Configuring DNP3 SCADAPack E Devices in Geo SCADA Expert

On a Geo SCADA Expert system, you configure the Geo SCADA Expert database so that entries in the database correspond to the plant, control devices and measuring instruments on your system. This section summarizes the database items that you need to configure to represent the DNP3 SCADAPack E devices on your system.

In order to represent any SCADAPack E devices, the DNP3 Driver (including the SCADAPack E component) have to be installed and running on the Geo SCADA Expert servers on your system (see Confirm that the DNP3 and SCADAPack E Server Components are Installed).

When you configure DNP3 SCADAPack E items in the Geo SCADA Expert database, many of the settings for those items need to correspond to the settings of the relevant SCADAPack devices on your system. Some settings are either fixed (incorporated into the design of the SCADAPack E outstation) or are configured by an engineer. You need to have access to, or an understanding of, the settings of the SCADAPack devices on your system before you can configure the DNP3 SCADAPack E database items successfully.

For instance, you need to know the function of each port on each SCADAPack E outstation on your system.

You also need to be aware of which optional features are required for each DNP3 SCADAPack E item. The features include:

• Alarm views
• Alarm redirections
• Historic data storage
• User methods.

You can also use core Geo SCADA Expert features with DNP3 SCADAPack E database items, including Lists, Actions, and Mimics. For actions that are specific to the DNP3 SCADAPack E driver, see Using DNP3 SCADAPack Specific Actions. For further information on actions and details on Lists and Mimics, see the core documentation.

For each SCADAPack E device with which Geo SCADA Expert is to communicate using the DNP3 protocol, you need to configure:

1. DNP3 Channel(s) to define the communication connections between Geo SCADA Expert and the DNP3 SCADAPack E outstations (see Configuring a DNP3 Channel in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to the DNP3 Driver).
2. A DNP3 Outstation Set to define each group of DNP3 SCADAPack E outstations that share the same communications media (see Configuring a DNP3 Outstation Set in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to the DNP3 Driver).
3. A DNP3 SCADAPack E Outstation to represent each SCADAPack E outstation with which Geo SCADA Expert communicates (see Configuring DNP3 SCADAPack E Outstations and see SCADAPack E Data Concentrators and Remote Outstations).

   Unlike some types of DNP3 outstation, DNP3 SCADAPack E Outstations do support downloading of configuration from Geo SCADA Expert to the outstation.

   You may initially need to use another application, such as the E Configurator, to set up each outstation sufficiently for Geo SCADA Expert to communicate with that outstation (see Notes on Configuring SCADAPack E Outstations). Thereafter, you can download the outstation’s configuration from Geo SCADA Expert to the SCADAPack outstation, using the Download Configuration pick action.

   Before configuring SCADAPack E outstations using Geo SCADA Expert, ensure that you are aware of the information listed in Notes on Configuring SCADAPack E Outstations. Also see Supported Communications Setups.

4. If applicable, a DNP3 SCADAPack IO item for each I/O expansion card or module that is connected to a SCADAPack E outstation, in order to provide additional I/O for that outstation (see SCADAPack E Outstations that have Separate or Additional I/O Cards or Modules and see Configuring I/O Expansion Cards and Modules).
5. If required, a DNP3 SCADAPack E Modbus Slave Device item for each Modbus slave device that is connected to a SCADAPack E outstation (see Configuring a DNP3 SCADAPack E Modbus Slave Device ).
6. If required, a DNP3 SCADAPack Firmware Image item for each different version of operating system firmware that Geo SCADA Expert is to update in the SCADAPack E outstations (see Using Geo SCADA Expert to Import and Download SCADAPack Outstation Firmware Image Files).
7. If required, a DNP3 SCADAPack Security Configuration item for each different security configuration file that Geo SCADA Expert is to download to the SCADAPack E outstations (see Import and Download SCADAPack Security Configuration Files).
8. If required, DNP3 SCADAPack Profiles to change point values or limits at different times of the day or week (see Configuring DNP3 SCADAPack Profiles).
9. A DNP3 SCADAPack Point to represent each analog or binary measuring instrument or control device that is connected to each SCADAPack E outstation (see Points Used on DNP3 SCADAPack E Outstations).
10. If the outstation is to sample point data, a DNP3 SCADAPack E Trend item for each data stream that the outstation is to sample on a point (see Configuring DNP3 SCADAPack E Trend Sampler Functionality).

    If the outstation is only to sample point data under certain circumstances, ensure that you also configure any DNP3 SCADAPack Binary Input point(s) that are to be used as Trigger Point(s) on the Trend items.

11. If required, a DNP3 SCADAPack 32-Bit Point Modbus Map (see Configuring DNP3 SCADAPack 32-bit Point Modbus Maps).

    Such a database item is only required if:

    • A SCADAPack E outstation is a Modbus Slave, connected to a Modbus Master

      and:

    • The Modbus Master reads or writes to one or more points that are configured as 32-bit points in the SCADAPack E outstation.
12. A DNP3 SCADAPack Pulse Action (where needed) to carry out control(s) on plant for specified periods of time (see Configuring DNP3 SCADAPack Pulse Actions).
13. If required, a DNP3 SCADAPack Status Information item for each type of status information that Geo SCADA Expert is to retrieve from a SCADAPack E outstation (see Configuring Geo SCADA Expert to Retrieve DNP3 SCADAPack Status Information).

 

If the DNP3 master driver is used for routing comms, using a Virtual Terminal, you also need to Configure a DNP3 VT Service Port Master and Configure a DNP3 Virtual Terminal. The Virtual Terminal Number on the DNP3 Virtual Terminal Form has to correspond to the Port number being used on the SCADAPack E outstation. The port’s Function, specified on the Outstation Form’s Outstation Type tab, has to be set to DNP VT Service. For further information, see Configuring DNP3 Virtual Terminals in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to the DNP3 Driver, and see Configure the Properties of the Individual Ports.

 

Further Information

Scanning DNP3 SCADAPack E Outstations.

For information on configuring DNP3—as opposed to DNP3 SCADAPack E—points, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to the DNP3 Driver.