This driver is a simple driver. It provides additional functionality to enable ClearSCADA to interface with specific supported devices using a particular protocol. To interact successfully with such devices, you need to:
- Install and run the driver
- Ensure that the driver is licensed
- Configure the required database items and settings on the driver
- Ensure that the database items (and any database items on which they depend) have valid, saved, configuration and are 'In Service'.
ClearSCADA is a flexible and extensible SCADA host platform that can be used for a multitude of purposes, including gathering data from and controlling remote devices. The ClearSCADA FloBoss Driver extends the core functionality of ClearSCADA to enable it to communicate with supported Emerson FloBoss Flow Computers, using the ROC Protocol.
Intended Audience
This guide is intended for engineers that are tasked with configuring ClearSCADA to communicate with supported Emerson FloBoss Flow Computers using the ROC Protocol.
The guide assumes an advanced level of expertise with ClearSCADA, Microsoft Windows, electronic flow measurement, and FloBoss Flow computers.
Document Scope
This guide explains how to install and configure database objects on the ClearSCADA FloBoss Driver and provides information about the example configuration that is available for importing into your database from a ClearSCADA database export (sde) file.
Prerequisite Reading
This guide contains technical information that is intended for users that are sufficiently familiar with ClearSCADA configuration and operation. Before reading this driver guide, ensure that you are familiar with:
- ClearSCADA configuration practices, procedures, and the configuration of properties that are common to many database items. For more information, see the ClearSCADA Guide to Core Configuration, and the ClearSCADA Guide to Core Point Configuration.
- Driver structure, components, and configuration properties, pick actions, and status attributes that are common to many drivers. For more information, see the ClearSCADA Guide to Drivers.
- Simple driver composition, configuration order, and configuration properties and logging options that are common to many simple drivers. For more information, see the ClearSCADA Guide to Simple Drivers.
Some sections of this guide are intended for operator-level users. These sections are intended for users that are familiar with the navigational and operational aspects of ClearSCADA. Before reading the operational sections in this guide, ensure that you are familiar with:
- The ClearSCADA user interfaces (ViewX and WebX), the various types of display, their navigation and operation. For more information, see the ClearSCADA Guide to ViewX and WebX Clients.
The ClearSCADA FloBoss driver provides a subset of the features that are available using Emerson’s custom ROC Protocol, with a bias towards gathering historical data from FloBoss flow computers.
With the ClearSCADA FloBoss driver, you can:
- Retrieve daily, hourly and minute history from a FloBoss. The driver will backfill missing historic data due to communications outages.
- Read analog and discrete points on a FloBoss.
- Write to (control) analog and discrete points on a FloBoss.
- Automatically keep the clock on a FloBoss synchronized with the host clock, if configured to do so.
- Retrieve event logs from a FloBoss and store them in a user friendly format in the ClearSCADA database.
- Retrieve alarm logs from a FloBoss and store them in a user friendly format in the ClearSCADA database.
- Implement complex systems, like redundant ClearSCADA servers. The ClearSCADA FloBoss driver integrates natively into ClearSCADA.
- Read current values, like today’s volume for a gas flow meter run, from a FloBoss.
- Read and write strings, like a unit’s label, or a point tag, from a FloBoss.
- Make common changes, like changing the orifice plate diameter, or the gas composition for AGA-8 calculations, from within ClearSCADA.
- Read and control user defined points in a FloBoss.
The level of technical information in this guide is for users who have an advanced level of expertise with ClearSCADA, Microsoft Windows, electronic flow measurement and FloBoss flow computers.