OpcPipe – General Information

OpcPipe is a tunnel protocol that tunnels the data exchanged in an OPC communication between a client and a server.

OpcPipe comprises two parts:

OpcPipe server

Runs on the same computer as the OPC server or on the device.

OpcPipe client

Runs on the same computer as the OPC client.

The OpcPipe client receives the request from the OPC client and converts the OPC communication to a “normal” TCP/IP communication. The data can thus be transmitted in a tunnel to the destination computer or device via the network by using a standard TCP/IP connection. There, the OpcPipe server receives the data, “decrypts” it by converting it back to OPC communication and forwards the data to the OPC server or the protocol logic of the device. The server or device performs the requested action and sends the data back to the OPC client. The tunnel mechanism works the same way in both directions.

Establishing an OpcPipe connection

The OpcPipe connection must be configured both on the server side (computer or device) and the client side (computer where the OPC client is running).

For this purpose, the OPC server with OpcPipe functionality must be installed on both sides of the communication. Usually, the OpcPipe client initiates the active connection. The default port number is 4444.