Is WinCC inside OPC ?

[DAN4444]

Hello There, I have a WinCC (basic as I was told, not Flexible). This WinCC retrieves data with a CP1613 from a switch. This switch provides redundant informations from 2 CP443 of the 2 PLCs (C414H). Each PLC is connected to the process thanks to its own Profibus DP network. 1/ What do I need to buy and to do so that The WinCC Computer could have an Ethernet connection providing Alarms from OPC? 2/ As it seems the OPC server is inside WinCC, is it true ? 3/ I also need a software to choose which of the redundant informations are true? is it S7 RedConnect ? 4/ I've been told of NCM Manager, what's that? 5/ Is SYS Base Adaptative Server Anywhere aimed at working with OPC? I'm very lost, thank you for your help. Dan

[JesperMP]

Bonjour Dan. 1/ What do I need to buy and to do so that The WinCC Computer could have an Ethernet connection providing Alarms from OPC? Ethernet is "just" hardware. You need Simatic Net Ethernet which is a software package to connect via Ethernet. 2/ As it seems the OPC server is inside WinCC, is it true ? This is an option for WinCC. If WinCC becomes an OPC server, it means that the tags configured in WinCC becomes available to OPC Clients. Now dont confuse this with that WinCC can be an OPC client also ! 3/ I also need a software to choose which of the redundant informations are true? is it S7 RedConnect ? Yes. RedConnect is the software that makes a redundant connection possible. 4/ I've been told of NCM Manager, what's that? It is part of the Simatic Net software package. It is basically a cut-down version of Simatic Manager (aka STEP7). I think (not sure) that for a redundant connection, you need to have an integrated project (S7 PLC(s) and WinCC Station(s) in the same STEP7 project). So you must have STEP7 (probably) and should not install NCM even if it is part of the Simatci Net package. 5/ Is SYS Base Adaptative Server Anywhere aimed at working with OPC? I think you mean Sybase. This is a 3rd party SQL database. I think that WinCC takes care of making the connection between S7 and/or OPC and the SQL database. I'm very lost, thank you for your help. WinCC and redundant connections etc. And you are probably new to WinCC as well. I strongly recommend that you get a Siemens expert to come and help you setup everything the first time. Make him show you how it works. It is money well spent.