Monitoring OPC UA Variable Nodes with Python

Monitoring OPC UA Variable Nodes with Python

Subscribing to OPC UA variable node changes with opcua-asyncio so the client reacts to pushed updates instead of polling.

Takahiro Iwasa
3 min read

Requirements

Install opcua-asyncio with the following command:

Terminal window
pip install asyncua

Python Scripts

server.py
import asyncio
import random
from asyncua import Server
ENDPOINT = 'opc.tcp://localhost:4840'
NAMESPACE = 'http://examples.freeopcua.github.io'
async def main() -> None:
# Start a server.
server = Server()
await server.init()
server.set_endpoint(ENDPOINT)
idx = await server.register_namespace(NAMESPACE)
await server.start()
print(f'Server started: {server}')
# Create a node.
myobj = await server.get_objects_node().add_object(idx, 'MyObject')
myvar = await myobj.add_variable(idx, 'MyVariable', 1)
await myvar.set_writable()
# Write a new value every second.
while True:
await myvar.write_value(random.randint(1, 100))
await asyncio.sleep(1)
if __name__ == '__main__':
asyncio.run(main())
client.py
import asyncio
from asyncua import Client, Node
from asyncua.common.subscription import DataChangeNotif, SubHandler
ENDPOINT = 'opc.tcp://localhost:4840'
NAMESPACE = 'http://examples.freeopcua.github.io'
class MyHandler(SubHandler):
def __init__(self):
self._queue = asyncio.Queue()
def datachange_notification(self, node: Node, value, data: DataChangeNotif) -> None:
self._queue.put_nowait([node, value, data])
print(f'Data change notification was received and queued.')
async def process(self) -> None:
try:
while True:
# Get data in a queue.
[node, value, data] = self._queue.get_nowait()
path = await node.get_path(as_string=True)
# *** Write your processing code ***
print(f'New value {value} of "{path}" was processed.')
except asyncio.QueueEmpty:
pass
async def main() -> None:
async with Client(url=ENDPOINT) as client:
# Get a variable node.
idx = await client.get_namespace_index(NAMESPACE)
node = await client.get_objects_node().get_child([f'{idx}:MyObject', f'{idx}:MyVariable'])
# Subscribe data change.
handler = MyHandler()
subscription = await client.create_subscription(period=0, handler=handler)
await subscription.subscribe_data_change(node)
# Process data change every 100ms
while True:
await handler.process()
await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
if __name__ == '__main__':
asyncio.run(main())

Testing

Start the server with:

Terminal window
$ python server.py
Server started: OPC UA Server(opc.tcp://localhost:4840)

Start the client with:

Terminal window
$ python client.py
Data change notification was received and queued.
New value 4 of "['0:Root', '0:Objects', '2:MyObject', '2:MyVariable']" was processed.
Data change notification was received and queued.
New value 79 of "['0:Root', '0:Objects', '2:MyObject', '2:MyVariable']" was processed.
Data change notification was received and queued.
New value 75 of "['0:Root', '0:Objects', '2:MyObject', '2:MyVariable']" was processed.
...

Conclusion

With opcua-asyncio, a client can subscribe to an OPC UA variable node and react to server notifications instead of polling for changes. create_subscription creates the subscription, and subscribe_data_change registers MyVariable; the library then calls datachange_notification whenever the server reports a new value.

Passing notifications through an asyncio.Queue keeps the synchronous datachange_notification handler short and separates it from the asynchronous process() loop, which checks the queue every 100 ms.

This separation also makes the pattern reusable: monitoring logic can be added in the processing block without changing how notifications are received.

About the author

Takahiro Iwasa

Takahiro Iwasa

Software Developer

This blog shares technical notes from hands-on projects—architecture, implementation, and AWS service integrations.