Configure the iFIX OPC A&E Server

• Entering information in the Configure iFIX OPC A&E Server dialog box
• Running the server as a service when iFIX starts
• Verifying that the iFIX OPC A&E Server is running after starting iFIX
• Verifying that the iFIX OPC A&E Server is running as a service

Configuration Overview

After installing the iFIX OPC A&E Server, you need to configure it. To do so, run the iFixOPCAESrv.exe file in your iFIX folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX, by default) and enter the configuration information in the Configure iFIX OPC A&E Server dialog box.

If iFIX is already running as a service, do not run the iFIX OPC A&E Server by double-clicking the iFixOPCAESrv.exe file. Instead, use the iFixOPCAESrv.exe -config command line to open the iFIX OPC A&E Server and enter configuration information. Be aware that while iFIX is running as a service, you must restart the iFIX OPC A&E Server for any configuration changes you make to take effect.

To run the iFIX OPC A&E Server as a service, you need to run iFIX as a service. If iFIX is not already configured as a service, enable the "Continue Running After Logoff" option in the Local Startup Definition dialog box of the SCU. Before you can enable this option, you must exit iFIX. You can then update the SCU task list by adding the iFIX OPC A&E Server. The next time you start iFIX, it starts as a service along with the iFIX OPC A&E Server.

When running as a service, iFIX and the iFIX OPC A&E Server continue to run after you log off from your Windows user account. For more information, refer to the Running iFIX as a Service section of the Setting Up the Environment electronic book.

NOTE: When configured to run as a Windows' service, the OPC A&E Server appears as "iFIX OPC Alarms and Events Server" in the list of services. iFIX appears as "iFIX server" in the list of services. To view the Services window, from the Control Panel, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.

To enter information in the Configure iFIX OPC A&E Server dialog box:

1. Start iFIX.

2. Open the Windows Explorer.
3. Browse to the folder that contains the installed iFIX product. If you installed to the default location, browse to the C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX folder.
4. Double-click the iFixOPCAESrv.exe file. the iFIX OPC A&E Server appears.

NOTE: If iFIX is running as a service, the iFixOPCAESrv.exe file does not appear automatically when you double-click it. Instead, on the Start menu, point to Run, and in the Open field enter:

iFixOPCAESrv.exe -config

Click Run. the iFIX OPC A&E Server appears. Be aware that when iFIX is running as a service, you must restart iFIX after entering your configuration changes.

5. On the Configure menu, click Configure Fields. The Configure iFIX OPC A&E Server dialog box appears.
6. Enter the required information. For more information on these fields, refer to the Description of Configuration Fields section.
7. Click OK to save the configuration.

IMPORTANT: You must restart iFIX for your changes, such as Queue Size, to be applied.

To run the server as a service when iFIX starts:

NOTE: In this configuration, no user interface displays. The iFIX OPC A&E Server continues to run after you log off from your Windows user account.

1. Shut down iFIX.
2. Make sure that you are logged in as a user in the Administrators group. If not, log in as an Administrator now. You must be logged in as an Administrator to configure iFIX to run as a service.
3. Click the Start button and point to Programs, and then iFIX, and click System Configuration. The SCU appears.
4. On the Configure menu, click Tasks. The Task Configuration dialog box appears.
5. In the Filename field, click the browse (...) button. The "Select file name to use..." dialog box appears.
6. Browse to the iFIX installation folder. By default, this is C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX folder.
7. Select the iFixOPCAESrv.exe file in the iFIX folder and click Open.
8. Click Add. The new entry should appear in the Configured Tasks list.

9. Click OK.
10. Configure iFIX to run as a service.

TIP: To configure iFIX to run as a service, on the Configure menu, click Local Startup. The Local Startup Definition dialog box appears. Select the Continue Running After Logoff option. This option runs iFIX as a service and all its configured tasks whenever you start iFIX.

10. On the File menu, click Save to save the SCU.
11. On the File menu, click Exit.
12. Restart iFIX to apply the configuration changes you made in the SCU task list. As iFIX restarts it should start the iFIX OPC Alarms and Events Server as a service.

To verify that the iFIX OPC A&E Server is running after starting iFIX:

1. Start iFIX.
2. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and click the Task Manager button. The Windows Task Manager appears.
3. Click the Processes tab.
4. Confirm that iFixOPCAESrv.exe appears in the list.

To verify that the iFIX OPC A&E Server is running as a service:

1. Start iFIX, if it is not already running.
2. From the Control Panel, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services. The Services dialog box appears.
3. Scroll to the iFIX OPC Alarms and Events Server entry.
4. Confirm that the Status field displays "Started."