Most of the drivers that you can install in ClearSCADA are termed either Simple Drivers or Advanced Drivers, depending on the data-handling ability of the devices with which ClearSCADA is to interface using such a driver. Those advanced drivers that communicate using an open protocol may additionally have one or more Extension Drivers that provide optional application-specific functionality.
A few drivers do not adhere to the simple- or advanced-driver architecture and functionality. Such drivers are termed Stand-Alone Drivers.
In some cases, more than one ClearSCADA driver supports communications via a particular protocol. Where more than one driver can be used, the driver-specific documentation summarizes which driver suits a particular application or system setup.
Be aware that drivers are licensed separately to the core product.
Most drivers enable ClearSCADA to be the SCADA Master. Some drivers enable ClearSCADA to act as an outstation or similar slave device and report a subset of data from the ClearSCADA database to another SCADA Master. For more information, see Master-Slave Communications.