How does OPC Expert support automatic startup on Windows system reboot without requiring a user to log in?
Running OPC Expert as a Windows Service for Auto-Startup
OPC Expert supports unattended, continuous operation through its built-in Windows service installation option. Once configured as a service, OPC Expert starts automatically when Windows boots and continues running regardless of whether any user is logged in. This makes it practical for production environments where the machine may restart overnight, after a power event, or as part of routine maintenance.
Setting Up OPC Expert as a Windows Service
Installing OPC Expert as a Windows service is done directly from within the application. Under the Tools menu, users will find the option to install OPC Expert as a Windows service. During setup, you can choose to run the service under the local system account or under a specific user account, depending on the security requirements of your environment. Once the service is installed, it appears in the Windows Services list and behaves like any other system service, starting automatically with Windows.
What Runs in the Background
When OPC Expert runs as a service, the background engine handles active tasks such as data archiving, OPC bridging, tunneling, and any configured triggers or monitors. The graphical user interface does not need to remain open. You can close the interface entirely and the service continues operating. When you reopen the interface, it reconnects to the running service and displays current status.
Relevance for Linux and Non-Windows Platforms
OPC Expert itself runs on Windows, from Windows XP through Windows 11 and Windows Server 2003 through Windows Server 2025. For non-Windows platforms including Linux, the REST API built into OPC Expert allows external applications running on those systems to read and write OPC data through web-based requests. The Windows service model described here applies specifically to the OPC Expert host machine, which must be a supported Windows system.
Relevant Tools
OPC Expert (Archive OPC Data): The archiving module relies on the Windows service to collect and store OPC data continuously. When run as a service, archiving persists through interface closures and system reboots.
OPC Expert (Monitor OPC Data): Monitoring configurations, including trigger conditions and alert rules, remain active when OPC Expert runs as a service, providing continuous surveillance even when no operator is at the console.
Configuring OPC Expert as a Windows service eliminates the dependency on active user sessions, making it a reliable foundation for any unattended OPC data collection or monitoring deployment.