This ReferenceType can be used to expose that two different Nodes in the AddressSpace representing the same hardware. It refines the RepresentsSameEntityAs ReferenceType and defines that the same entity in the real world shall be a piece of hardware. For example, it can be used to relate an Object representing a RFID reader based on the AutoID companion specification [1] with an Object representing the same RFID reader based on the IO-Link companion specification [2].

Note: The example given above is special since both specification use OPC UA Part 100 Devices [3] as base. In this case, the preferred modelling approach is provided in an annex of Part 100, where a composition approach is used.

The RepresentsSameHardwareAs is a concrete ReferenceType and can be used directly. It is a subtype of HierarchicalReferences. It is a symmetric Reference, that is, it provides the same semantic in both directions

The semantic of this ReferenceType is to relate two Nodes that represent the same hardware.

The SourceNode of References of this ReferenceType can be of any NodeClass.

The TargetNode of References of this ReferenceType can be of any NodeClass.

Both, SourceNode and TargetNode shall represent the same entity in the real world.

RepresentsSameHardwareAs is formally defined in Table 8.

Table 8 – RepresentsSameHardwareAs Definition

Attributes	Value
BrowseName	RepresentsSameHardwareAs
InverseName	-
Symmetric	TRUE
IsAbstract	FALSE
References	NodeClass	BrowseName	Comment
Subtype of RepresentsSameEntityAs defined in 4.8
Conformance Units
Base Info RepresentsSameHardwareAs