Configure an EtherNet/IP Outstation
You use an EtherNet/IP Outstation to represent an Allen-Bradley controller with which Geo SCADA Expert is to communicate using EtherNet/IP.
The EtherNet/IP driver is designed to support the following ranges of Allen-Bradley controllers:
- Micro800
- CompactLogix
- ControlLogix
You need to create and configure an EtherNet/IP Outstation database item of the appropriate type for each Allen-Bradley controller with which Geo SCADA Expert is to communicate.
When configuring the database, select the type(s) of Outstation and communications that correspond to your system hardware. The types of Outstation that the EtherNet/IP driver supports are listed below. For further information on the type(s) of Outstation that best represent your system set-up, see Outstation Types and Communications Set-ups. The EtherNet/IP driver supports these types of outstation (controller):
- EtherNet/IP Direct Outstation—Controllers that are directly connected to the Geo SCADA Expert server.
Depending on the system set-up, a Direct controller can belong to a Direct or Switched Outstation Set.
- EtherNet/IP Shared Outstation—Controllers that are directly connected to the Geo SCADA Expert server. A Shared controller can communicate with the server using either of two channels. Each controller in a Shared Set can communicate via either channel.
If your database structure is ‘modular’ and Group Templates are used to store ‘model’ EtherNet/IP configuration, in addition to the above types of controller, you can add driver-specific ‘abstract’ controller items to your Group Templates:
- EtherNet/IP Abstract Outstation—Converts to any of the EtherNet/IP Outstation items listed above.
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’ controller, you need to convert the abstract items into the required type of controller (outstation) within the Group Instance that reference the Group Template. For more information, see Add an Abstract Item to a Group Template.
This section covers the database configuration that is required for the Allen-Bradley controllers that you want to use with Geo SCADA Expert. With each Allen-Bradley controller with which Geo SCADA Expert is to communicate using EtherNet/IP, you specify the controller features using the fields on the appropriate EtherNet/IP Outstation Form. Each Form has several tabs.
Use the Outstation tab to:
- Define the basic Outstation properties (see Define the Basic Outstation Properties in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers).
- Specify the availability of communications between the Outstation and Geo SCADA Expert (see Specify the Availability of Communications Between the Outstation and Geo SCADA Expert in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers).
- Specify whether points log a historic value on communication failure (see Specify Whether Points Log a Historic Value on Communication Failure in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers).
- Specify the properties of any Outstation Alarms and Events (see Specify the Properties of any Outstation Alarms and Events in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers).
Use the EtherNet/IP tab to:
Use the Network tab to:
- Define an Outstation's network properties. For more information, see Define an Outstation’s Network Properties in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers.
Use the Shared tab to:
- Define an Outstation's shared properties. see Define an Outstation’s Shared Properties in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers.
The properties on the remaining tabs are common to many database items. For information about those tabs, see Tabs that are Common to Many Configuration Forms.
Further Information