Software Toolbox

End User / Operator Blog

Sharing the tools, sharing the knowledge. Practical insights, tutorials, and deeper dives to help your team get more from your systems.

Software Toolbox at the ProveIt! Conference - Takeaways
5 min read

Software Toolbox at the ProveIt! Conference - Takeaways

Tanja Gehling
Mar 03, 2026

It was that time of year again, time to prove it at the ProveIt! Conference. I'll be honest, when we attended the premier of the conference last year, I was sceptic. Would this event be different ...

Topics:

IT/OT OmniServer Connectivity TOP Server OPC Router Industry 4.0 System Integrators Collaboration Industrial AI N3uron
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Software Toolbox is a full-stack Industrial AI company that helps companies deploy industrial connectivity, data platforms, cloud, and AI Agents that improve performance and throughput, manage uptime/downtime, improve quality, safety, and compliance, and accelerate time to insight and decision-making.
5 min read

Software Toolbox: Full Stack Industrial AI Starts with the Right Foundation

Jay David
Feb 18, 2026

Industrial AI is no longer experimental. It is becoming a competitive differentiator. Yet many initiatives stall, not because the value is unclear, but because the foundation is missing. In ...

Topics:

Device Connectivity IT/OT REST & Web Services OPC Integration OPC Conversion OPC Redundancy OmniServer Connectivity OPC Server TOP Server Business Intelligence OPC Router Industry 4.0 System Integrators Collaboration Industrial AI
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NEW Release - DataHub V11.0.4
5 min read

NEW Release - DataHub V11.0.4

Jessica Dillon
Jan 22, 2026

As Cogent DataHub continues to evolve, version 11.04 delivers a focused set of enhancements that build on the powerful foundation introduced with the V11 major release. This update prioritizes ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub System Integrators New Release
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Discover what’s new in TOP Server V7, including Active Directory integration, Windows Server 2025 support, expanded Allen-Bradley compatibility, and enhanced security features—plus an introduction to Kepware Edge for modern container-based industrial deployments.
5 min read

TOP Server V7 Has Arrived – So What’s New?

Ryan Royse
Dec 04, 2025

By now, you’ve probably heard that TOP Server V7 has officially landed. Maybe you’ve seen the announcements or caught a quick overview along the way. But if you find yourself wondering, “Okay, but ...

Topics:

TOP Server System Integrators Kepware Edge
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Legacy OPC HDA systems hold valuable historical data, but outdated COM/DCOM connections make it hard to access, share, or integrate with modern platforms. This post explores how Cogent DataHub eliminates historical data silos, converts OPC HDA to OPC UA HA, and enables seamless connectivity to today’s analytics, historian, and cloud technologies.
5 min read

Breaking down Historical Data Silos with Cogent DataHub

Connor Mason
Nov 20, 2025

In the ever-growing digital landscape of manufacturing operations, single use solutions & applications may solve issues, but also create their own data silos. These silos present multiple ...

Topics:

OPC UA OPC DA Database & Historian Cogent DataHub Exploring OPC UA System Integrators
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Getting Started with OmniServer and Barcode Scanners
5 min read

Getting Started with OmniServer and Barcode Scanners

Jessica Dillon
Oct 16, 2025

OmniServer is a universal data acquisition application designed to bi-directionally exchange data with a wide range of Ethernet, serial, or USB devices that use “non-standard protocols” such as weigh ...

Topics:

OmniServer OmniServer Did You Know System Integrators
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Learn why commercial OPC server toolkits simplify development, improve software quality, reduce costs, and ensure OPC interoperability. Discover OPC Wizard UA Server Development Toolkit today.
5 min read

Why use an OPC Server Development Toolkit?

Ganesh Kalipershad
Sep 25, 2025

As technical consultants at Software Toolbox, we are often approached by users who need to expose data from a software application they have written, or are writing, to communicate from systems they ...

