How can I configure the sensorEDGE device's internal OPC UA server to provide data with a timestamp of the actual system time?

The OPC Foundation recommends using an NTP server for time synchronization purposes between various OPC UA applications.

By default, the internal OPC UA server of the sensorEDGE device is not configured to utilize an NTP server for time synchronization. This is why for time synchronization purposes it is necessary to configure the OPC UA server to use an NTP server for time synchs.

To set up an NTP server for time synchronization it is essential to specify the NTP servers IP address within the context of the OPC UA server. sensorEDGE devices come equipped with an NTP server located at the IP address 192.168.0.10. 

Since the coding of an IP address is of type UINT32, the dot-decimal value 192.168.0.10 needs to be converted into a UINT32 value first which is C0A8000Ahex or 3232235530dec.

This value needs to be written with an OPC UA call method to the OPC UA server's object "Root/Objects/Server/VendorServerInfo/NtpClient/NtpClientUpdateConfiguration" (Nodeid 1, Identifier 7001) with the inputArguments "ServerIpAddress" and "ServerIpAddressFallback" both set to the value 3232235530. The configured value will be stored in non-volatile memory on the server, ensuring it persists through device power resets.

To demonstrate how to set the NTP server's IP address, here's an example using the tool "UA Expert." However, during runtime conditions, it will be the responsibility of the OPC UA client application to configure the NTP server's IP address once. (The address will be stored

Locate the "Root/Objects/Server/VendorServerInfo/NtpClient/NtpClientUpdateConfiguratio" object and click the right mouse button to use the "Call..." method

The fill out the two InputArguments with the value 3232235530 and click "Call". Watch the "Result" indicator changing to color green "Succeeded"

The OPC UA server will perform time synchronization every 5 minutes, even after the device undergoes a power cycle.