Strengths of the edge in OPC DCOM

The strengths of the edge in OPC DCOM setup include the following:

• The OPC interface abstracts the underlying device that acts as the data source. This means that there is no need to implement and maintain a connector for each fieldbus protocol to which the edge connects.
• The OPC server is typically linked to more than one PLC or DCS that have the same underlying industrial protocols. This means that a single OPC server can collect data coming from more than one PLC, thereby simplifying the edge deployment.
• Since the edge is not connected directly to the control network, it is easier to deploy it in a DMZ, as stipulated by the ICS standards.