Overview

ASNeG OPC UA Web Server provides a simple way to connect modern Web applications with the OPC UA technology. Any process data can be displayed in realtime in Web applications using ASNeG OPC UA Web Server.

Structure of the OPC UA Web Server

The OpcUaWebServer contains the following components:

  • HTTP Server
  • Web Socket Server
  • Web Gateway
  • OPC UA Client
OpcUaWebServer Components

OpcUaWebServer components

HTTP Server provides a simple interface for web pages. The provision of simple static web pages in HTML format does not require a separate web server for simple web applications with OPC UA access. The use of the HTTP Server component is optional.

WebSocket Server provides a JSON API via bidirectional WebSocket protocol for access to OPC UA variables. The WebSocket Server component is decoupled from the OPC UA server. Symbolic names are used to access OPC UA variables. A configuration in the WebSocket Server maps these variables to OPC UA variables and the assigned OPC UA server. The functionality of the interface is very simple but limited to a few functions. The disadvantage of the interface is the high configuration effort. The use of the WebSocket Server component is optional.

WebSocket Gateway provides a JSON API via bidirectional WebSocket protocol for access to OPC UA server services. The WebSocket Gateway component is not decoupled from the OPC UA server. All web application JSON packets are transferred from the WebGateway to binary OPC UA packets and sent directly to the assigned OPC UA server. A separate configuration for the WebGateway is not necessary. As an advantage, all OPC UA service functions of an OPC UA server can be used directly from the web application. However, the JSON interface functions are a little bit complex than with the WebSocket Server model. The use of the Web Gateway component is optional.

OPC UA Client is used for communication with one or more OPC UA servers.

In addition, the Web Server provides Web Panel for visualization of the process data. Web Panel uses a JavaScript library of visual components which can be bound with OPC UA variables. You can use it as a very simple SCADA system configured by XML files. You can see how it work with our Demo Application.

WebSocket Server JSON API Reference

WebSocket Server has a simple JSON API with the limited functionality contains the following requests:

Name Description
Value List Returns all names of OPC UA variables processed by the server.
Value Info Returns information about OPC UA variables (such as type, name etc.)
Read Value Reads the value, status and timestamp of the given variable
Historical Read Reads historical values of the given variables. Not implemented.
Write Value Writes the value, status and timestamp of the given variable
Monitoring Subscrubes to the given variable to receive its new values

For more information see WebSocket Server JSON API

WebSocket Gateway JSON API Reference

WebSocket Gateway supports all the OPC UA services that ASNeG OPC UA Stack covers. See its coverage tables for more information.