Opto 22 all products Communication Tools & Protocols

INTRODUCTION

Communication Tools & Protocols

TECHNICAL NOTE

Form 1820-200629

PAGE 1

Because Opto 22 products—both current and legacy—are based on open standards, you can use them with
a variety of programming tools and communication protocols. In addition to monitoring and controlling
sensors, machines, and equipment, you can exchange data with devices, databases, systems, software
applications on your premises or in the cloud, and web services.

Thanks to open standards, Opto 22 products can make data available for integration, storage, analysis, and
industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications.

This technical note describes the programming tools, protocols, and options you can use and shows you
which Opto 22 products work with each. Some require free Opto 22 software development kits (SDKs) and
integration kits, which are available for groov EPIC®, SNAP PAC, and legacy products.

• The table beginning on page 2 lists development environments and the products that support them.

• The table starting on page 3 lists protocols and communication methods and the products that work

with them.

• Programming and communication tools, APIs, SDKs, and integration kits are briefly described starting on

page 7.

• Protocols and other communication options are described starting on page 11.

• See developer.opto22.com for complete information on RESTful APIs, Node-RED nodes, Ignition and

Ignition Edge® from Inductive Automation®, MQTT and Sparkplug, code samples, and more.

• You can also see and contribute to additional methods of communication developed by our user
community in the OptoForums at www.opto22.com.

Many of the tools and protocols in this tech note apply to these Opto 22 products. Follow the links to see
descriptions and specifications:

• groov EPIC processors

• groov RIO® edge I/O modules

• PAC Project™ automation software suite

• SNAP PAC controllers (SNAP PAC S-series, R-series, and SoftPAC)

• SNAP PAC brains (I/O processors)

• groov View mobile operator interface tool

If you have questions on tools, protocols, or the use of Opto 22 products, contact Pre-Sales Engineering by
phone or email. Pre-Sales Engineering is free, and we’re glad to help.

Phone: [phone] (toll-free in the U.S.) or 951-695-3000
Contact via website: https://www.opto22.com/support/contact-us

After you purchase Opto 22 products, you’ll also receive free product support from the experienced engineers
in our Temecula, California headquarters.

© 2011-2020 Opto 22. All rights reserved. Dimensions and specifications are subject to change. Brand or product names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations.

Communication Tools & Protocols

Form 1820-200629

OVERVIEW: TOOLS, PROTOCOLS, AND PRODUCTS

Development Environments

NOTE: Legacy products are listed in the table but are not recommended for new development. For information on most legacy equipment,
see Legacy and Current SNAP Product Comparison Charts, form 1693.

PAGE 2

Development
Environment

C, C++, C#,
Java, JavaScript,
Perl, Python, or any
other
JSON-compatible
programming
language

C, C++, Java,
JavaScript, Perl,
Python, or any other
Raspberry
Pi-compatible
programming
language

C/C++, Java, Python,
and other languages

C++

CODESYS®
Development System
with any IEC-61131-3
compliant language

Ignition from Inductive
Automation

Ignition Edge

Purpose Opto 22 Products Notes

Access I/O point and variable data in
a groov EPIC processor or SNAP
PAC controller, using the controller’s
REST API.

Access data in a groov® View Data
Store using the groov View API.

Use a Raspberry Pi to monitor and
control industrial digital sensors &
devices.

Build custom programs to run on
Linux® OS.

Read or write to memory map
addresses in the device.

Create and run control programs. groov EPIC processor

Integrate full-featured Ignition HMI
with Opto 22 systems.
Add external access to OPC-UA
server, scripting, database support,
and all Ignition modules.

Connect to PLCs using OPC UA.
Connect to Modbus/TCP devices and
software.
Communicate data using MQTT with
Sparkplug or string payloads.

