Connectivity

FlowChief is an open software platform with multiple drivers and interfaces for a bidirectional and manufacturer independent communication.

Open standard protocols and integrated drivers create a maximum of flexibility when connecting devices such as controllers, measuring devices or sensors. Additionally OPC UA and MQTT connector (FC_MQTT) offer a wide range of possibilities for the interaction with Third Party systems or Cloud and IoT environments.

Industrial sector: OPC UA as Client and server solution. Classic OPC, Classic DA and AE Client and integrated drivers such as Siemens S7 TCP/IP Connector (FC_S7_TCPIP) offer various possibilities for classical SCADA applications - right up to the well known vertical integration. Remote devices and controllers can be connected easily, just as overlapped systems (MES or ERP).

IoT and remote control technology: Devices and on site constructions can be connected via FlowChief Connect (PLC based remote technology), EC 60870-5-104 Connector (FC_IEC60870_5_104) or MQTT Connector (FC_MQTT). Additionally technologies such as LP WAN, Lora, Sigfox, NB-IoT or LTE-M are supported. For more information go to Remote Control / IoT.

FlowChief– FlowChief: The communication among multiple FlowChief systems via OPC UA, supports not only the classical online communication but also the synchronisation of the configuration and an entire match of archive data.

Cloud Connectivity: The integrated MQTT Pub/Sub Client enables the data capturing from IoT portals (Subscribing) and the publishing of data to Third Party services. This is where FlowChief offers an Edge functionality.

FlowChiefWeb API: Programming interface for the development of individual apps and applications or the exchange of big data.

Data import: The FlowChief file and API connector can recognize data and meta information from nearly any text structure, interpret these and import them. Additionally, it is possible to connect web API's as REST and capture information or data that is provided over these options.

Details
Client protocols (integrated)	OPC UA Data Access (DA) OPC UA Historical Data (HA) OPC UA DA Client Data Access OPC UA DA Client Alarm & Events Siemens S7 TCP/IP Driver RFC 1006, Siemens TIA FlowChief Connect (FC_Connect) (PLS based remote control) IEC 60870-5-104 MQTT Connector (Pub/Sub) SICLIMAT-X Connector (FC_SICLIMAT_X)
Server protocols (integrated)	OPC UA Data Access (DA) OPC UA HA Client (FC_OPC_UAClientHA) Historical Data (HA) OPC UA Server (DA, HA) (FC_OPC_UAServer)
API	FlowChief Web API - SOAP/AJAX Webservice XML interface(Engineering)
Data import	REST API (Client) ODBC File and API Connector (FC_OPC_Textfile) and API connector(automated reading of text structures and Web APIs) MSCONS Connector (FC_MSCONS), LPEX, ZRXP, Labdüs (+OPC UA Data Access (DA) and more) Excel archive value import
Data export	FlowChief Web API - SOAP/AJAX web service (FlowChief Reporting Service (FC_Reportingservice),time controlled dispatch; file storage, ftps or E-mail) Formats: csv, xml, html,MSCONS Connector (FC_MSCONS), ZRXP (+20 more)

Webinar

Our webinar Wie Sie Anlagen mit FlowChief 7.1 sicher und funktional vernetzen will give you an overview and some best practice examples of the known protocols and for data exchange. Please note, the video is German only.