This driver is a simple driver. It provides additional functionality to enable Geo SCADA Expert to interface with specific supported devices using a particular protocol. To interact successfully with such devices, you need to:
- Install and run the driver
- Ensure that the driver is licensed
- Configure the required database items and settings on the driver
- Ensure that the database items (and any database items on which they depend) have valid, saved, configuration and are 'In Service'.
Intended Audience
This guide is designed for use by engineers who are responsible for configuring Geo SCADA Expert to communicate with HilscherTM products. System administrators can also use this guide when investigating unexpected conditions related to the Hilscher driver.
Document Scope
This guide explains how to configure Geo SCADA Expert to communicate with HilscherTM products that use PROFIBUS-FMS®, PROFIBUS-DP®, and DeviceNetTM. It also explains how to use the driver features for fault finding on the system.
Prerequisite Reading
This guide contains technical information that is intended for users that are sufficiently familiar with Geo SCADA Expert configuration and operation. Before reading this driver guide, ensure that you are familiar with:
- Geo SCADA Expert configuration practices, procedures, and the configuration of properties that are common to many database items. For more information, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Core Configuration, and the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Core Point Configuration.
- Driver structure, components, and configuration properties, pick actions, and status attributes that are common to many drivers. For more information, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Drivers.
- Simple driver composition, configuration order, and configuration properties and logging options that are common to many simple drivers. For more information, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Simple Drivers.
HilscherTM produce various products designed for use with fieldbus technology and for communications using one of several industrial fieldbus networks. The driver enables Geo SCADA Expert to transmit data to and from Hilscher devices, where those devices use one of the following fieldbus control networks:
- PROFIBUS®—The Geo SCADA Expert Hilscher driver enables Geo SCADA Expert to communicate with Hilscher devices that are using either of these PROFIBUS protocols:
- PROFIBUS-FMS (Fieldbus Messaging Specification) is a multi-master, peer-to-peer protocol and widely acknowledged international networking standard.
- PROFIBUS-DP (Decentralized Peripherals) is a slave-master protocol. Where the Geo SCADA Expert Hilscher driver communicates with a Hilscher device that uses PROFIBUS-DP, the Hilscher card is the master.
- DeviceNetTM—DeviceNet utilizes Control Area Network (CAN) technology for data transmission and Common Industrial Protocol (CIPTM) for the upper layers of the network. It also allows for power on the network.
The Hilscher Driver documentation explains how to configure Hilscher-specific features and items within the Geo SCADA Expert database (see Configuring Geo SCADA Expert to Communicate with Hilscher Devices).
It also explains driver-specific aspects that may be of interest to System Administrators and engineers when investigating any unexpected system behavior (see Hilscher Specific Status Display Attributes).
For Hilscher, PROFIBUS, or DeviceNet information not covered by this guide, see the relevant Hilscher or fieldbus documentation.
NOTE: There are no driver-specific pick actions for database items on this particular driver. However, users with the required privileges can add custom pick actions to a database item by using the User Methods tab on the relevant configuration Form (see Using the User Methods Tab to Define Custom Actions in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Core Configuration). See a system administrator for the documentation associated with such custom actions (also known as ‘methods’).