This driver is an extension driver. It provides additional application-specific functionality to the 'parent' driver with which it is associated. To interact successfully with devices using an extension driver, you need to:
- Install and run both the extension driver and its 'parent' driver (and, if applicable, its 'grandparent' driver)
- Ensure that the extension driver and its 'parent' driver (and, if applicable, its 'grandparent' driver) are licensed
(some extension drivers are licensed separately to their 'parent' driver) - Configure the required database items and settings on the 'parent 'driver (and, if applicable, the 'grandparent' driver)
- Configure the required database items and settings on this extension 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 primarily intended for engineers who are responsible for configuring WITS items and features in the ClearSCADA database.
The guide also contains information for:
- Operators and engineers who use the WITS driver to monitor and control plant
- Maintenance engineers.
Document Scope
This guide explains the configuration, features and database items that are specific to ClearSCADA’s WITS driver. The driver is a DNP3 extension driver that provides the additional functionality required for ClearSCADA to communicate with WITS Field Devices. The driver enables ClearSCADA to communicate with devices using the WITS-DNP3 protocol (one of the Worldwide Industrial Telemetry Standards). The standard builds on the DNP3 protocol to satisfy specific functional requirements of the utilities industries.
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.
- Advanced driver configuration order, outstation types, and configuration properties and logging options that are common to many advanced drivers. For more information, see the ClearSCADA Guide to Advanced Drivers.
- The database items and configuration that are specific to this extension driver's 'parent' driver, along with any pick actions, status attributes, and logging options that are specific to that 'parent' driver. (Unless stated otherwise, this extension driver supports the features and options that are supported by its 'parent' driver, in addition to the features and options that are described in this extension driver guide.)
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.
ClearSCADA versions 71 and above are WITS verified for WITS version 1.1. ClearSCADA also supports WITS versions 1.0, 1.2 and 1.3, but is not WITS verified for these versions. They use the DNP3 driver and the WITS DNP3 extension driver to communicate with WITS Field Devices. For this reason, you should make sure that both the DNP3 driver and the WITS driver are installed on all ClearSCADA servers in your system before you create WITS items in your database (see Confirm that the DNP3 and WITS Server Components are Installed).
Only install the WITS Driver if you have a WITS driver license (the WITS driver cannot be used in ClearSCADA's demo mode). Installing the WITS Driver without an appropriate license will result in your ClearSCADA server being unable to run.
Do not install the WITS Driver for the demo version of ClearSCADA.
This ClearSCADA Guide to the WITS Driver explains how to configure WITS-specific features and items within the ClearSCADA database. For more information, see the topics that are listed in the gray footer section at the bottom of this topic. Select the relevant entry to display the topic that you require.
As the WITS driver is an extension of the DNP3 driver, WITS database items have many configuration settings that work in exactly the same way as DNP3. They also have settings that are common to many different types of database item (such as Identification settings). In this WITS Driver Guide, we explain how to use the WITS-specific configuration settings. For any 'common' settings, we will refer you to other ClearSCADA Guides.
We also recommend that you read the ClearSCADA Guide to the DNP3 Driver before reading the WITS driver guide. Much of the information covered is assumed knowledge and needs to be followed in conjunction with information in this driver guide. It is also advisable that you have access to your WITS Field Device product documentation when reading this guide.