What's I/O Server?
I/O Server is a communication driver that enables the access from Wonderware InTouch to PLC. Because the hexadecimal format and the character string format besides a usual binary value have the conversion function, a wide usage can be done. Because DDE that is the interprocess communication function of the Windows standard in addition to SuiteLink can be used, it is possible to access it from the user applications such as EXCEL and Visual Basic.

SuiteLink Protocol
I/O Server and FactorySuite product such as Wonderware InTouch 9.0 and Industrial SQL Server supports "SuiteLink" that is the protocol of the TCP/IP base. SuiteLink plays the role similar to OPC to add the time stamp and the quality flag to the acquisition data value. If it uses SuiteLink, the device that the communication is broken off before the person erstwhile becomes possible only though the value doesn't change immediate information of the communication abnormality it to the operator.

FactorySuite 2000
A data collection, it analyzes to make good use of the data base not to mention the visualized watch, and FactorySuite that furthermore enables even the control is integration MMI system of the first component base in the world. I/O Server connects these FactorySuite product and PLC in the seamless.

Difference of I/O Server and OPC Server
OPC Server uses the interface of an international standard while I/O Server uses the interface of original Wonderware. You might use OPC Server for that case when thinking about the future thing because typical SCADA software including InTouch supports OPC. However, when InTouch is used, it can be accessed to use I/O Server at high speed. This is because of becoming making that I/O Server specialized in the Wonderware product. Because the knowledge of the COM programming is needed in OPC when Visual Basic and EXCEL, etc. access it, one not confident is recommended to use I/O Server.