Topics:

OPC UA OPC OPC Server Development Tools OPC Toolkit Benefits OPC Wizard System Integrators
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Protecting Historical Data Integrity Using Store & Forward
5 min read

Protecting Historical Data Integrity Using Store & Forward

Jessica Dillon
Jul 31, 2025

Welcome back to the Summer of IoT Blog Series. In this blog we’ll explore how Cogent DataHub’s External Historian and built-in Store and Forward features ensure efficient data flow without risking ...

Topics:

Database & Historian Cogent DataHub Summer of IoT System Integrators Store and Forward
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Empowering System Integrators Is Our Thing
5 min read

Empowering System Integrators Is Our Thing

Tanja Gehling
Jun 19, 2025

We’re in your corner, not your lane At Software Toolbox, we deeply value the partnerships we have with our System Integrators. Their deep industry knowledge and hands-on expertise are key to ...

Topics:

System Integrators
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Sustainability Info Graphic
5 min read

How Remote Configuration Can Help Your Business Go Green

Zachary Parham
Apr 17, 2025

While security and ease of project execution are often the focus when discussing remote configuration, they’re just the beginning. In this post for our 2025 Environmental Sustainability blog series, ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub OPC Router Earth Day Sustainability OPC Server Remote Config System Integrators
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Heat Pump Solar Panels Sustainability Graphic
5 min read

Harnessing Waste Heat for a Greener Future

Zachary Parham
Apr 10, 2025

When it comes to Earth Day, conversations often center on renewable energy and reducing raw materials—but true sustainability goes far beyond solar panels and recycling bins. One of the most ...

Topics:

OmniServer TOP Server OPC Data Logger OPC Router Earth Day Sustainability System Integrators
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Tree Global Map
5 min read

Standardizing Connectivity to Advance Sustainability

Jay David
Apr 03, 2025

How a Common Data Infrastructure is Helping Amcor Meet its Net Zero Goals We are celebrating World Earth Day all month long and recognize that sustainability is not just about using eco-friendly ...

Topics:

Case Studies TOP Server Earth Day Sustainability System Integrators
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Software Toolbox Solutions Graphic
5 min read

Did we prove it at ProveIt! ?

Tanja Gehling
Feb 27, 2025

Last week Software Toolbox was one of the 39 vendors exhibiting and presenting at the ProveIt! Conference in Dallas (check out the other ones we'll be at). We hardly noticed the freezing cold Texas ...

Topics:

Industry 4.0 System Integrators
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OPC Router TOP Server to SAP Data Integration Graphic
5 min read

From Plant Floor PLC to SAP: Real-Time Connectivity

Kyle Persyn
Feb 20, 2025

A global beverage manufacturer sought to modernize its data workflows by integrating operational technology (OT) with enterprise systems. Specifically, they needed to transfer real-time data from ...

Topics:

Case Studies Data Integration TOP Server OPC Router System Integrators
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Modbus Memory Function Code Table
5 min read

Demystifying Modbus Function Codes

Ryan Royse
Jan 09, 2025

When working with Modbus communication, understanding the key concept of function codes is essential for ensuring efficient and accurate data exchange. Sometimes a device manual might only refer to ...

Topics:

TOP Server Modbus System Integrators
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OPC Router Infographic
5 min read

Reading from CONNECT Data Services with OPC Router

Nicole Knox
Nov 21, 2024

Welcome back to our Data Storage Deep Dive series! In our previous post, we demonstrated how Cogent DataHub can integrate with AVEVA PI System to push data to CONNECT Data Services. However, with ...

Topics:

OPC Router Data Storage Deep Dive System Integrators
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Birds Flying Digital Data Graphic
5 min read

Software Toolbox Helps You Fly Higher with Canary Historian

Connor Mason
Sep 19, 2024

Welcome to the next installment of our Data Storage Deep Dive series! For years, Software Toolbox has been synonymous with terms like “device connectivity” and “data integration” thanks to our ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub OmniServer TOP Server Data Storage Deep Dive System Integrators
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Historian Concept Graphic
5 min read

Data Storage Deep Dive: Your Intro to Unlocking Historical Data

Ryan Royse
Sep 12, 2024

Welcome to the kickoff post of our Data Storage Deep Dive blog series! In this series, we will explore the crucial role of data storage solutions and Historians in industrial automation. Over the ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub TOP Server OPC Data Logger Flow Dream Report OPC Router Data Storage Deep Dive System Integrators
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Cogent DataHub Security User Roles Configuration Example
5 min read

