You configure DNP3 Channels in the Geo SCADA Expert database to represent the physical communication mechanisms between Geo SCADA Expert and the DNP3 outstations on your system. The Geo SCADA Expert DNP3 Driver supports these types of DNP3 Channel:
Used when Geo SCADA Expert is the master DNP3 device and connects to the DNP3 outstations directly (for example by serial cable, IP network, or radio).
If your system setup allows, you can configure outstations that are connected via direct channels to use PSTN as a backup means of communication if the direct channel fails.
Used when Geo SCADA Expert is the master DNP3 device and connects to the DNP3 outstations using dial-up modems.
Used when Geo SCADA Expert is configured as a slave DNP3 device and other DNP3 devices connect to Geo SCADA Expert directly (for example by serial cable, IP network, or radio).
Used when Geo SCADA Expert is configured as a slave DNP3 device and other DNP3 devices connect to Geo SCADA Expert using dial-up modems.
You specify the properties of a DNP3 channel using the fields on the DNP3 Direct Channel, DNP3 PSTN Channel, DNP3 Slave Direct Channel, or DNP3 Slave PSTN Channel Form, as appropriate.
Each Form has several tabs.
This section covers configuration of DNP3-specific properties on the Scan Parameters tab.
For each type of DNP3 Channel, you use the Scan Parameters tab to:
- Configure the Scan Parameters
- Configure the Communications Statistics Update Rate (see Defining the Communication Statistics Update Rate)
- Configure the Communications Parameters
- Configure the Pre-Amble and Post-Amble Message Strings.
Some Scan Parameters defined by the Geo SCADA Expert advanced driver model are not used by the Geo SCADA Expert DNP3 driver. You can use the configuration forms to disable unused properties.
For DNP3 Direct Channels, you also use the Scan Parameters tab to:
Properties on the other tabs are common to channels on many advanced drivers—for information, see Tabs on Channel Forms.
For information on the minimal amount of configuration that you can undertake to produce a functional DNP3 Channel in Geo SCADA Expert, see Minimum Configuration.