Configuring vNode as an OPC UA Server to Deliver Data from Multiple Sources: A Step-by-Step Guide

This guide explains como hacer que vNode tome los multiples datos de diferentes origines y te los entregue por el protocolo de opc ua, agregando seguridad en el proceso.

Create a New Module in vNode

• Module Selection: Use the OPC UA Server module.
• Purpose: Este modulo te permite enviar los datos de tu vNode por el protocolo OPC UA.

By following these steps, you can effectively send data for this protocol.

Once the module has been created, navigate to it to configure the necessary parameters. The first step is to create an access entry, which will allow us to add security to our OPC UA server. In this case, we will use the same user we logged into vNode with. However, if you prefer, you can create a specific user for this purpose. If you need assistance with creating users, we recommend checking out the article on how to create users in vNode.

You will create an administrator user with full permissions, including access to node information and read/write permissions for tags. Finally, you will need to set up a filter to specify the tag groups you want to share via this protocol. Alternatively, you can leave the default vNode root folder configuration, which will share the entire mapped memory tree.

Once the parameters are configured, ensure you save the changes. It’s also important to navigate to the **Methods** section and save there as well, even though we won’t be using this feature for this exercise.

Finally, access the **UAServer** module to configure the communication settings.

In the **Network Interface** option, select the network card through which vNode will share the OPC UA data. You can choose from the available network interfaces on your system. If you prefer to keep the communication local, select the **Loopback** option. You can also specify a communication port; the default port is **3005**. The **Alternate Host** option allows you to transmit data through two network interfaces simultaneously; in this field, enter the IP address configured on your system for the second network card.

If needed, you can enable the **Allow Anonymous User** option to permit connections without a username and password. While this setting is not recommended for security reasons, it may be useful in certain scenarios.

Lastly, configure the security policies. We recommend selecting **BASIC256SHA256**, which offers the highest level of security. This configuration will require a username and password and will accept security certificates, ensuring that the communication is fully encrypted.

Once everything is set up, save the changes to finalize the process.

Once the module is configured, you can test it using an OPC UA client. For this exercise, we’ll use **UA Expert** by Unified Automation, which you can download from their official website: [https://www.unified-automation.com/downloads/opc-ua-clients.html](https://www.unified-automation.com/downloads/opc-ua-clients.html).

In this step, we’ll discover the OPC UA server by entering the IP address where it’s hosted and the port number being used. Since this is a local test, we’ll use the IP address **127.0.0.1** and the port number configured earlier, which is **3005**.

Select the security type supported by the vNode OPC UA server and enter your credentials.

try connecting to the OPC UA server

If the connection does not appear, it could be because vNode rejected the certificate from UAExpert. To resolve this, go to the UAServer module in vNode and open the Certificates section. There, you will find the certificate associated with the UAExpert application. Simply right-click on the certificate and select Accept to trust it and establish the connection.

Once you have accepted the certificate, try reconnecting using UAExpert. This should allow the connection to be established successfully.

Created by JF