OPC Server or Ethernet IP Vi's? What is the better method?

[technics]

I am setting up an interface using Labview communicating with an Allen Bradley CompactLogix L30ER. I will have at least 150 Tags. My question is... Is there any benefit to using the Ethernet IP Read/Write Tag VI's rather than Shared Variables and the OPC server? It seems to me that the SVE OPC method is much easier.

[PatrickLye]

The SVE OPC server is incredibly easy, but you have the cost of the OPC server. The other way to talk to modbus capable devices isn't too difficult either. Just use the modbus master and modbus slave vis. Micrologix has a module for modbus. If you don't have the modbus vis in your system you can download it for free. Don't use the old one. There is a newer version supported by NI R&D.

I haven't tried it with ethernet ip read/write tags. These other methods are too easy.

[technics]

Thnaks fo your input. I went with the OPC.