The driver can be tested with the help of external tools.

A client application must be used in order to validate that the server is up and running and that the points were correctly set up.

Here you have the choice between using an OPC UA client or an OPC classic client.

OPC UA CLIENT

You have the possibility of downloading a free UA client from the Unified Automation UaExpert’s website (https://www.unified-automation.com/downloads/opc-ua-clients.html).

To use this software to connect to the server, you must do the following:

• Start your simulation that includes the OPC UA server driver
• Open the UaExpert Client application
• In the menu, click on Server > Add
  A window appears where you can configure the server’s address:

• Name your configuration
• In the Custom Discovery section, double click on <Double click to Add Server ..>

• Enter the IP address of the simulator where the server is running and the port number that you configured (in the OPC_UA_Server_cfg.opal file, serverSetup > tcpBinary > portNr; if no value has been provided in the configuration file, the default is 4840).
• Click OK in the Enter URL window
• Click OK in the Add Server window; your server should appear in the left-side panel under Project > Servers > name_of_your_configuration
• Right click on the server then select Connect

• The configured points should appear in the section below the projects and you should be able to see the folder structure that you set up in the OPC_UA_Server_cfg.opal file
• Expand the folders until you find your points; click on the points; drag and drop the points in the main window, the Data Access View

• You should now be able to read the from_server_to_client points and to write/modify the from_client_to_server points

OPC CLASSIC CLIENT

Even though the server uses the OPC UA protocol, it is possible to use a classic OPC client to connect to it. But in order to achieve this connectivity, an OPC UA Proxy must be deployed on the host computer where the classic OPC client is running. To do so, you have to install Matrikon's OPC UA Proxy software (http://www.matrikonopc.com/opc-ua/products/ua-proxy.aspx) that comes with a 30-day evaluation license. The full version can be purchased through our sales department. The proxy acts as a 'bridge' between the classic OPC client and the OPC UA server.

To configure:

• Launch the software, click Add New Connection

• Enter the UA Server URL matching this example: opc.tcp://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:YYYY with the right IP address and TCP port. The IP address (xxxx) is the one of the simulation target where the OPC UA server is running and the TCP port (YYYY) is the port configured in the driver configuration file
• Set the security option to None-None, choose a connection name for the server and then click on Done. Some additional options are available when clicking on Logging Options

• You should then see the connection you just created:

• Click on the connection
• Start the proxy connection by clicking on the play icon
• Start your OPC client
• Connect to the server by giving the name UAProxy.OPAL_OPC_UA.1

You can now browse through the folder tree specified in the configuration file to add data to be monitored or controlled.