PTC subsidiary Kepware has released the latest version of its Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connectivity platform, KEPServerEX. The latest version, 6.4, improves upon version 6.3 in a few new ways, prominently with the introduction of the new MQTT Client Driver.
The MQTT Client Driver enables KEPServerEX to communicate with IIoT devices securely using the MQTT message protocol, a lightweight publish-subscribe messaging protocol used in many IIoT devices. The MQTT Client Driver provides a way to translate MQTT messages to OPC UA, another IIoT communication protocol supported by KEPServerEX. This allows users to create tags from MQTT devices and make MQTT data available over a variety of protocols.
“Many KEPServerEX users are now acquiring industrial data in their operational environments through new intelligent sensors and open-source or lightweight devices," said Kepware’s Jeff Bates. "The MQTT Client Driver and KEPServerEX seamlessly integrate data from these devices—enabling users to access new real-time data and provide a robust view of their plant floor operations.”
New drivers are often the headline of KEPServerEX updates, though a smattering of other enhancements often come along for the ride. In the case of version 6.4, these include:
- CODESYS Ethernet driver tag browsing: Users of the CODESYS Ethernet driver (introduced in version 6.1) are now able to select the tags they want to import into their KEPServerEX projects.
- Siemens TCP/IP Ethernet driver enhancements: Users of the Siemens TCP/IP Ethernet driver can now perform reads/writes more efficiently with Siemens S7-400 and S7-1500 controllers.
- ThingWorx Store and Forward: In the event of a communication disruption between KEPServerEX and PTC’s IoT platform ThingWorx, a new store-and-forward service will collect the KEPServerEX data and forward it to ThingWorx automatically upon reconnection.
“The enhancements in KEPServerEX version 6.4 are extremely valuable to any customer whose devices utilize the MQTT protocol,” said Mike Fahrion of Advantech B+B SmartWorx, a manufacturer of network connectivity equipment. “There are significant benefits to making IoT sensor data available in traditional industrial automation applications, and that is now possible with KEPServerEX.”
To learn more about KEPServerEX, read “KEPServerEX and ThingWorx IoT Platforms Improve Interoperability.”