System Integrator Blog

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 Collaboration Industrial AI N3uron

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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 Collaboration Industrial AI

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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 New Release

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5 min read

Kepware Edge for Linux: What It Is & Where It Fits

Ryan Royse

Jan 22, 2026

If you've been following along with our latest blog posts, you've probably heard Kepware Edge mentioned alongside the newly released version 7 of TOP Server. The question you may have now is: where ...

Topics:

TOP Server Kepware Edge

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5 min read

What you liked to hear / read from us in 2025

Tanja Gehling

Jan 02, 2026

As we leave 2025 behind us and welcome 2026, it’s clear that industrial connectivity and digital transformation continue to be front and center. All year long, Software Toolbox’s technical blog ...

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5 min read

Don’t Let a Data Grinch Ruin Your Digital Transformation

Tanja Gehling

Dec 11, 2025

In today’s industrial world, data is king - but only if it’s accessible, accurate, and connected. Unfortunately, many organizations face a sneaky intruder: the Data Grinch. Unlike its Christmas ...

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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 Kepware Edge

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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

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5 min read

OPC Wizard: Rapidly Add OPC UA Server Capability to your Custom Software

Nicole Knox

Nov 06, 2025

Your organization has a custom developed application that performs important tasks, and you need to provide access to that software from an HMI, SCADA, Historian, MES, or other system acting as an ...

Topics:

OPC UA OPC Wizard

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5 min read

How TOP Server Helps You Avoid Manufacturing Nightmares

Ryan Royse

Oct 30, 2025

While Halloween and this time of year offers a few good scares, our customers in manufacturing face year-round nightmares that are far less fun: connectivity issues that stop production and ...

Topics:

TOP Server

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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

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5 min read

Reports At Your Fingertips: Introducing the LGH File Inspector Industrial Graphic for AVEVA InTouch HMI

Zachary Parham

Oct 09, 2025

Since 2016, LGH File Inspector has been the trusted tool for AVEVA™ InTouch HMI users who need quick, reliable access to their historical data. Whether it’s pulling files from network drives, ...

Topics:

Wonderware LGH AVEVA InTouch

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How to Reduce Downtime with Predictive Maintenance and Machine Learning

Kyle Persyn

Oct 02, 2025

Downtime is expensive — sometimes costing thousands of dollars every minute, a line sits idle. Traditional maintenance approaches often fall into one of two traps: reacting after something breaks or ...

Topics:

Predictive Maintenance OPC Router Machine Learning

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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

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5 min read

OPC UA Session Timeouts Explained: Configuration, Best Practices, and Why They Matter

Kyle Persyn

Sep 18, 2025

When your industrial operations depend on continuous OPC UA client-server communication, even short disruptions can ripple into major consequences. OPC UA session timeouts act as a built-in ...

Topics:

OPC UA Exploring OPC UA

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Tutorial: Fortify Data Integrity by Adding Store and Forward to PI Historian Logging

Nicole Knox

Sep 04, 2025

Welcome back to our blog! In our previous post, Protecting Historical Data Integrity Using Store & Forward, we walked through several architectures that leverage Cogent DataHub to securely ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub AVEVA Store and Forward

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5 min read

Visualizing Real-Time Process Data in Power BI Using OPC Router’s REST Plug-in

Kyle Persyn

Aug 27, 2025

Are you looking for a simple way to bring live process data into Power BI for dashboards and visualization? OPC Router’s REST plug-in provides a flexible and secure way to push data from your ...

Topics:

REST & Web Services OPC Router

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5 min read

Broadening Perspectives: Key Lessons from OT SCADA CON 2025

John Gonzalez

Aug 21, 2025

Software Toolbox attends a wide variety of customer and networking events throughout the year. Each one gives us valuable opportunities to connect with our customers, exchange ideas with peers, and ...

Topics:

IT/OT OPC Router

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5 min read

How to Unlock the Value of Your Flow Measurement Data

Jay David

Aug 14, 2025

In today’s fast-evolving oil and gas industry, accurate and reliable Electronic Flow Measurement (EFM) data is critical for custody transfer, regulatory compliance, and optimizing production. Yet ...

