Skkynet / Cogent DataHub

Cogent DataHub collects data from OPC UA servers and shares it with OPC UA clients, including SCADA and MES applications. It acts as a client and server simultaneously, with protocol conversion and aggregation for connections across different systems.

Source: Cogent DataHub Official Website
(https://cogentdatahub.com/)

Key Takeaways

• Use OPC conversion to connect existing DA systems with UA applications.
• Evaluate tunnelling when data must cross plant or site network boundaries.
• Select the licence pack and add-ons around the required connections and deployment size.

Challenges Cogent DataHub helps solve

Connecting OPC DA systems to OPC UA applications

DataHub OPC Gateway lets UA clients access DA servers and DA clients access UA servers. This keeps the equipment-facing OPC server in place when the application consuming its data changes.

Sharing OPC data across network boundaries

The DataHub Transfer Protocol (DHTP) carries data between DataHub instances, replacing networked DCOM on the tunnelled path. The UA Tunneller supports proxy connections and read-only remote access.

To keep inbound connections closed at both ends, place a DataHub instance in a DMZ and connect to it from instances on the plant and user networks.

Delivering production data to MES and other systems

DataHub combines selected points from multiple sources into a shared data set. For example, production values can feed an MES database while a monitoring application reads the same source data. Database and MQTT interfaces provide connections to IT systems.

When to use Cogent DataHub

Use DataHub to add data consumers while retaining existing OPC interfaces, or to separate plant connections from remote access. Define the source servers, destination applications and read/write permissions before choosing the deployment.

Compare OPC servers against the controllers and protocols your project needs.

Cogent DataHub specifications

Available functions depend on the licence pack and add-ons.

Cogent DataHub products and licensing

Historian connections, bridging and redundancy may require add-ons. MQTT connections also have link-licence requirements. Each DataHub instance on a computer or virtual machine requires its own licence. Include every instance in a tunnel or multi-site design when requesting a quote.

The subscription plan is billed annually with a minimum initial term of 24 months. For procurement in India, request the price, billing currency and applicable taxes, and confirm support arrangements with the supplier.

Cogent DataHub use case

Connecting pharmaceutical production data to an MES

Cogent's published use case describes an unnamed pharmaceutical plant in the Middle East that needed to send drug-synthesis production data from PLC-controlled equipment to its MES.

The plant connected the PLCs to an OPC server and used DataHub to feed the MES database. Staff could view plant status remotely, and authorised users could send control commands back to production.

How to download and evaluate Cogent DataHub

Request the software through the official Cogent DataHub download form. Without a licence, the application starts in demo mode with a one-hour time limit.

Use representative data to check connections, read/write behaviour and update rates before selecting the deployment and licences.

How to connect an OPC UA client to Cogent DataHub

In this arrangement, DataHub is the OPC UA server and the external application is the client.

Source: Cogent DataHub Documentation
(https://cogentdatahub.com/docs/cdh-cfgopcuaserver.html)

1. Open DataHub Properties and select OPC UA.
2. Enable Act as an OPC UA Server, check the required protocol and endpoint settings, and click Apply.
3. Allow remote connections in Security, create a user and assign the permissions that client needs.
4. In the client application, add the DataHub endpoint. Select compatible security and authentication settings, enter the credentials and establish certificate trust where required.
5. Browse the available nodes and select the data to monitor.

Cogent DataHub FAQ

Can Cogent DataHub connect directly to a PLC?

The Modbus feature connects DataHub to Modbus TCP or RTU slave devices, including compatible PLCs. Equipment using other protocols may need an OPC server or another driver to expose its data.

Can DataHub retain records during a database connection outage?

With database logging and Store and Forward enabled, DataHub caches transactions locally and forwards them after reconnection. Size the cache for the expected outage. If it reaches its configured maximum, DataHub discards new transactions.

Manufacturer information

Cogent Real-Time Systems Inc. was established in 1995 and is part of Skkynet. The companies work together to integrate Cogent DataHub with Skkynet technologies.