SCADA systems can now connect to Siemens PLCs via the Ignition OPC-UA Server. The Ignition Siemens Drivers Module includes three drivers that enable communications with Siemens S7-300, S7-400, and S7-1200 PLCs.

The driver is available now as a beta, and can be downloaded by visiting the Downloads section of Inductive Automation’s website. Users who download now will be notified when the final version of the driver is available.

Installing the new drivers is easy, and requires no system downtime. Users can install the module into the Ignition Gateway interface and immediately begin connecting to Siemens PLCs on their control systems – no restart is required!

The Ignition OPC-UA Server and drivers are free. Users may download the free OPC-UA server at the Inductive Automation website. Allen Bradley and Modbus drivers are already included in the OPC-UA server, and an open API is available for developers who wish to write their own drivers.

Ignition OPC-UA is offered free as a stand-alone server, and is also included as a free module within the Ignition SCADA software. Ignition is a robust platform for creating web-launched HMI, SCADA and MES systems that can run on Windows, Linux, OS X and more. With full support for OPC-UA, classic OPC, Modbus TCP/IP, and UDP/TCP, Ignition can be adapted to connect to virtually any industrial device.

For more information about the Ignition OPC-UA server, visit http://www.inductiveautomation.com/scada-software/opc-ua-server.