Topics:

Oil & Gas EFM

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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 Store and Forward

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5 min read

Simplifying OPC Router Deployment with Docker Containers

Abrey Austin

Jul 24, 2025

Welcome to the Summer of IoT! As part of our Summer of IoT blog series, we spotlight practical ways to simplify and accelerate your digital transformation journey. In this second post, we’re diving ...

Topics:

MQTT & IoT OPC Router Summer of IoT

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5 min read

UNS Without the Overhaul: Modernizing Industrial Data with Software Toolbox

Ryan Royse

Jul 17, 2025

Welcome to the launch of Software Toolbox’s Summer of IoT blog series for 2025. In the coming posts, we’ll explore how our solutions support the evolving world of the Industrial Internet of Things ...

Topics:

Data Integration IT/OT Cogent DataHub OmniServer TOP Server OPC Router Summer of IoT

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5 min read

Expert Guide: 7 Areas to Unlocking More Value from Industrial Data

Jay David

Jul 10, 2025

On June 26, 2025, Software Toolbox hosted a live panel discussion that brought together three industry subject matter experts. They explored how organizations can unify data across legacy and modern ...

Topics:

Device Connectivity IT/OT Oil & Gas Video Tutorials Industry 4.0 System Integrators Collaboration

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5 min read

Delivering Stronger Client Solutions Through Collaboration

Tanja Gehling

Jun 26, 2025

Shared Challenges, Shared Progress In an industry defined by precision, tight timelines, and rapid innovation, collaboration isn’t optional — it’s essential. That may seem counterintuitive, ...

Topics:

Collaboration

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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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5 min read

Bridging the Gap Between the Shop Floor and SAP — Without Custom Code

Kyle Persyn

Jun 12, 2025

Integrating with SAP: A Simple Guide Using OPC Router In many industrial environments, getting real-time data from machines into SAP can feel like a complex, code-heavy challenge. Whether triggering ...

Topics:

Data Integration OPC Router

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5 min read

Pharma User Boosts Reporting, Gains 250+ Hours with LGH File Inspector

Jay David

Jun 05, 2025

A major pharmaceutical company struggled with manual, error-prone data extraction for monthly compliance reporting within their utilities department. The team was reliant on fragile Excel macros ...

Topics:

Case Studies LGH

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5 min read

Historical Data Reporting Made Easy with Dream Report and TOP Server

Zachary Parham

May 29, 2025

If you’ve ever had to dig into historical data, you know that being able to easily access and understand it is key for gaining insights and decision making. Without the right tools, retrieving and ...

Topics:

Database & Historian TOP Server Reporting Video Tutorials Dream Report

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Success Story: How a UK Retailer Improved Logistics with Real-Time Data

Jessica Dillon

May 22, 2025

A leading UK retailer, serving millions of customers through an extensive store network, set out to modernize aging infrastructure in its high-throughput distribution centers. Burdened by legacy ...

Topics:

Case Studies OmniServer TOP Server

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5 min read

Video Tutorial: Get Started with the OPC Server Remote Config Client

Abrey Austin

May 15, 2025

As the Industry 4.0 movement transforms industrial automation, engineers and system administrators are tasked with managing more devices, across more locations, and under tighter security policies. ...

Topics:

TOP Server Video Tutorials KEPServerEX OPC Server Remote Config

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Video Tutorial: How to configure Cogent DataHub as an MQTT Broker

Connor Mason

May 08, 2025

In the Industry 4.0 movement we are in today, companies going through the digital transformation process have to turn data into information and get it in the structures people want, how they want it ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub Video Tutorials MQTT & IoT

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5 min read

Securing Oil and Gas Data Exchange with Software Toolbox Solutions

Jay David

May 01, 2025

In the oil and gas industry, data drives everything—from production optimization to regulatory compliance and remote asset management. But in an environment with geographically dispersed assets, ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub TOP Server Oil & Gas EFM OPC Router

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5 min read

Earth Day to Every Day: Driving Sustainability with JSON RESTful Data

Sarah Eckhoff

Apr 24, 2025

Happy belated Earth Day! We hope you took the time on Tuesday to enjoy the great outdoors or made a plan to get outside this weekend. Perhaps you did neither and instead decided to put your reusable ...

