Configuring a SCADAPack Controller

For each SCADAPack controller that exists on your system, you need to create and configure a corresponding outstation database entry within the Geo SCADA Expert database. When configuring the database, ensure that you select the type(s) of controller and communications that correspond to your system hardware.

The types of controller that the SCADAPack Modbus driver supports are listed below. For further information on the type(s) of controller that best represent your system set-up, see Outstation Types and Communications Set-ups in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers.

The SCADAPack Modbus driver supports these types of controller (outstation):

• SCADAPack Direct Outstation—To represent a controller that is 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.

• SCADAPack PSTN Outstation—To represent a controller that communicates with the server using a dial-up modem.
• SCADAPack Shared Outstation—To represent a controller that is 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 Template are used to store ‘model’ SCADAPack Modbus configuration, in addition to the above types of controller, you can add driver-specific ‘abstract’ controller items to your Group Templates:

• Abstract SCADAPack Modbus Outstation—Converts to any of the SCADAPack Outstation items listed above.

You can only add Abstract Items to Group Template. 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 in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Core Configuration.

For each SCADAPack controller that exists on your system, you need to specify the controller features using the fields on the appropriate SCADAPack Outstation Form. (Unless the SCADAPack controller has additional features enabled that are supported by a SCADAPack Modbus Extension Driver—in which case, see the relevant section in the appropriate SCADAPack Modbus extension driver guide.)

Each SCADAPack Outstation Form has several tabs.

Use the fields on the SCADAPack tab to:

• Specify the Address Mode
• Specify the Controller Address (see Specify the Controller Address in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to the Advanced Modbus Driver)
• Specify the Firmware Type
• Specify the Point Address Range (see Specify the Point Address Range in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to the Advanced Modbus Driver)
• Define the Set Clock Method
• Define the Data Retrieval Intervals (see Define the Data Retrieval Intervals in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to the Advanced Modbus Driver)
• Specify how any Scanning Gaps are Handled
• Define Whether Logged Data Records are Scanned
• Specify Whether Geo SCADA Expert can Suspend Polling of a Controller
• Specify any Local Pre and Post Amble Message Settings (see Define any Pre- and Post-Ambles for an Individual Outstation in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers).

With Direct and Shared Outstations, use the Direct tab to:

• Specify whether a controller is given scanning preference while its Points are on display (see Define Whether an Outstation is Promoted While its Points are on Display in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers)
• 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).

Use the PSTN tab to define the Public Switched Telephone Network properties for a controller (see Define an Outstation’s PSTN Properties in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers.)

Use the Network tab to define additional properties for any network connected controller (see Define an Outstation’s Network Properties in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers). (Port number 502 is the Modbus TCP port that is registered for use with the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority).)

Use the Shared tab to:

• Define when a Shared controller switches channels (see Define an Outstation’s Shared Properties in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers).
• Additionally, if the controller is to use Heartbeat Polling, you need to specify the heartbeat address that is used on a Shared Controller (see Specify the Heartbeat Address that is used on a Shared Controller in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to the Advanced Modbus Driver).

The fields on other tabs are common to controllers and outstations on many advanced drivers (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 SCADAPack controller in Geo SCADA Expert, see Minimum Configuration.