PAC Project and
groov EPIC processor, or
SNAP PAC R-series or
S-series controller

groov View on groov EPIC,
groov Edge Appliance

(groov Box), or groov
Server for Windows

Digital I/O Carrier Board for
Raspberry Pi
G4PB8H or G4PB16H rack
and G4 digital I/O modules
or SNAP-D4M rack and
SNAP digital I/O modules

groov EPIC processor

groov EPIC processors
groov RIO modules

SNAP PAC controllers
SNAP PAC brains
G4EB2 brain
E1 and E2 brain boards

(Legacy) SNAP Ethernet
I/O, SNAP Simple I/O,
SNAP Ultimate I/O,
SNAP-LCE controller

groov EPIC (with firmware
R1.4.0 or higher)

groov EPIC
groov Box

See developer.Opto22.com for complete API
documentation and steps for getting started.
For SNAP PAC, requires firmware R9.5a or higher.

See groov View User’s Guide (form 2027).
See API documentation in groov Build (choose
Help > groov Public API).
Requires groov R3.3a or higher.

See developer.Opto22.com for getting started steps
and code samples.

Requires Linux Secure Shell access license,

GROOV-LIC-SHELL

PAC-DEV-OPTOMMP-CPLUS

Requires groov EPIC firmware 1.3.0 or higher and
free GROOV-LIC-CRE. See licensing steps in the

groov EPIC User's Guide.

Requires Ignition license. Contact an Opto 22

Pre-Sales engineer for information.

Requires GROOV-LIC-EDGE.
For groov Box, also requires groov Admin 1.570.47
or higher.

© 2011-2020 Opto 22. All rights reserved. Dimensions and specifications are subject to change. Brand or product names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations.

Communication Tools & Protocols

Form 1820-200629

PAGE 3

Development

Environment

.NET

Node-RED

PAC Project
Automation Software
Suite

Purpose Opto 22 Products Notes

Read or write to I/O point and variable
data in a PAC Control™ strategy
(control program).

Read or write to memory map
addresses in the device.

Communicate with current loop
devices using the HART® protocol.

Communicate data among hardware
devices, databases, web services,
APIs.

Create and run control programs,
build Microsoft® Windows® HMI, use
OPC server, connect to databases

PAC Project and
groov EPIC processor or
SNAP PAC controller

groov EPIC processors
groov RIO modules

SNAP PAC controllers
SNAP PAC brains
G4EB2 brain
E1 and E2 brain boards

(Legacy) SNAP Ethernet
I/O, SNAP Simple I/O,
SNAP Ultimate I/O,
SNAP-LCE controller

HART SNAP I/O module(s)

groov EPIC processors
groov RIO modules
groov Box

SNAP-PAC R-series
SNAP-PAC-S series

groov EPIC processors
SNAP PAC controllers

PAC-DEV-CONTROLLER-DOTNET

PAC-DEV-OPTOMMP-DOTNET

PAC-DEV-HART-DOTNET

Requires HART SNAP I/O module(s):

SNAP-AIMA-iH, SNAP-AOA-23iH

groov EPIC, groov RIO, and groov Box (with groov
Admin 1.570.44 or higher) include Node-RED. Free
Node-RED nodes are available for groov I/O and
groov View. See developer.opto22.com.

Node-RED does not run on SNAP PACs but can talk
to them via free SNAP PAC nodes (requires PAC
firmware R9.5a or higher).
See developer.opto22.com.

Free PAC Project Basic for control and HMI.
PAC Project Professional adds other functions.

Protocols and Communication Methods

NOTE: Legacy products are listed in the table but are not recommended for new development. For information on most legacy equipment,
see Legacy and Current SNAP Product Comparison Charts, form 1693

Protocol or

Communication

Method

BACnet/IP

BACnet MS/TP

Communicate with devices on a
BACnet/IP network.

Communicate with systems using the
BACnet protocol over RS-485 (serial).

Purpose Opto 22 Products Notes

Requires Opto 22 Library Package for CODESYS

Development System 1.0.0.1 or higher and

groov EPIC

PAC Project and
SNAP PAC controller

PAC Project and
SNAP PAC S-series
controller

CODESYS BACnet SL version 1.2.1.0, available at
the CODESYS Store (“Previous Versions” tab; a
higher numbered release will not work).