Topics:

REST & Web Services OPC Router Earth Day Sustainability

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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

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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

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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

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5 min read

How Maximizing Uptime Drives Business for Machine Builders & End Users

John Gonzalez

Mar 27, 2025

For OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), delivering high-performance machinery is an absolute requirement. However, their true measurement of success lies with ensuring long-term reliability and ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub

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5 min read

Standardizing Device Communications for Oil and Gas Operations

Jay David

Mar 20, 2025

Oil and gas is a complex, high-risk, high-reward industry affected by factors like operational challenges, frequent system configuration change, buying/selling of field assets, environmental risks, ...

Topics:

Oil & Gas

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5 min read

Don't Sleep on Web Services: How RESTful APIs Improve Integration

Nicole Knox

Mar 13, 2025

Each year, National Napping Day recognizes our need for rest the day following the return of daylight saving time, when many of us shift our clocks forward one hour. If you are one of the many who ...

Topics:

REST & Web Services

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5 min read

A Look Ahead: What to Expect from Software Toolbox in 2025

John Weber

Mar 06, 2025

Now that we’ve proved it at the recent ProveIt! 2025 Conference, I want to give our technical teams a break from providing our usual deep technical content. They will be back next week for sure, but ...

Topics:

Industry 4.0

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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

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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

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5 min read

The Top 5 Practical Reasons to Attend Industry Events This Year

Tanja Gehling

Feb 13, 2025

There is nothing like talking to each other in person and establishing that individual connection Do you get tons of invitations to various events and wonder “Why should I go? Is this worth my time? ...

Topics:

IT/OT

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5 min read

Cogent DataHub V11 Provides Secure Remote Configuration Built In

Kyle Persyn

Feb 06, 2025

Although Cogent DataHub is best known for its wide range of connectivity interfaces, its intuitive design for configuring and using its features—both locally and remotely—is equally important for ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub

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5 min read

Unlock Oil and Gas Operational Excellence - Software Toolbox Solutions

Seann Gallagher

Jan 30, 2025

Streamline Operations, Improve Visibility, Enable Compliance, and Drive Success In the highly regulated and fast-paced oil and gas industry, leveraging real-time, secure data is crucial for improving ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub TOP Server Oil & Gas EFM OPC Router

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5 min read

2025 Automation & Control Software Learning Resources

Tanja Gehling

Jan 16, 2025

Over the last several years, it has become a beloved tradition to start the new blog year with a review of the most popular content the team at Software Toolbox put together to build your automation ...

Topics:

Automation 101

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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

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5 min read

How to Seamlessly Connect Your Process Data to Amazon IoT Core

Kyle Persyn

Dec 19, 2024

IoT, IIoT, MQTT, Big Data, and The Cloud—these tools and technologies are shaping the future of various industries. But how do you actually bring your critical process or control data into the cloud ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub MQTT & IoT

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5 min read

Prepared for DNP3 EFM Export from the Emerson FB Automation Platform?

Zachary Parham

Dec 12, 2024

When you hear "EFM data", you probably think of well-known Oil & Gas devices like ABB TotalFlow, Fisher ROC, or OMNI Flow and their native protocols, or perhaps Enron Modbus. However, the Oil ...

Topics:

TOP Server Oil & Gas EFM

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5 min read

How to Simplify OPC Server Redundancy with Cogent DataHub

Kyle Persyn

Dec 05, 2024

Redundancy is a broad concept, as explored in our Demystifying Redundancy Blog. In this post, we narrow the focus on how to manage redundant OPC servers—a critical topic for ensuring reliable process ...

Topics:

Redundancy Cogent DataHub

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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

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5 min read

4 Ways to Address Security Challenges with DataHub Tunneling

Connor Mason

Nov 14, 2024

Secure data transmission between the Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) layers is a critical concern in industrial automation. Traditional methods often expose critical ...

