This driver is an extension driver. It provides additional application-specific functionality to the 'parent' driver with which it is associated. To interact successfully with devices using an extension driver, you need to:
- Install and run both the extension driver and its 'parent' driver (and, if applicable, its 'grandparent' driver)
- Ensure that the extension driver and its 'parent' driver (and, if applicable, its 'grandparent' driver) are licensed
(some extension drivers are licensed separately to their 'parent' driver) - Configure the required database items and settings on the 'parent 'driver (and, if applicable, the 'grandparent' driver)
- Configure the required database items and settings on this extension 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 primarily intended for engineers who are responsible for configuring SCADAPack Modbus items and features in the Geo SCADA Expert database.
The guide also contains information for:
- Operators and engineers who use the SCADAPack Modbus driver to monitor and control plant
- Maintenance engineers.
Document Scope
This guide explains the configuration, features and database items that are specific to Geo SCADA Expert’s SCADAPack Modbus driver. The SCADAPack Modbus driver is an Advanced ModbusExtension Driver. It provides additional functionality to enable Geo SCADA Expert to communicate with SCADAPack® controllers, using the Modbus® protocol suite (see Which Driver?). In order to communicate with SCADAPack controllers, Geo SCADA Expert needs to run both the Advanced Modbus driver and the SCADAPack Modbus extension driver (see Confirm that the SCADAPack Modbus Server Component is Installed).
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.
- Advanced driver configuration order, outstation types, and configuration properties and logging options that are common to many advanced drivers. For more information, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers.
- The database items and configuration that are specific to this extension driver's 'parent' driver, along with any pick actions, status attributes, and logging options that are specific to that 'parent' driver. (Unless stated otherwise, this extension driver supports the features and options that are supported by its 'parent' driver, in addition to the features and options that are described in this extension driver guide.)
Some sections of this guide are intended for operator-level users. These sections are intended for users that are familiar with the navigational and operational aspects of Geo SCADA Expert. Before reading the operational sections in this guide, ensure that you are familiar with:
- The Geo SCADA Expert user interfaces (ViewX and Virtual ViewX), the various types of display, their navigation and operation. For more information, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to ViewX and Virtual ViewX Clients.
The Modbus communication types that the driver supports include:
- Modbus RTU serial, Modbus ASCII serial
- Modbus RTU over TCP, Modbus ASCII over TCP
- Modbus RTU over UDP, Modbus ASCII over UDP
- Open Modbus/TCP.
Geo SCADA Expert can communicate with SCADAPack controllers directly, using direct or PSTN communications. Function codes supported by the SCADAPack Modbus driver determine how it reads or writes to data on the controllers (see Modbus Function Codes Supported by the Geo SCADA Expert SCADAPack Modbus Driver).
Geo SCADA Expert can also provide a communications ‘gateway’ to allow applications such as Telepace®, and ISaGRAF®, to communicate with SCADAPack controllers remotely, via the same communications link (for example, in situations where a SCADAPack controller has only one radio link). With the latter set-up, a Remote Connection database item provides a TCP/IP socket connection between Geo SCADA Expert and the remote application.
The SCADAPack Modbus driver also enables Geo SCADA Expert to retrieve DLOG (stored SCADAPack) data records from SCADAPack controllers and, if required, store those records historically in the Geo SCADA Expert database.
The SCADAPack Modbus driver documentation:
- Summarizes the Terminology of which you need to be aware
- Explains how to:
- Confirm that the SCADAPack Modbus Server Component is Installed
- Configure SCADAPack specific features and items within the Geo SCADA Expert database (see Configuring SCADAPack Modbus Devices in Geo SCADA Expert, and see Scanning Direct Controllers on the SCADAPack Modbus Driver).
The documentation also explains:
- Features that are of interest to operators (see Using SCADAPack Modbus Specific Actions)
- Driver-specific aspects that are of interest to system administrators and engineers when investigating unexpected behavior relating to the SCADAPack Modbus driver. For information, see:
If your Geo SCADA Expert system is running the SCADAPack Modbus Realflo Extension Driver to communicate with SCADAPack controllers that have Realflo enabled, it will support additional features that only apply to the Realflo-enabled devices. Use the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to the SCADAPack Modbus Realflo Driver in conjunction with this guide for information on these additional features.