▶️ObX Collector

A web based application tool for collecting various data from OPC, MQTT and Modbus devices and push it to ObX historian.

ObX Collector (Dedicated Installation Type)

If you haven't installed ObX collector go over here.

How ObX Collector works

The system interfaces with diverse sources like OPCUA servers, MQTT brokers, and Modbus devices (TCP and Serial). It incorporates data buffering functionality, which autonomously caches data during network disruptions between the ObX collector and ObX Historian, or in the event of historian server downtime. Subsequently, it automatically transfers the buffered data to the ObX historian upon network restoration or server availability.

Supported Protocol

Currently the ObX Collector supports the following protocol. In the future release, it will soon support Bacnet and EthernetIP.

• OPCUA (Polling and Subscribe)

• MQTT (Pub and Sub)

• Modbus (TCP and RTU)

What if my current system doesn't have the supported protocol of the ObX collector?

We prioritize the utilization of diverse communication protocols, with a particular emphasis on those widely adopted across various industries. OPC UA and Modbus are prevalent in small, medium, and large-scale Industrial Automation settings, whereas MQTT is commonly employed in the Internet of Things (IoT) domain. One advantageous aspect of these protocols is their widespread device support. However, in instances where existing systems or devices lack compatibility with these protocols, we recommend the use of protocol gateways readily available in the market as a straightforward solution.

There are multiple gateways that can convert multiple communication protocol to OPCUA protocol. Here are some.

• Ignition Gateway

• Cogent DataHub

• Matrikon OPC Gateway

• Haiwell PLCs (with built-in opcua server) and Cloud SCADA

• Kepware Server

These are just a few of the many gateways that you can use, most of them are cheap and have a FREE trial. You may use them to convert almost any protocols into a protocol supported by ObX collector.

You can access the ObX Collector UI by opening your browser and typing in http://localhost:1881

Accessing ObX Collector UI

Accessing ObX Collector UI

1. Open your browser and typing in http://localhost:1881

2. From the top-left side, click on the hamburger menu and click Go to Settings.

3. A login dialog will open. Type in the following credentials:

   username: admin password: admin

Accessing ObX Collector UI

In the production environment, it is recommended to change the default password of the admin. You can change it anytime.

Collector Historian Settings

Prior to incorporating any devices and adding tags into the ObX collector, it is imperative to configure the historian settings within the collector. These settings dictate the destination where the collector will transmit data for historization, typically the computer hosting the ObX historian software.

1. Open a browser and go to http://localhost:1881

2. Go to Settings and Login your credentials (see here)

3. On the upper left side menu, click on the settings button with ⚙️ icon, this will open the collector settings window.
4. Click on the Settings, this will open the Historian Settings

5. Configure the Historian settings with the following:

Field	Description	Value
Historian Type	Only ObX Historian available	N/A
IP Address	The IP address of computer where ObX historian component installed	IP address (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) FQDN (server.example.com) localhost
Datasource	The datasource name in the ObX historian as discussed here. This will override the datasource field indicated in the Collector historian settings here.	Selection - a list of datasources created in the ObX Admin tool as discussed here.
Collector Username	The username of the ObX Collector user. Make sure the user is existing as discussed here.	String and Case-senstive
Collector Password	The password of the ObX Collector user. Make sure the user is existing as discussed here.	String and Case-sensitive

1. Click OK

Setting the Collector Historian

Make sure to input the correct ObX Collector username and password created in the ObX Admin tool as discussed here.

Adding OPCUA Device

Adding a device in ObX collector is pretty straightforward.

1. Open a browser and go to http://localhost:1881

2. From the upper right menu, click on the hamburger icon -> Go To Settings and Login your credentials (see here)

3. On your lower right corner, click on the ➕ button, this will open a Device Property window.
4. In the name field, type your preferred name of the device and from the type select OPCUA.

