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'.
Intended Audience
This guide is designed for use by engineers who are responsible for configuring the Simatic S7-specific features and items within the ClearSCADA database. It can also be used by system administrators for investigating unexpected activity relating to the Simatic driver.
Document Scope
This guide explains how to configure a ClearSCADA system to communicate the Simatic S7-200, S7-300, and S7-400 series of PLCs and items within the ClearSCADA database (see Configuring Simatic S7 Devices in ClearSCADA).
The documentation also explains driver-specific aspects that may be of interest to system administrators and engineers when investigating any unexpected system behavior (see Simatic S7 Specific Status Display Attributes).
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.
The Simatic S7 Driver allows a ClearSCADA system to be populated with data from, and control points on, the Simatic S7-200, S7-300, and S7-400 series of PLCs. The driver provides extra functionality within the server for communicating with such PLCs.
ClearSCADA communicates with Simatic S7 PLCs using either serial or TCP communications (see Communicating with Simatic S7 PLCs).
NOTE: There are no driver-specific pick actions for database items on this particular driver. However, users with the required privileges can add custom pick actions to a database item by using the User Methods tab on the relevant configuration Form (see Using the User Methods Tab to Define Custom Actions in the ClearSCADA Guide to Core Configuration). See a system administrator for the documentation associated with such custom actions (also known as ‘methods’).