PAC-INT-BAC-IP

Requires PAC Project R9.4a or higher and PAC
firmware R9.4a or higher.

PAC-INT-BAC

Requires PAC Project R8.2a or higher.

© 2011-2020 Opto 22. All rights reserved. Dimensions and specifications are subject to change. Brand or product names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations.

Protocol or

Communication

Purpose Opto 22 Products Notes

Method

Communicate with systems using the
Controller Area Network (CAN)
protocol.

CAN

Receive data from systems using the
CAN protocol.

Transmit to and receive data from
devices using the CAN protocol.

DF1

Communicate with older
Allen-Bradley

®

drivers or PLCs using

the DF1 protocol.

DNP3

EtherNet/IP

™

Communicate with systems using the
DNP3 protocol.

Allow Allen-Bradley PLCs to use
SNAP-PAC I/O, using the EtherNet/IP
protocol.

FTP (client) Work with data files.

FTP (server) Work with data files.

HART

HTTP
HTTPS

Communicate with current loop
devices using the HART protocol.

Communicate with other devices &
software.

Communicate with systems using the

IEC-60870

60870-5-101 and 60870-5-104
protocols.

microSD card Store data locally.

Communication Tools & Protocols

Requires groov EPIC Firmware 1.5.0 or higher.

groov EPIC and

GRV-CCANI-2 module

PAC Project and
SNAP PAC controller and

SNAP-SCM-CAN2B

PAC Project and
SNAP PAC controller and

SNAP-SCM-CAN2B

PAC Project and
SNAP PAC controller

(Legacy) OptoControl and
SNAP-LCM4 or M4
controller

PAC Project and
SNAP PAC controller

SNAP PAC controllers
SNAP PAC EB brains
G4EB2 brain

SNAP PAC controllers
SNAP Ultimate I/O

SNAP PAC controllers
SNAP PAC EB brains
G4EB2 brain

(Legacy) SNAP Ultimate
I/O and SNAP Ethernet I/O

PAC Project and
SNAP PAC controller and
HART SNAP I/O module(s)

HART SNAP I/O module(s)
and SNAP PAC R-series
controller or SNAP PAC
brain

groov EPIC processors
groov RIO modules

SNAP PAC S-series
SNAP PAC R-series

PAC Project and
SNAP PAC controller

groov EPIC processors
groov RIO modules

SNAP PAC S-series
SNAP PAC R-series

Works with custom programs developed with shell
access or with CODESYS applications (requires

Opto 22 Library Package for CODESYS
Development System 1.0.2.0 or higher).

PAC-INT-CAN-RX (Receive only)

Requires SNAP-SCM-CAN2B CAN communication
module with firmware R1.0d or lower and PAC
Control R9.2a or higher.

PAC-INT-CAN-RXTX (Transmit & receive)

Requires SNAP-SCM-CAN2B CAN communication
module with firmware R2.0d or higher and PAC
Control R9.2a or higher.

PAC-INT-ABDF1

OPTOINTAB

PAC-INT-DNP3 (Requires PAC Control Professional

R8.1 or higher).

Direct communication over EtherNet/IP.

Direct communication over Ethernet.

Direct communication over Ethernet.

Direct communication over Ethernet.

Requires HART SNAP I/O module(s).

Custom program built using

PAC-DEV-HART-DOTNET.

Requires HART SNAP I/O module(s).

HTTP/HTTPS server is built in.
SNAP PAC requires firmware R9.5a or higher.

PAC-INT-IEC60870-5

Requires PAC Control Professional R9.3a or higher.

groov EPIC and groov RIO: via USB port (to 32 GB)
SNAP PAC: built-in microSD card slot (to 32 GB)

Form 1820-200629

PAGE 4

1

© 2011-2020 Opto 22. All rights reserved. Dimensions and specifications are subject to change. Brand or product names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations.