPC Alarm.NET and OPC Web Alarm.NET can log to the following database engines in an open easy to query table format. SQL Server Oracle Access mySQL CSV Tables are automatically created with the alarm logging group configuration. Alarm buffering occurs during temporary network loss or database engine failure. All properties can be changed during runtime manually or programmatically, even over the Internet. CSV Import and Export is also available. Security can be enabled to restrict access of viewing and changing alarm logging parameters. Runs as a Windows Service for unattended execution.
Alarm Notification	Send E-Mails based on specific filter criteria.. Update OPC Systems.NET Tags, OPC Items, OPC Clients, and Visual Studio application data with the following alarm summary information.. Alarm Active Alarm Active and Not Acknowledged Alarm Active and Acknowledged Alarm Cleared and Not Acknowledged Alarm Cleared and Acknowledged Number of Alarms Active Number of Alarms Active and Not Acknowledged Number of Alarms Active and Acknowledged Number of Alarms Cleared and Not Acknowledged Number of Alarms Cleared and Acknowledged Number of Alarms that have occurred over a specific time frame. Number of Alarms that have been active longer than a specific period. These values can then be displayed, logged, sent to PLCs, drive an alarm horn, used in calculations, and notify supervisors of outstanding conditions.. All properties can be changed during runtime manually or programmatically, even over the Internet. CSV Import and Export is also available.. Security can be enabled to restrict access of viewing and changing alarm notification parameters.. Runs as a Windows Service for unattended execution.
Reporting	Generate reports in the following formats Acrobat Reader PDF Web page HTML Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Graphic TIF files Text files Direct to printer Automatically generate reports at a specific time of day, continuously, or based on tag event. Manually generate reports from desired time period. Automatically send E-Mail with attached report. Easy to user Report Designer for creating report templates, includes basic functions for summarizing including MIN, MAX, AVG, SUM, IF, and other functions. Use with any open database format that can be queried, both OPC Database.NET and OPC Alarm.NET as most common data logging engines. All properties can be changed during runtime manually or programmatically, even over the Internet. CSV Import and Export is also available. Security can be enabled to restrict access of viewing and changing report execution parameters. Runs as a Windows Service for unattended execution.
Recipe Management	Transfer data from the following database engines based on event or continuously to OPC Systems.NET Tags, OPC Items, OPC Clients, and Visual Studio application data. SQL Server Oracle Access mySQL Feedback confirmation can be enabled to verify data has been delivered from database successfully to the desired target. Use dynamic query strings from tag calculations to define what data set is returned. Use row or column based tag and value definitions in tables. Tags can be mapped to specific fields or can be included in the table itself. All properties can be changed during runtime manually or programmatically, even over the Internet. CSV Import and Export is also available. Security can be enabled to restrict access of viewing and changing recipe execution parameters. Runs as a Windows Service for unattended execution.
Automatic Data Routing to OPC Servers	The OPC Route.NET feature transfers values from OPC Systems.NET Tags to OPC Items. Route data from one OPC Server to another to share process data from multiple controller manufactures. Transfer data from remote OPC Server over TCP/IP, eliminates DCOM for remote connections. Send calculated data from multiple tags to one OPC Item. Send single Tag value to multiple OPC Items. Runs as a Windows Service for unattended execution.
Client Redundancy	Easily switch client applications with network node aliasing to any remote server. Use node name, IP address, or registered domain name like www.opcsystemsserver.com.
Server Redundancy	Monitor multiple servers for n levels of server redundancy. Servers can be run in parallel with identical configurations and can monitor each other for automatic control of monitoring features.
Easy to Use	Refer to the Training Videos and Training Guide under the program group OPC Systems.NET-Help after installation for a complete walk through of all features of OPC Systems.NET.