5. Fill all the required fields with valid values:

Field Name	Description	Values
Name	The name of the device (String)	String (any)
Type	The type of communication protocol.	OPCUA
Polling	How fast this device (client) polls data from the OPCUA server. Omitting it will default to (1000ms)	500ms 1 sec 5 sec 10 sec 30 sec 1 min 5 min
Enable	Wether this device is enabled (means polling data from the opcua server) or not (not polling data)	Toggled Boolean (True or False)
Address	The URL connection address of the OPCUA server in UA TCP protocol.	opc.tcp://server:port/
ObX Datasource Name	The datasource name in the ObX historian as discussed here. This will override the datasource field indicated in the Collector historian settings here.	Selection - a list of datasources created in the ObX Admin tool as discussed here.
Security	List of all available security settings in the specified OPCUA server URL.	Basic123Rsa15 - Sign Aes128_Sha256_RsaOaep - Sign Basic256Sha256 - Sign None - None Aes256_Sha256_RsaPss - Sign & Encrypt Basic256 - Sign Basic256 - Sign & Encrypt Aes256_Sha256_RsaPss - Sign Basic256Sha256 - Sign & Encrypt Basic128Rsa15 - Sign & Encrypt Aes128_Sha256_RsaOaep - Sign & Encrypt
Security (Username and Password) -Optional	If there is a credential indicated in the OPCUA server, you must supply the username and password.	username - string & case-sensitive password - string & case-sensitive

1. Click OK

2. Repeat the steps if you want to add more.

Adding OPCUA Device

A color green status of the device indicates that you are successfully connected to the OPCUA server. Otherwise it is color red indicating that there is a fault in the connection.

There is no limitation of the number of OPCUA device to add in the ObX collector. However, make sure that there is enough resource capacity of the server where ObX collector is installed, the more data your are polling, the more resources is needed.

Adding OPCUA Tags

Make sure you have successfully connected to the OPCUA server and you have enabled the OPCUA device first. You cannot add opcua tags when either of the conditions is met.

From the Device Settings of ObX Collector:

1. Click the edit device tag 🔗 icon of the specific device you want configure. This will open the List of tags already added in that device.
2. From lower right, click on the ➕icon. This will open the Browse Tags in Server window. This windows will allow you view and select existing tags in the opcua server.
3. Browse and Select all the Tags you want to add in the ObX Collector. Then click OK.

Adding OPCUA Tags

By default, the Tag Options for every new tag added was set to the following: Historian - enable Polling Type - polled Save value interval - 1sec ObX Tagname - the Tagname of the tag selected Unit - Empty string Description - Empty string Engineering Max - 0 Engineering Min - 0 Format - Empty Scale Mode - Empty To learn more about Tag Options, go here.

Adding Modbus Device

1. Open a browser and go to http://localhost:1881

2. From the upper right menu, click on the hamburger icon -> Go To Settings and Login your credentials (see here)

3. On your lower right corner, click on the ➕ button, this will open a Device Property window.
4. In the name field, type your preferred name of the device and from the type select ModbusTCP or ModbusRTU.

5. Fill all required fields with valid values:

For ModbusTCP Options:

Field Name	Description	Values
Name	The name of the device (String)	String (any)
Type	The type of communication protocol	ModbusTCP
Polling	How fast this device (Modbus Master) polls data from modbus slave device. Omitting it will default to (1sec)	500ms 1 sec 5 sec 10 sec 30 sec 1 min 5 min
Enable	Wether this device is enabled (means requesting data from Modbus slave) or not (not requesting data)	Toggled Boolean (True or False)
Connection Options	Type of connection on how this device will connect to the modbus slave.	TcpPort - using tcp as protocol UdpPort - using udp as protocol TcpRTUBufferedPort TelnetPort
Slave IP and Port	The IP address of the modbus slave device.	IP address:port xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:[port] e.g. (127.0.0.1:502)
Slave ID	The slave ID of the modbus slave	1-255
ObX Datasource Name	The datasource name in the ObX historian as discussed here. This will override the datasource field indicated in the Collector historian settings here.	Selection - a list of datasources created in the ObX Admin tool as discussed here.
Fragmented	No effect	N/A

