IEC 62541-100:2025

Overview - IEC 62541-100:2025 (OPC UA - Devices)

IEC 62541-100:2025 is Part 100 of the OPC unified architecture (OPC UA) family and defines the information model for Devices. This second edition (2025) replaces the 2015 edition and provides a technical revision that standardizes how devices, their hardware/software components, communication topology and host integration are represented in OPC UA servers. Key built-in AddIns include a Locking model and a Software update (firmware) model to support common device management operations.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Three layered device models
  • Device Model (base): Unified representation of devices and their HW/SW elements independent of device protocols.
  • Device Communication Model: Adds Network and Connection elements to model communication topologies.
  • Device Integration Host Model: Adds host-side elements and rules to manage system-level integration and reflect automation system topology.
• Component and Software modelling
  • Introduction of a generic ComponentType for HW/SW elements and a SoftwareType subtype.
• Interfaces and nameplates
  • New OPC UA interface concept with defined interfaces for Nameplate, DeviceHealth, and SupportInfo to standardize device metadata, health status and support data.
• Software/Firmware update model
  • Comprehensive Software Update AddIn with types, state machines and behaviors for safe and secure updates.
• Document entry point
  • Specification of a new entry point where each document is represented by a FileType instance.
• Lifetime model
  • New model to express lifetime, limits and semantics for consumables, tools, machines (usage counts, time, dimensions).
• Concurrency and locking
  • LockingServices AddIn to control concurrent access and lifecycle of locks.
• Profiles and conformance units
  • Defined conformance units and server/client profiles to aid interoperability testing and implementation.

Practical applications and who uses IEC 62541-100

This standard is intended for:

• Device vendors - to expose device structure, software versions, update capabilities, and health/status via OPC UA.
• System integrators - to map device and network topologies into a unified OPC UA address space for engineering and diagnostics.
• Automation engineers / OT teams - for asset management, lifecycle tracking and standardized firmware update workflows.
• SCADA and MES vendors - to integrate device metadata, health and support information consistently across systems.
• IT/OT convergence projects - to enable consistent device modelling and secure software update processes.

Common use cases: device discovery and topology mapping, firmware management, concurrent access control, lifetime tracking of consumables and tool parts, and standardized device health reporting.

Related standards

• Part of the IEC 62541 (OPC UA) family - implementers should consult other OPC UA Parts for security, node management, file models and core services to achieve full interoperability and secure deployment.

Keywords: IEC 62541-100, OPC UA Devices, Device Model, Device Communication Model, Device Integration Host Model, Software Update, Locking model, ComponentType, DeviceHealth, Nameplate, FileType, lifetime model.