Software Toolbox Technical Blog

As the Industry 4.0 movement transforms industrial automation, engineers and system administrators are tasked with managing more devices, across more locations, and under tighter security policies. For those working with TOP Server or KEPServerEX, the need for secure and scalable configuration tools has never been more critical. 

The OPC Server Remote Configuration Client enables direct configuration of remote TOP Server or KEPServerEX instances from your local machine, eliminating the need for remote desktop sessions, cloud access, or additional agents. Running entirely within your network, it ensures secure user access through the server’s built-in User Manager and offers an optional SQL audit trail for tracking configuration changes such as user identity and value changes. 

In this blog, you’ll see how the OPC Server Remote Configuration Client streamlines server management and enhances efficiency in high-security environments, helping accelerate digital transformation throughout your operations. 

While security and ease of project execution are often the focus when discussing remote configuration, they’re just the beginning. In this post for our 2025 Environmental Sustainability blog series, we’re highlighting the environmental benefits as well. Embracing remote configuration not only helps reduce emissions—it also enhances efficiency, sparks innovation, and supports long-term resilience for your business and the planet.

One of the most valuable lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic is that remote work can significantly reduce a company’s carbon emissions and overall environmental footprint. While individuals often concentrate on minimizing their direct emissions, businesses have the potential to drive far greater impact by addressing emissions at scale. True corporate sustainability requires a holistic approach—one that considers the full lifecycle of every product, process, and operation. Software Toolbox offers several secure remote configuration options to help you achieve sustainability goals—featuring solutions like OPC Server Remote Configuration Client, Cogent DataHub, and OPC Router.

The TOP Server^® from Software Toolbox and KEPServerEX^® from the Kepware division of PTC^® are well known connectivity solutions for extracting industrial automation data from PLCs and other devices, and integrating that data with virtually any HMI, SCADA, MES, Historian, or database on the market. These products have a global installed base serving sophisticated users across every industry imaginable.