Express Training: Practical Use of OPC UA with Node-RED

Objectives

This one-day training aims to quickly equip participants with the skills to connect Node-RED to OPC UA servers and use the main client services via the opcua/for-node-red node.
By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

  • Briefly understand the key concepts of OPC UA and its role in Industry 4.0/IIoT.
  • Install and configure the opcua/for-node-red node in a Node-RED environment.
  • Connect to an OPC UA server from Node-RED.
  • Browse the address space of an OPC UA server using the node's tools.
  • Read and write data (variables) on an OPC UA server.
  • Set up subscriptions (monitoring) to receive data change notifications.
  • Understand the basic principles of OPC UA security and how the node manages them.

Target Audience

This training is intended for:

  • Developers, IT engineers, or automation specialists with basic programming knowledge.
  • Anyone wishing to quickly integrate industrial data (from OPC UA servers) into Node-RED flows for IIoT or supervision applications.

Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge of the Node-RED environment.
  • Basic knowledge of computer networks.
  • A general understanding of industrial environments or automated systems is a plus.

Duration

1 day (about 7 hours).
Given the short duration, the focus is on practical use of the Node-RED node, with concise theoretical reminders.

Format & Methodology

The training is highly practice-oriented and hands-on. Participants will use a Node-RED environment to interact with one or more test OPC UA servers using the opcua/for-node-red node.

  • Short theoretical presentations to introduce the necessary concepts.
  • Numerous practical exercises on configuring and using the different client nodes (Read, Write, Monitor, Browse, Explore).
  • Use of the visual tool to explore the address space.
  • Course materials (probably in English, as is typical for OPC UA technologies).

Sample Program (1 day)

Morning: Introduction and Basic Services

  • Introduction to OPC UA: Why OPC UA? (Interoperability, Security, Multi-platform). Client/Server architecture. Key concepts (Address Space, Nodes, NodeId, Namespace, Variant).
  • Introduction to Node-RED: Quick overview of the environment.
  • Discovering the opcua/for-node-red node: Its role as an OPC UA client in Node-RED. Its features (Read, Write, Monitor, etc.). The "easy to use" approach.
  • Installation and Configuration: How to install the node via the Node-RED palette. Configuring the connection to an OPC UA server.
  • Hands-on exercises:
    • Installing the node and connecting to a test server.
    • Browsing the address space: Using the Browse and Explore nodes and the visual tool to navigate and find NodeIds.
    • Reading data: Using the Read node to read the value of one or more variables.

Afternoon: Advanced Services and Security

  • Writing data: Using the Write node to modify variable values.
  • Subscriptions (Monitoring): Understanding the Pub/Sub principle on the client side. Configuring the Monitor node to be notified of value changes.
  • Introduction to OPC UA Security: Importance (authentication, encryption). The role of certificates. How the Node-RED node manages certificates and security (security mode configuration).
  • Hands-on exercises:
    • Writing data to the server.
    • Setting up subscriptions and handling notifications in Node-RED.
    • (Optional if time allows) Basic use of Call (Methods) or HistorRead nodes.
    • (Discussion) Security modes and certificate management via the node.
  • Perspectives: Brief mention of other services (Alarms & Events, History), Modeling, and advanced Pub/Sub as further topics. Differences between the Community and Professional editions of the opcua/for-node-red node.
  • Summary and Q&A session.

Key Strengths

  • Highly practical training focused on using a specific tool (Node-RED) for OPC UA.
  • Enables rapid hands-on experience with essential OPC UA client services via a user-friendly interface.
  • Ideal for IIoT projects and industrial data integration based on Node-RED.
  • Based on the opcua/for-node-red node, developed by a recognized player in the OPC UA ecosystem (Sterfive, author of NodeOPCUA).