For ModbusRTU

Field Name	Description	Values
Name	The name of the device (String)	String (any)
Type	The type of communication protocol	ModbusRTU
Polling	How fast this device (Modbus Master) polls data from modbus slave device. Omitting it will default to (1sec)	500ms 1 sec 5 sec 10 sec 30 sec 1 min 5 min
Enable	Wether this device is enabled (means requesting data from Modbus slave) or not (not requesting data)	Toggled Boolean (True or False)
Connection Options	Type of connection on how this device will connect to the modbus slave.	SerialPort RTUBufferedPort AsciiPort
ObX Datasource Name	The datasource name in the ObX historian as discussed here. This will override the datasource field indicated in the Collector historian settings here.	Selection - a list of datasources created in the ObX Admin tool as discussed here.
Serial Port	The serial port name where the modbus slave device is connected.	e.g. COM1
Slave ID	The slave ID of the modbus slave device.	1-255
Baudrate	Baudrate of the communication.	Select from the options.
Data bits	Data bits of the communication.	Select from the options.
Stop bits	Stop bits of the communication.	Select from the options.
Parity	The parity of the communication.	Odd Even None (default)
Fragmented	No effect	N/A

Adding Modbus TCP Device

Adding Modbus RTU

A color green status of the device indicates that you are successfully connected to the Modbus slave device. Otherwise it is color red indicating that there is a fault in the connection.

There is no limitation of the number of Modbus slave device to add in the ObX collector. However, make sure that there is enough resource capacity of the server where ObX collector is installed, the more data your are polling, the more resources is needed.

Adding Modbus Tags

When adding Modbus tag, take note that you have to know the list of Modbus addresses on the specific Modbus slave device. Contact the device supplier for the modbus table.

Other thing to note is, the modbus address could be based zero or + 1, you can try to use other tool first like ModbusPoll so you can easily identify its behavior.

When you already know specific modbus address:

1. Click the edit device tag 🔗 icon of the specific device you want configure. This will open the List of tags already added in that device.
2. From lower right, click on the ➕icon. This will open the Tag Property window.
3. Configure necessary field related to modbus.

Field	Description	Values
Tagname	The name of the Tag.	String (any) - case sensitive
Register	The type of register	Coil Status Digital Input Holding Registers Input Registers
Type	The type of the modbus value.	Selection
Address offset	The modbus address of the tag.	1-655536
Divisor	Automatically divide the raw value of data to specific number. Suppose your recieve integer value of 100, and you set the Divisor = 10, then your value will become 100 / 10 = 10.	Number

1. Click OK button.

Adding Modbus Tag

By default, the Tag Options for every new tag added was set to the following: Historian - enable Polling Type - monitor Save value interval - 1sec ObX Tagname - the Tagname of the tag selected Unit - Empty string Description - Empty string Engineering Max - 0 Engineering Min - 0 Format - Empty Scale Mode - Empty To learn more about Tag Options, go here.

Adding MQTT Device

1. Open a browser and go to http://localhost:1881

2. From the upper right menu, click on the hamburger icon -> Go To Settings and Login your credentials (see here)

3. In your lower right corner, click on the ➕ button, this will open a Device Property window.
4. In the name field, type your preferred name of the device and from the type select MQTTClient.

5. Fill all the required fields with valid values:

Field Name	Description	Values
Name	The name of device.	String (any)
Type	The type of connection	MQTTClient
Polling	How fast this device (client) polls data from the OPCUA server. Omitting it will default to (1000ms)	500ms 1 sec 5 sec 10 sec 15 sec 30 sec 1 min 5 min
Enable	Wether this device is enabled (means actively subscribing to a topic from the MQTT broker) or not (inactive).	Toggled Boolean (True or False)
Address	The mqtt broker address.	mqtt://server:port
ObX Datasource Name	The datasource name in the ObX historian as discussed here. This will override the datasource field indicated in the Collector historian settings here.	Selection - a list of datasources created in the ObX Admin tool as discussed here.
Security	If with Username and Password credentials	Client-ID - define your custom clientID. Username - the username when connecting to MQTT broker. Password - the password when connection to MQTT broker.
TLS Certificate	When connecting via TLS certificate, you have to upload the certificate given by the MQTT Broker.	Certificate Private Key CA Certificate

1. Click OK

Adding MQTT Device

A color green status of the device indicates that you are successfully connected to the MQTT Broker . Otherwise it is color red indicating that there is a fault in the connection.

There is no limitation of the number of MQTT broker to add in the ObX collector. However, make sure that there is enough resource capacity of the server wher ObX collector is installed, the more data your are polling, the more resources is needed.

Adding MQTT tags (subscribe)

Before adding any MQTT tags, make sure that you have successfully connected to the broker and that the device is enabled.

