Configuring a DNP3 Outstation

This section covers the configuration of DNP3 outstations for which Geo SCADA Expert is the DNP3 Master. The Geo SCADA Expert DNP3 driver is also capable of operating as a DNP3 Slave. For information on configuring outstations on systems for which the Geo SCADA Expert DNP3 driver is a DNP3 Slave, see Configuring a DNP3 Slave Outstation.

Within the Geo SCADA Expert database, you can configure these types of outstation for a DNP3 master device:

• DNP3 Direct Outstation—For communication with a DNP3 outstation using a permanent connection (for example direct serial, radio, or network).

  Depending on the system set-up, a DNP3 Direct Outstation can belong to a DNP3 Direct Outstation Set, or a DNP3 Switched Outstation Set (see Configuring a DNP3 Outstation Set).

  If the system set-up allows, a DNP3 Direct outstation can optionally be configured with PSTN fallback so that it can still communicate with the Geo SCADA Expert server if direct communications fail.

• DNP3 PSTN Outstation—For communication with a DNP3 outstation using a dial-up modem. Each DNP3 PSTN Outstation has to belong to a DNP3 PSTN Outstation Set.
• DNP3 Shared Outstation—For communication with a DNP3 outstation that can use either of two channels. The outstation has to be associated with a DNP3 Shared Outstation Set (each outstation in a Shared Set can communicate with the server via either channel).

  If the system set-up allows, a DNP3 Shared outstation can optionally be configured with PSTN fallback so that it can still communicate with the Geo SCADA Expert server if both direct channels fail.

  ATTENTION: Many DNP3 Shared outstations support ‘Heartbeating’. Heartbeating in DNP3 uses the Data Link command ‘Request Link Status’. Be aware that outstation devices need to support simultaneous communication on both channels from the same master (Geo SCADA Expert) in order to support Heartbeating. Please consult the DNP3 outstation vendor’s documentation to check whether such simultaneous communication is supported, before using Heartbeating on the DNP3 outstations on your system. Attempts to use Heartbeating on outstations that do not support such simultaneous communication may cause erroneous behavior.

If your database structure is ‘modular’ and Group Templates are used to store ‘model’ DNP3 configuration, in addition to the above types of outstation, you can add this driver-specific ‘abstract’ outstation item to your Group Templates:

• Abstract DNP3 Outstation—Converts to any of the DNP3 Outstations listed above. If your system is running a DNP3 Extension Driver, this abstract item will also convert to any additional DNP3 Outstation items supported by that extension driver.

You can only add Abstract Items to Group Templates. The abstract items appear as additional driver-specific entries when you display the context sensitive menu from a Group Template. As with other abstract items, in order to represent a ‘real’ outstation, you need to convert the abstract items into the required type of outstation within the Group Instances that reference the Group Template. For more information, see Add an Abstract Item to a Group Template in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Core Configuration.

To configure a DNP3 outstation, you configure the outstation’s properties using the fields on the DNP3 Direct Outstation Form, the DNP3 Shared Outstation Form, or the DNP3 PSTN Outstation Form, as appropriate.

Each Form has several tabs.

For each type of DNP3 Outstation, you can use the fields on:

• The DNP3 tab to Configure the DNP3 Properties
• The Security tab to Configure the Security Properties

For DNP3 PSTN Outstations and DNP3 Direct Outstations or DNP3 Shared Outstations that are configured to use PSTN fallback, use the fields on the PSTN tab to:

• Define the Common PSTN Properties (see Define an Outstation’s PSTN Properties in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers)
• Specify Whether Geo SCADA Expert is to Constantly Poll an Outstation During an Open Line Call
• Configure the Dial In Lines (see Define Dial In Line Properties on a PSTN Outstation in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers). DNP3 outstations can support up to 8 Dial In lines for reporting alarm data to Geo SCADA Expert.
• Configure the Dial In Overactive properties (see Define Dial In Overactive Properties on a PSTN Outstation in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers).

For DNP3 Direct Outstations and DNP3 Shared Outstations, you use the fields on the Direct tab to:

• Configure Ethernet Keep Alive Polls
• Specify the type of Direct Communications Connection (see Specify Whether the Direct Communications Connection is Always Online or only Available on Demand in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers).

Properties on the other tabs of each Outstation Form are common to outstations on many advanced drivers. For information, see Tabs on Outstation Forms in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers.

For information on the minimal amount of configuration that you can undertake to produce a functional DNP3 Outstation in Geo SCADA Expert, see Minimum Configuration.