Using the Server Explorer to Troubleshoot DAQ-OPC Server Communication

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Using the Server Explorer to Troubleshoot DAQ-OPC Server Communication

Primary Software: Utility Software>>Server Explorer
Primary Software Version: 2.4.1
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: Driver Software>>NI-DAQ

Problem:
How do I configure the Server Explorer to test if my data acquisition (DAQ) device is sending the data properly to the DAQ-OPC Server?

Solution:
The Server Explorer uses the virtual channels created in Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) to get data from the DAQ device. The Server Explorer requires that only one virtual channel is created per channel available on the DAQ device. The Server Explorer does not accept two or more virtual channels pointing to the same physical channel of the DAQ device.

Note: Refer to the DAQ Channel Wizard Tutorial (linked below) for information creating virtual channels in MAX.

Complete the following steps to configure the Server Explorer.

Check that the DAQ-OPC server was installed with NI-DAQ, the DAQ device driver. For NI-DAQ 6.8 or later, select Start»Settings»Control Panel»Add/Remove Programs and double-click NI-DAQ. The NI-DAQ installer launches, which shows the components that were installed with the driver. If necessary, install the OPC-DAQ Client from this installer. The first version of the DAQ driver that includes the DAQ-OPC servers was NI-DAQ 6.0. Refer to KnowledgeBase 1XIDBB2L (linked below) for more information.

Note: Download the latest driver that supports your DAQ device. Refer to the Hardware Installation Wizard (linked below) for more information.
Download Server Explorer 2.4.1 from the Drivers and Updates library (linked below).
Unzip the Server Explorer file to an empty folder and run setup.exe to install Server Explorer 2.4.1.
Open Server Explorer. The DAQ-OPC Server appears on the left side of the screen. If it does not, uninstall and re-install NI-DAQ following the instructions in the Hardware Installation Wizard (linked below).
Test in MAX that the virtual channels are operating properly. Refer to the NI-DAQ OPC Server Troubleshooting Wizard (linked below) for more information.
Close MAX.
In the Server Explorer, right-click DAQ-OPC and select Wizard from the shortcut menu. The OPC Wizard - Connection window appears.
Click the Next button. If the connection to the DAQ-OPC Server is successful, a green light icon appears. The OPC Wizard - Group Configuration window appears.
Enter the Group Name and the Update Rate, which is the rate at which you would like to update your data.
Click the Next button. The OPC Wizard - Item Selection window appears.
By default, all the virtual channels you created in MAX appear under the Selected OPC Items sub-window. You can add or remove virtual channels to the Available OPC Items sub-window by using the >> or << buttons, respectively.
After you select the items that you want to add to the group created in step 9, click the Finish button. The group with its corresponding virtual channels appear under DAQ-OPC. You can create more groups by repeating steps 7 through 11. Different groups can have common virtual channels.
On the right side of the Server Explorer window, the value read from the virtual channels of the groups appears in the Value column. If you have an analog output virtual channel in one of the groups, you can change the output value by right-clicking the virtual channel and selecting Properties from the shortcut menu.
Select the Read & Write SyncIO tab. In the Value field of the Write section, enter 0.5 and click the Write! button. The Status should say Success.
Click the OK button to go back to the Server Explorer window and see the value change.

Report Date: 04/12/2002
Last Updated: 08/11/2008
Document ID: 2KBES9WD

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