Topics:

Data Tunneling Cogent DataHub

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5 min read

Modbus Block Sizes for Faster, Smarter Data Collection

Ryan Royse

Nov 07, 2024

When working with Modbus devices and TOP Server, one critical factor that can significantly influence communication efficiency is the concept of block sizes. Optimizing block sizes for your ...

Topics:

TOP Server Modbus

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5 min read

Data Integration with AVEVA PI System and CONNECT Data Services

John Gonzalez

Oct 31, 2024

Welcome back to our Data Storage Deep Dive Series, where we continue to explore innovative ways to integrate our industrial automation software solutions with enterprise-level historians. In one of ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub Data Storage Deep Dive

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5 min read

Security Learning Resources: Staying Safe in the World of IIoT

Zachary Parham

Oct 24, 2024

Risk is often defined as the likelihood that something will occur multiplied by the impact it would have. In the world of automation, some of those possible impacts are unexpected downtime, loss of ...

Topics:

Security Cogent DataHub OPC Data Client TOP Server OPC Router

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5 min read

Leveraging Entra ID in Docker Containers for OPC Router

Kyle Persyn

Oct 17, 2024

In today’s industrial environments, securing and streamlining data communication is essential. If you're not familiar with OPC Router, it’s a powerful software solution that integrates various ...

Topics:

OPC Router

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5 min read

Video Tutorial: Using TOP Server with AVEVA InTouch via SuiteLink

Lauren Conrad

Oct 10, 2024

Software Toolbox has provided AVEVA™ (formerly Wonderware) users, integrators, OEMs, and channel partners in over 100 countries with best-in-class connectivity solutions since 1996. Many of you will ...

Topics:

TOP Server SuiteLink InTouch

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5 min read

Integrating Canary Historian with OPC Router via RESTful API

Nicole Knox

Oct 03, 2024

Welcome back to our Data Storage Deep Dive series, where we have been exploring the possibilities of integrating our variety of industrial automation software solutions with historians to allow for a ...

Topics:

OPC Router Data Storage Deep Dive

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5 min read

Configure TOP Server and KEPServerEX Remotely and Securely

Blake Giler

Sep 26, 2024

The TOP Server® from Software Toolbox and KEPServerEX® from the Kepware division of PTC® are well known connectivity solutions for extracting industrial automation data from PLCs and other devices, ...

Topics:

TOP Server KEPServerEX OPC Server Remote Config

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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

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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

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5 min read

Video Tutorial: Publishing with OmniServer’s New MQTT Client Plug-In

Jessica Dillon

Sep 05, 2024

OmniServer is a universal data acquisition software application designed to bi-directionally retrieve information from a wide range of Ethernet, serial, or USB devices that use 'non-standard' ...

Topics:

OmniServer

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5 min read

DataHub V11: Enhancing Remote Config Access Security with MFA/TOTP

John Gonzalez

Aug 29, 2024

Building on last week’s Cogent DataHub v11 Security Enhancements Deep Dive blog, this post dives into a practical application of these security enhancement by focusing on the implementation of ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub

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5 min read

Cogent DataHub V11 Security Enhancements Deep Dive

John Gonzalez

Aug 22, 2024

As briefly shared in our blog “Cogent DataHub V11 Features to Be Excited About”, Cogent DataHub has expanded its security configuration and options in the v11 release, offering even greater ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub

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5 min read

Tech Support Corner: Application Reports for OPC Router

Zachary Parham

Aug 15, 2024

Though you may have never needed to contact Software Toolbox for support, it’s always smart to be ready for any challenges that might arise. That’s why it’s helpful to know the resources you have at ...

Topics:

Technical Support OPC Router

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5 min read

OPC UA PubSub and MQTT with the OPC Data Client Development Toolkit

Kyle Persyn

Aug 08, 2024

If you've been keeping up with our Summer of IoT blog series, you've likely noticed our in-depth exploration of Software Toolbox solutions and the use of MQTT for IoT applications. In this latest ...

