Types of ActiveX objects
The DCOM (Distributed COM) allows you to access ActiveX objects on another computer. ActiveX object is object that is created by Microsoft specification of the COM object.
Note:
OPC-DA server is also ActiveX object and the following text is valid for it the same way as for other ActiveX objects.
ActiveX objects can hold the following forms:
1) in the form of a DLL or OCX library and the object is created in the context of the calling process.
2) in the form of an EXE program and the object creates its own new process (on the same computer).
3) in the form of an EXE program and the object creates its own new process on the remote computer (by means of DCOM).
The usage of DCOM in the PROMOTIC system
The installation of
DCOM doesn't relate to the PROMOTIC system, it's a matter setting
Windows OS and the ActiveX object. Then the PROMOTIC system only uses such installed ActiveX object.
The
DCOM in the PROMOTIC system can be used in objects:
-
PmaActiveX (see
Configuration of the DCOM interface for ActiveX) and
-
PmaOpcDaClient (see
Configuration of the DCOM interface for OPC-DA server).
In the configurator for object selection it is possible to enter except the object name, the computer on which the object is created (see the "
Run on computer" configurator). The computer can be specified by the computer name or the computer
IP address.
Creating objects on another computer by means of
DCOM is suitable for the objects (programs) whose interface was designed and optimized for this purpose. The number of accesses to methods and properties of remote objects should be as low as possible. For example, if 100 values have to be get from the remote object, then all 100 values should be got by calling the sole method that returns all required values, for example, in the array. The interface of
OPC components was optimized by this way.
Principle of remote access to common ActiveX objects by means of DCOM
By means of the
DCOM only ActiveX objects can be used that are correctly registered so that they are shown in the
Windows OS configuration tool
DCOMCNFG.EXE. The object must be registered on both the server side (the computer on which the instance of the ActiveX object runs), and the client side (the PROMOTIC application that accesses the remote ActiveX object). In addition there must be enabled the creation of the ActiveX object by means of the
DCOMCNFG.EXE program on the server side from other computers, further there must be set the appropriate access rights to this object for clients and also the context of the
Windows user, in which the ActiveX object will be created.
Without this configuration the ActiveX object cannot be created from another computer because the remote computer has no permissions for this (like on sharing files it is necessary to enable sharing the appropriate folder and further to set the suitable access rights to shared files).
Configuration of remote access to ActiveX objects by means of DCOM
In order to configure the
DCOM it is necessary to have the
Windows OS administrator rights. The configuration of both
DCOM server and client is similar.
1) Server and client: If the computer of the server and the client is not in the domain, then it is necessary to create the user on the server with the same name and password as the user on the client computer (shared user).
2) Server and client: If the simplified file sharing in Windows OS XP is swithced on, then the "Access denied" error occurs when trying to access the remote OPC server. Therefore it must be turned off.
See Start > Control Panel > Folder properties > View > Detailed settings > Use simplified file sharing.
3) Server and client:
Launch the console
Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy.
In the console go to
Local Policies > Security Options
Check the following settings:
- Network access: Let Everyone permissions apply to anonymous users is enabled
- Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts is set to Classic.
4) Server and client: Install ActiveX object (in the form of EXE).
5) Server and client: Launch the DCOMCNFG.EXE configuration tool (located in Windows OS subfolder system32), that represents the DCOM administration console.
6) Server and client: In the console, go to
Component Services > Computers > My Computer and display the
Properties (by the right mouse button). Here you can manage the configuration of the common parts of
COM,
DCOM and default values for each
COM server.
a) On the
"Default properties" tab, check the settings:
- Enable Distributed COM on this computer is enabled
- Default Authentication Level is set to None
- Default Impersonation Level is set to Identify.
b) On the
"COM Security" tab check the settings:
- In Access Permissions > Edit Limits for Everyone the Local Access and the Remote Access are both enabled
- In Access Permissions > Edit Default for the common user (same for client and server) the Local Access and Remote Access are both enabled
- In Launch and Activation Permissions > Edit Limits for Everyone the Local Launch, Remote Launch, Local Activation and Remote Activation are all enabled
- In Launch and Activation Permissions > Edit Default for the common user (same for client and server) the Local Launch, Remote Launch, Local Activation and Remote Activation are all enabled
7) Server and client: Configuration of the
ActiveX object. In the console go to
Component services > Computers > My computer > DCOM Config > ActiveX object name
and display the
Properties (by the right mouse button).
a) On the "General" tab check if is set Authentication Level to None.
b) On the "Location" tab check if is set Run application on this computer.
c) On the "Security" tab check if all options are set to the Use Default value. The options are Launch and Activation Permissions, Access Permissions and Configuration Permissions.
d) On the "Identity" tab check whether the Interactive user is set. It is also possible to set the login details for specific common user, that allows independent access from the client computer independently on the Windows user that is currently logged in/out on the server.
Caution: Setting of permissions for the PROMOTIC application depends on the location of the PROMOTIC system on the disk.
If the PROMOTIC software is registred or moved to another location, then the
DCOM stops working (the other functions of the PROMOTIC system may continue to work correctly).
If there are multiple PROMOTIC versions on the disk and the user needs to switch between these versions then (from the
DCOM configuration point of view) it is recommended to have the active version of the PROMOTIC system always in the same folder (e.g.
C:\Promotic\PmActive).