1. Click the edit device tag 🔗 icon of the specific device you want configure. This will open the List of tags already added in that device.
2. From lower right, click on the ➕icon. This will open the Broker Topics to subscribe and publish window.
3. In the window, there are two tabs (Subscribe and Publish). Make sure you are in the Subscribe tab.

4. In the Browser Topics in broker, input the topic you want to subscribe. Then press the Search 🔍icon.

In the step 4, this will list multiple topics or a single topic depends on how to define the topic. If you use wildcards e.g. ("topic1/#"), then it should look to all topics under the "topic1".

1. From the list, click on the topic you want to add.

2. Select wether the payload format of the topic value is RAW or JSON. (You should select according to the actual value)

3. In the below configuration, specifically the "Name", you may input the name of the Tag you want for this Tag.

In step 7, make sure you define a Name for the specific tag, otherwise it will be "undefined" and may cause error.

1. Click the Subscribe button.

Adding MQTT Tags

By default, the Tag Options for every new tag added was set to the following: Historian - enable Polling Type - monitor Save value interval - 1sec ObX Tagname - the Tagname of the tag selected Unit - Empty string Description - Empty string Engineering Max - 0 Engineering Min - 0 Format - Empty Scale Mode - Empty To learn more about Tag Options, go here.

Tag Options

Tag options defines the characteristic of the Tag on how are they historized in the ObX Historian. Such characteristics will be based on the following configuration.

Field Name	Description	Values
Historian	Wether this tag will be historized or not in the ObX historian.	Toggled switch Boolean True - means it will historized to ObX historian False - nothing
Polling type	The type of polling, wether to poll at every specific seconds (based on the settings of Save value interval) or Monitored.	Polled - will read the data and save it regardless if its value changed or not. Use this if you want to historized specific parameters that very seldom to change its value. Monitored - will read and save the data if there is only a change in the value of the tag. Use this if your data changes frequently. Monitored items are only applicable for OPCUA device.
Save value interval (sec)	The value in seconds to how frequent this tag to be historized in ObX historian. Note: This will not override the polling interval settings in the Device level. Basic rule of 👍 is always make the polling interval in the Device level to be faster than the settings you will configure in a Tag level.	1 - 1 sec 5 - 5 sec 10 - 10sec 15 - 15sec and so on.. Note: Make sure that you will only input number that is when divided by 60 (1 minute), will not give you remainder.
ObX Tagname	The name of the Tag in the ObX historian.	String (Optional) default to the name of Tag itself.
Unit	The unit of the Tag	String (Optional)
Description	The description of the Tag	String (Optional)
Engineering Max	The maximum value of the Tag	Number (Optional) default to 0
Engineering Min	The minumum value of the Tag	Number (Optiona) defaul to 0
Format digits	The number of decimal number points.	Number (Optional) default to Nothing, automatically gets all the decimal number. Specifying 2 will only get the first 2 decimal number in the floating value.
Scaling	Setting if you want to Scale Up or Down the raw value of the specific Tag.	Options (default to No Scaling) No Scaling - No scaling of the value Linear - Linear scaling of up or down of the value

1. Click the edit device tag 🔗 icon of the specific device you want configure. This will open the List of tags already added in that device.
2. From the table of list of Tags, each row of Tag contains an ellipsis icon (on their right-side). Click on this icon and select -> Tag Options.
3. Configure the Tag Options based on your requirements.

4. and Click OK.

5. To take effect all the Tag Options settings, click on the save icon 💾

   Note: There are 2 save icon buttons in the collector, please click the save icon (right-side of the Timestamp column)

6. A confirmation dialog will open, simply click OK.

Tag Options

Deleting / Removing a Tag

Deleting a tag in any devices is pretty straight-forward.

From the Device setting in ObX Collector:

• Click the edit device tag 🔗 icon of the specific device you want configure. This will open the List of tags already added in that device.
• From the list of Tags, you can see that for every tag, it has an option ✖️ (at right side). Click the X mark of the Tag you want to delete. You can also delete multiple tags.
• Once you have deleted all the tags you want to delete. Click on the Save (At the top left corner) button to take effect.

Make sure you hit that Save button (at the top left corner) to take effect the deletion.