Securing your MQTT Data Access in Cogent DataHub V11

Connor Mason
Jul 18, 2024

Continuing our Summer of IoT blog series, we'll delve into the exciting new release of Cogent DataHub V11. For those that may have missed our previous post on Cogent DataHub V11 Features to Be ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub MQTT & IoT Summer of IoT System Integrators
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Cogent DataHub Infographic
5 min read

Cogent DataHub V11 Features to Be Excited About

Connor Mason
Jun 27, 2024

As we continue our Summer of IoT blog series, this week we'll turn our focus to the V11 release of Cogent DataHub, a powerful platform known for its ability to seamlessly connect to a wide range of ...

Topics:

Technical Support Cogent DataHub Summer of IoT System Integrators
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Summer of IoT Graphic
5 min read

IoT and You – Kicking off the Summer of IoT

Ryan Royse
Jun 06, 2024

Welcome to the kickoff of Software Toolbox’s Summer of IoT blog series! Over the next few blog posts, we’ll discuss how our products can play a role in the exciting world of Internet of Things (IoT), ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub OPC Data Client TOP Server Flow OPC Router Summer of IoT System Integrators
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DataHub CSV Import Configuration Example
5 min read

Tech Support Corner: DataHub Item Imports Made Easy

Connor Mason
May 02, 2024

Cogent DataHub enables users to integrate diverse data sources quickly and efficiently within their industrial automation ecosystems. By providing multiple ways to consume, organize, and deliver ...

Topics:

Technical Support Cogent DataHub End User & Operator
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TOP Server Zero-Based Setting Configuration
5 min read

Modbus Offset vs. Addressing: Why Does It Matter?

Ryan Royse
Mar 21, 2024

Have you ever been confused on the difference between Modbus offsets and addresses? I’m sure you may have configured different Modbus devices from different manufacturers who follow different ...

Topics:

Technical Support TOP Server Modbus End User & Operator
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Cogent DataHub Database Write Transform Configuration Window
5 min read

DataHub – 3 Ways to Transform Database Writes

Kyle Persyn
Mar 14, 2024

If you’re an existing user or you’ve been keeping up with our previously released Cogent DataHub blogs, you’re already aware that Cogent DataHub is renowned for its extensive connectivity options to ...

Topics:

Technical Support Cogent DataHub Database System Integrators
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OPC Data Logger Detail Mode Add New Format
5 min read

Logging OPC Data with Custom Time Formats

Connor Mason
Feb 15, 2024

When logging data to a database or text file, the way that data is presented is essential due to the implications it has for who, or what, is reading this data to make decisions. Without the correct ...

Topics:

Technical Support OPC Data Logger System Integrators
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OPC Data Client Nuget How To Video Thumbnail
5 min read

OPC Data Client and NuGet: The What, Why, and How

Zachary Parham
Feb 08, 2024

Software Toolbox has been a fixture in the automation industry since 1996, offering software tools and components from project conception to completion. Our expert staff is committed to helping ...

Topics:

Technical Support OPC Data Client System Integrators
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DataHub Alarm Notification Graphic
5 min read

Exploring Cogent DataHub's Alarm & Notifications Plug-In

John Gonzalez
Dec 14, 2023

Cogent DataHub is primarily known for its extensive connectivity to OPC DA, OPC UA, OPC A&E, Databases, Historians, Excel, ODBC, DDE, Linux, Modbus and more. However, it is worth noting that this ...

Topics:

Technical Support OPC Alarms and Events Alarms & Notifications Cogent DataHub System Integrators
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OPC Data Client Python.NET Code Example
5 min read

OPC Data Client 2023.2 Adds Python.NET Support

Kyle Persyn
Dec 07, 2023

Developers that have leveraged our OPC Data Client toolkit for their custom OPC client development needs know that we’ve historically supported Python as a COM development language, but that had ...

Topics:

OPC Data Client Development Tools System Integrators
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