Products:


DCS Interfaces
ABB Bailey OPC Server
ABB Bailey DDE Server
OSISoft PI DDE Server
DeltaV Connect ABB Bailey
BridgeMaster: OPC to OPC
Tested Client Applications
Download Documentation

OPC contact

Joel Spafford, Director Software Products
330.995.8210

rCAAM
Fenevision
GrandView

The RoviSys Company

1455 Danner Drive
Aurora, Ohio  44202
330.562.8600

Southeast Office

2521 Schieffelin Road
Apex, North Carolina  27502
919.387.1200

RoviSys Asia Co. Pte. Ltd.

2 International Business Park
03-25 The Strategy Tower 2
Singapore 609930
+65 9658 0647



BridgeMaster makes OPC Server to OPC Server Connectivity Easy:

BridgeMaster is a software application that bridges data between any two or more OPC Servers. This interface supports bi-directional data flow and supervisory control between any two control systems. It enables operators to control digital and analog control loops implemented within Digital Control System (DCS) controllers, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) or SCADA systems from control system operator consoles such as the ABB Bailey INFI 90 Console. Likewise, operator stations may be used for operator control of digital and analog control loops implemented in these other control system controllers. BridgeMaster takes full advantage of the capabilities and functionality supported by the OPC Server being utilized. For example the RoviSys OPC90 Server which is used to link with the ABB Bailey system supports all of these capabilities. BridgeMaster is fully compliant with Versions 3.0, 2.x and 1.a OPC Servers.

The dissimilar system bridging capabilities of BridgeMaster are virtually unlimited. As long as an OPC server exists for each system, BridgeMaster can easily be used to provide a bi-directional data and supervisory control linkage between those systems. Use BridgeMaster to easily link the following environments together.

  • ABB Bailey INFI 90 / NETWORK 90 / Command Series
  • RSLinx / Allen Bradley PLC
  • Aspen Technology IP21 database
  • Emerson DeltaV
  • Foxboro IA
  • GE Intellution iFix database
  • GE Fanuc PLC
  • Honeywell TDC3000
  • Intelllution iFIX database
  • Johnson Controls N1 Data Access Server (MetaSys/M5 Workstations)
  • Modicon PLC
  • OSI PI database
  • Siemens APACS and PCS7, S7
  • Subnet Solutions SSNET OPC Server (DNP Master/Slave)
  • Any other system with a native or 3rd party OPC server

BridgeMaster Functional Overview:

The BridgeMaster interface runs under the Windows NT/2000/Server 2000/XP/Server 2003 operating system(s). The two modes of operation are "Configure Mode" and "Runtime Mode". In Configure mode a user can configure settings, connectors (bridge between two OPC servers) and create links (or tag mappings) within those connectors. In runtime mode the interface uses the currently loaded configuration to communicate with the external OPC Server(s).

BridgeMaster supports the following features:

  • Two license levels
    • Unlimited supporting up to 10 system to system connectors with unlimited tag maps per connector
    • Lite supporting up to 10 system to system connectors with 250 total tag maps across all connectors
  • OPC Data Access V3.0 compliant Servers, OPC Data Access V2.x compliant servers and OPC Data Access V1.a compliant servers.
  • Dual redundancy scheme supports redundant OPC Server connections implementing user-selectable fail-over mechanisms.
  • Ability to run as a Windows service for standalone, dedicated data transfer ability (without a user logged in). A BridgeMaster Control Panel application allows start and stop of the service.
  • Supports COM/DCOM
  • Supports and implements OPC DA V3.x improved functionality such as:
    • Ability to transfer VQT (Value, Quality and Timestamp) on a group by group basis for all tags within a group.
    • Implements usage of Keep Alive mechanism for Redundancy.
    • Ability to set individual Item Deadband values on an item by item basis for noisy tags.
    • Supports new server status: OPC_STATUS_COMM_FAULT used for redundancy failover.
    • Supports new quality status: WAITING_FOR_INITIAL_DATA
  • User-Selectable two way data flow movement on a group by group basis
  • Supports selectable User-Requested OPC Version to use on a group by group basis, defaulting to "Use Best Available Interface". Each group provides feedback as to what OPC version is actually being used with the server.
  • Blazingly fast startup by supporting the ability to Bulk Add Items.
  • Optimized data throughput via Bulk Tag Writes (VQT or 'Value-Only') during runtime.
  • Allows selection of writes and reads to be made synchronously (polled) or asynchronously (on data change) on a group by group basis as well as selection of whether to transfer VQT or 'Value-Only' (if V3.x supported).
  • OPC Server configuration dialog allows easy configuration of the OPC Server and node by browsing and selecting an existing OPC Server and node.
  • Simple Tag Map definition dialog allows individual mapping of an 'A' side OPC server tag to a 'B' side OPC server tag. Tag Map definition includes defining attributes such as OPC Item names, description and data source. Optionally, scaling conversion using conversion tables can be defined to convert raw or discrete values from one system to the other.
  • Simple configuration with 'Drag & Drop' capabilities for mapping lots of tags in bulk quickly.
  • Supports ability to easily Import/Export BridgeMaster Tag Map configurations to CSV files, which can be created and/or edited with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access or any text editor.
  • Error and informational messages displayed in the main window in runtime along with the optional user-configurable specification of maintaining this data in daily log files.
  • Runtime tag monitoring ability to view and change (read/write) data values in either OPC Server from main client window.
  • Runtime ability to add or delete tag maps, change item names, and/or change group update rates, Item Dead Bands, Keep Alive rates, etc.
  • Up to 10 connectors (OPC interfaces) can be defined.
  • Ability to browse any local or remote OPC Server.
  • Supports automatic data conversion with all data types, including arrays of any type (VT_ARRAY), currency (VT_CY), strings (VT_BSTR) and dates (VT_DATE)
  • Allows runtime view of OPC Server Status and performance statistics.
  • Written using multi-threading C++ for faster data transfer and higher performance as opposed to the additional layers required for .NET OPC applications.
  • Written in UNICODE (for support of UNICODE text, such Kanji and other language OPC Item names)
  • Tested with over 40,000 tags (20K Links).
  • Provides shortcuts for Pinging Servers, starting DCOM Configuration Utility and external OPC Client.

Why Pick RoviSys:

There are several products similar to BridgeMaster available from other vendors, so which one should you use? It's a good question. When you compare BridgeMaster features to the competition, it is easy to see that BridgeMaster has what you need and much more. The technologies utilized in BridgeMaster represent a culmination of years of experience developing OPC client and server solutions. Prior to bringing BridgeMaster to market we tested it very vigorously pushing it beyond its limits to make sure it will perform well beyond your expectations. Following are some additional reasons for using BridgeMaster.

  • Excellent documentation.
  • Extremely easy to install, setup and use.
  • Very responsive lifetime technical support.
  • Download it and try it before you decide to buy it.

Download BridgeMaster today

Download the BridgeMaster software V1.4 (44 MB executable file, click SAVE at file download)

Download Documentation