Topics:

OPC Data Client Summer of IoT

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5 min read

Cogent DataHub V11 Feature Enhancements: User Experience

Blake Giler

Aug 01, 2024

As part of our ongoing Summer of IoT Blog Series, this week we will continue to review the exciting new release of Cogent DataHub Version 11. In a previous post, Cogent DataHub V11 Features to Be ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub Summer of IoT

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5 min read

Put OPC UA PubSub, Companion Specs, and More to work with OPC Router

Nicole Knox

Jul 25, 2024

As OPC UA has grown in it's adoption, more device vendors are implementing OPC UA interfaces on their PLCs and other devices to increase interoperability. OPC UA has been proven to be an adaptable ...

Topics:

OPC Router Summer of IoT

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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

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5 min read

Streamline Your IoT Operations with the New OmniServer MQTT Plug-In

Jessica Dillon

Jul 11, 2024

Welcome back to our Summer of IoT blog series! This week, we are excited to announce the release of OmniServer Version 3.4.0.1 which in the professional edition, now includes MQTT client capability, ...

Topics:

OmniServer MQTT & IoT Summer of IoT

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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

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5 min read

Expanding your IoT Impact with the TOP Server MQTT Client Driver

John Gonzalez

Jun 20, 2024

Welcome back to our Summer of IoT blog series! In this third installment, we continue our journey through the fascinating world of IoT, delving deeper into the transformative technologies Software ...

Topics:

TOP Server MQTT & IoT Summer of IoT

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5 min read

Video Tutorial: Integrate Industrial Data with HiveMQ using OPC Router

Zachary Parham

Jun 13, 2024

Welcome back to our Summer of IoT blog series! We hope that last week’s introduction to the series created excitement as we continue to explore how our IoT solutions can help you achieve even greater ...

Topics:

Video Tutorials MQTT & IoT OPC Router Summer of IoT

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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

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5 min read

Video Tutorial: Data Collection from BACnet Controllers

Lauren Conrad

May 30, 2024

Originally developed by the American Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, BACnet (short for Building Automation and Control Network) is a communications protocol primarily used in ...

Topics:

TOP Server Video Tutorials

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5 min read

OPC Router V4 – Report Downtime for your Connections

Kyle Persyn

May 23, 2024

In the ever-changing landscape of industrial control, the ability to establish connections and facilitate efficient data exchange between different technologies is crucial. With digital ...

Topics:

Technical Support OPC Router

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5 min read

Flexible Control of Real-Time Device Polling Schedules

John Gonzalez

May 16, 2024

The TOP Server OPC server is known for its ability to collect real-time data from a wide range of devices, using off-the-shelf industry standard protocols. However, challenges arise when not all ...

Topics:

Technical Support TOP Server

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5 min read

Your OPC Client Toolkit Should Keep Connectivity Simple, Right?

Nicole Knox

May 09, 2024

Sometimes we are approached by users and integrators with very specific business demands, and an off-the-shelf OPC client solution isn't always the answer to their problems. As they explore the fully ...

Topics:

Technical Support OPC UA OPC OPC Data Client OPC Toolkit Benefits

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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

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5 min read

Enabling Sustainability through all Levels of the Automation Pyramid

Zachary Parham

Apr 25, 2024

Software Toolbox’s solutions play a pivotal role throughout multiple renewable energy sectors. However, our solutions don't only help with the day-to-day creation of renewable energy but also the ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub OmniServer TOP Server OPC Router Earth Day

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5 min read

Energy Efficiency Success Story: Cloudy with a Chance of Unified Data

Sarah Eckhoff

Apr 18, 2024

Happy early Earth Day! And welcome back to our Environmental Sustainability series, where we explore the pivotal role of innovation in safeguarding our planet. In this third installment, our focus ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub Earth Day

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5 min read

Empowering Sustainability in and through the use of Cloud Data Centers

Zachary Parham

Apr 11, 2024

There is significant growth in companies offloading their applications, data management, files, and content to cloud hosted systems. While this is great for a multitude of reasons, have you wondered ...

