Kepware, a PTC business developing industrial connectivity software, released Tuesday KEPServerEX version 6.1 connectivity software. The new release is a natural evolution of version 6, further strengthening the industrial connectivity platform’s core server functionalities that support operational intelligence and the rapid development and deployment of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions.
Key updates include an enhanced OPC UA Client driver, expanded Configuration API capabilities, and new connectivity mapping features.
Building upon the global connectivity, usability, and performance enhancements provided in Version 6, KEPServerEX Version 6.1 includes OPC UA Client driver updates and new Siemens Plus Suite.
Customers now have full access to controllers with embedded OPC UA Servers. For example, customers with S7-1500 controllers or next generation B&R devices can now access their data using high-performance OPC UA connectivity. Updates to the OPC UA Client driver include support for OPC UA Nano profile servers as well as complex data types. As packaged with our new Siemens Plus Suite, these enhancements provide the only Siemens-approved method for third-party communication to S7-1500 PLCs using optimized data blocks.
Customers using the Configuration API to remotely Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) configuration objects in KEPServerEX can now perform these actions on the IoT Gateway advanced plug-in. The Configuration API has also been enhanced to support access to Event Log messages without the KEPServerEX configuration client.
The KEPServerEX integration with the ThingWorx Industrial IoT Platform enables customers with smart, connected manufacturing applications or products that leverage industrial controllers to seamlessly map tags within KEPServerEX to properties on devices connected to ThingWorx.
In addition, the KEPServerEX V6.1 release introduces the new CODESYS Ethernet driver for connectivity to devices running CODESYS V2.3. It also features enhancements to 34 key drivers and advanced plug-ins, including improved performance for the Mitsubishi Ethernet and Omron NJ Ethernet drivers and connectivity to Amazon Web Services IoT Platform via the IoT Gateway’s MQTT Agent.
The major release of KEPServerEX V6 was designed to address the industry’s need to produce and analyze greater types of data to supply a wider, more diverse set of client applications. KEPServerEX V6 is enterprise-ready, IT-friendly and secure software that enables remote configuration, support for critical industrial automation markets in Asia and Europe, and a simplified user and licensing experience.
“KEPServerEX Version 6.1 puts a bow on the IoT-friendly and enterprise-ready connectivity solutions provided in Version 6.0,” said Tony Paine, Platform President, Kepware. “Our goal with this release was to balance the productivity demands of our traditional industrial operations customers while developing new features and functionalities that enable customers to bridge the gap between Operations and IT—and prepare them for emerging industry needs and opportunities. In Version 6.1, we’ve added critical performance enhancements that further support this goal.”
