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Simatic NET OPC server running as windows service

Created by: Vortexfive at: 9/8/2008 9:07 AM (8 Replies)

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9/8/2008 9:07 AM	Rate (0)
Vortexfive Posts: 1 Rating: (0)	Hello I've been developping an opc client, and I'd like to run it as a windows service/NT service. However this has no use for the moment since it depends on the OPC server which only starts on logon. Is there a way to run the OPC server as a windows service as well? Is there perhaps a different version which can do this? Greetings Karel
Vortexfive Posts: 1 Rating: (0)
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9/8/2008 4:25 PM	Rate (0)
JMJ Posts: 487 Rating: (44)	I do not think it is possible. Please seethe sectionfrom the manual http://support.automation.siemens.com/WW/view/en/24843817 How do I start the OPC server in the Windows operating system? To start the OPC Server in the Windows operating system, the administrator or a user must be logged in on the server. The workstation should be protected from unauthorized access using a screensaver. Interactive user must also be set for the access permissions in the DCOMCNFG program. However, you can use KepwareEX OPC server as windows NT service. Please see the link below. http://kepware.com/Products/feature-ntservice.htm
JMJ Posts: 487 Rating: (44)
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5/16/2009 11:13 PM	Rate (0)
Able Archer Regular Member Joined: 8/28/2008 Last visit: 9/7/2022 Posts: 5 Rating: (0)	It's been a while but I'd like to come back to this issue. If I understand right: If you set it as interactive user AND The current user logs of on the OPC Server machine THEN the OPC Server stops working, because there is not interactive user? This issue would refrain me from using the Simatic Net OPC Server, it is a pain that you can not start the Simatic Net OPC Server as a service.

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5/18/2009 5:53 PM	Rate (0)
robromano Posts: 3 Rating: (0)	Hi All, I opened the same question on "Start Simatic PC Station in service mode". So, is there any new about this subject ? Is it possible to start the Simatic OPC Server and running it as a windows service ??? I don't know why this is not possible to do. Someone know the reason why of this behaviour ? Thank you !!!
robromano Posts: 3 Rating: (0)
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5/18/2009 6:12 PM	Rate (0)
MPVilao Posts: 3 Rating: (0)	Hello, I already got the solution. You should change your DCOM Settings for OPC.SimaticNET. Use identify with "this user" instead of interactive user. Your Service should start up with the same user. To do that, change the properties of your service startup user. Another thing that you should take care is that your service is started in manual and added to the configuration console startup definitions. The attached screen shots should help you. Good Luck Attachment OPCSimaticService.zip (682 Downloads)
MPVilao Posts: 3 Rating: (0)
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5/19/2009 11:37 AM	Rate (0)
Able Archer Regular Member Joined: 8/28/2008 Last visit: 9/7/2022 Posts: 5 Rating: (0)	I know it is possible with other OPC Servers, like Kepware. It is possible to let the Simatic Net OPC Server run as an other specific user (Setting 'This User' in dcom config). This allows the Simatic Net OPC Server to run after logging of. But then this specified user has to be defined on the OPC client, with same username & pswd. The best solution is to let the server run as a service, but it looks like it is not possible to configure the Simatic Net OPC Server as a service. Or does anyone know how to accomplish this?
	Last edited by: Able Archer at: 5/19/2009 11:37 AM
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5/19/2009 5:01 PM	Rate (1)
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (411)	Hello, I admit I am a bit confused therefore I try to clarify some points. First of all SIMATIC NET runs as a Service, yes. Actually not only one but several... but this does not matter at the moment. The question is, is it necessary to have a user logged in to run a application??? The answer is NO. Actually the problem is as following. The OPC Server requires a User with sufficient rights be able to be accessible. Well... but nobody ever said that this is only possible for a User, you may also run a PC application that runs as a Service with the rights of a User. So you do not see that the application runs but the OPC Server is on... see this notice of the SIMATIC NET Customer Support: -------------------- All necessary SIMATIC NET services and processes are started with rigths of Windows system account. Only SIMATIC NET OPC-Server "OPC.SimaticNET" is started with rights of logged user. Here you can change identity in DCOM configuration. Here you can set defined user like local administrator, see FAQ http://support.automation.siemens.com/WW/view/en/22033262 Fig.04. This setting is necessary if your application is started as services or no user is logged on. -------------------- I hope this will set some points straight... and you do not need any Keepware OPC Server... just for this task. Best regards J_Bell
J_Bell Posts: 5822 Rating: (411)	Last edited by: J_Bell at: 5/19/2009 5:02 PM
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5/21/2009 10:40 PM	Rate (0)
Able Archer Regular Member Joined: 8/28/2008 Last visit: 9/7/2022 Posts: 5 Rating: (0)	I agree, it is indeed not needed for anyone to be logged in to run an application, you can also run the OPC Server as a pre-defined user. To obtain this, you have to specify "This user" in the Server-specific DCOM settings, as shown in the FAQ. It is not mentioned in the FAQ that this specific user also has to be defined as a user in the OPC client machine, with same username/password, , or else Asynchronous reads from the OPC client will fail. Instead of specifying this user on the client, one could also just disable all DCOM security settings, but this would pose a to big security risk, in my opinion. I can see now that the advantage of running the Simatic Net OPC Server as a service would be pretty small, because: to be able to run the Simatic Net OPC Server, the OPC Client doesn't need admin rights on the OPC Server machine, as oposed to Kepware. The OPC Client machine needs acces rights on the OPC Server machine, in the case of Kepware, this have to be admin rights, in the case of Simatic Net, a limited user is OK (when you run the OPC Servers as "This user"). I have just tested this on two Virtual Machines acting as OPC Server and Client, so I'm pretty sure. Friendly regards,
	Last edited by: Able Archer at: 5/21/2009 10:42 PM
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6/21/2017 1:00 PM	Rate (0)
christhumm Posts: 1 Rating: (0)	I just did this stuff to run our solution as service. If the client runs on the same machine also as service a deadlock may occur at system startup in case the client is also a service uisng the windows service structure to start up. Starting the client will start the server which needs to start some services to complete the addItems function. The Server services can not be started as long as the client does not query service running to windows. This means either query service running before using addItems or use on service starting the opcserver using the coinitialize function with autostart and start the opceclient (and any other dependant service ) with automatic(delayed).
christhumm Posts: 1 Rating: (0)
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