Topics:

Cogent DataHub TOP Server Flow OPC Router Earth Day

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5 min read

Revolutionizing Sustainability with Circular Economy and OPC Standards

Sarah Eckhoff

Apr 04, 2024

In this first installment of our 2024 Environmental Sustainability Blog Series, we’re going to piggyback on last year’s Waste Reduction blog post, and take things a step farther – how can you ...

Topics:

OmniServer TOP Server Earth Day

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5 min read

Did You Know? How to Use Character Translations in OmniServer

Jessica Dillon

Mar 28, 2024

Those of you who are aware of OmniServer will already know that it is primarily used to retrieve information from devices that use 'non-standard' protocols to communicate, such as weigh scales, ...

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Technical Support OmniServer

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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 ...

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Technical Support TOP Server Modbus

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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 ...

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Technical Support Cogent DataHub Database

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Using TOP Server's Advanced Tags Plug-In: Calculations & Data Bridging

John Gonzalez

Mar 07, 2024

TOP Server is widely used in automation for data collection from your industrial control systems. One of the many benefits of using TOP Server is that it ensures data integrity – meaning that the ...

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Technical Support TOP Server

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5 min read

Video Tutorial: Data Collection from DNP3 RTUs & Devices

Lauren Conrad

Feb 29, 2024

DNP3 (Distributed Network Protocol) is a communications protocol primarily used for communications between a client application such as HMI, SCADA, or Historian and Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) or ...

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TOP Server Video Tutorials

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Video Tutorial: Getting Started with OPC Router Project Development

Nicole Knox

Feb 22, 2024

OPC Router is a powerful tool that can be used to easily integrate large quantities of data from a variety of sources using its modular configuration, adding value to a variety of industrial, ...

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Technical Support OPC Router

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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 ...

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Technical Support OPC Data Logger

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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 ...

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Technical Support OPC Data Client

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5 min read

Automating Data Entry from Test Stand & QC Devices as Keyboard Input

Jessica Dillon

Feb 01, 2024

Unlike off-the-shelf OPC servers and drivers that talk to specific devices or protocols and no others, OmniServer can be configured to talk to virtually any device or combination of serial, USB, or ...

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Technical Support OmniServer

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5 min read

2024 Automation & Control Software Learning Resources

John Weber

Jan 25, 2024

Welcome to our most popular blog post of the year! Each year we publish this blog post to help you learn, grow, and support empowering you to improve your business. This post is our 7th annual ...

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Automation 101

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5 min read

DataHub – 5 Quick Steps to Writing to a Database Table

Kyle Persyn

Jan 18, 2024

If 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. However, it's worth emphasizing that ...

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Technical Support Cogent DataHub Database

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5 min read

Why Are My Data Values Wrong? - Exploring Modbus TOP Server Settings

Ryan Royse

Jan 11, 2024

In the world of industrial automation and control systems, communication protocols play a crucial role in ensuring seamless data exchange between devices. Modbus started as a protocol used in ...

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Technical Support TOP Server Modbus

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5 min read

Data Exchange File Formats: Exploring ETL Tools with OPC Router

Nicole Knox

Dec 21, 2023

To achieve operational and business goals, many industrial automation system architectures are designed to push and pull data from a multitude of sources and destinations that come with a variety of ...

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Technical Support OPC Router

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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 ...

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Technical Support OPC Alarms and Events Alarms & Notifications Cogent DataHub

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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

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5 min read

Exploring MQTT – Understanding Quality of Service (QoS) with DataHub

Connor Mason

Nov 30, 2023

MQTT continues to grow in popularity and implementation within the industrial automation community. For those who are still new and learning about this protocol, MQTT is a light-weight transfer ...

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Technical Support Cogent DataHub MQTT & IoT

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5 min read

Exploring TOP Server's Out-of-the-Box Security Features

Kyle Persyn

Nov 16, 2023

Whether you're running a production system in manufacturing, oil and gas, building automation, or energy, safety and uptime are of the utmost importance, especially with cybersecurity attacks ...

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Technical Support TOP Server

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