This specification defines an Information Model for IO-Link Masters and Devices. An example of a system architecture, providing different deploy options for OPC UA applications, is shown in Figure 5. The OPC UA Server can directly be deployed on an IO-Link Master or a PLC connected to the IO-Link Master or another platform like a PC. The OPC UA Client can directly be connected to the OPC UA Server running on the IO-Link Master, it can be connected to the PLC running the OPC UA Server, or the PLC can forward the traffic from an OPC UA Client on top of the PLC to the OPC UA Server running on the IO-Link Master beneath the PLC. More deploy options are possible and not limited by this specification.

Figure 5 – System Architecture of IO-Link and OPC UA (Example)