Understand the SCADAPack x70 Driver

The SCADAPack x70 driver differs from other extension drivers in Geo SCADA Expert in that it has been designed to form an extension to one or more of several other Geo SCADA Expert drivers. The driver that forms the 'parent' to the SCADAPack x70 driver varies, depending on the communications protocol being used to interface with the SCADAPack x70 devices. The SCADAPack x70 driver currently supports communications with SCADAPack x70 devices using the DNP3 protocol.

In order to support multiple communications protocols, the configuration has been separated into:

• Configuration that is specific to the SCADAPack x70 device and its inputs and outputs. You use SCADAPack x70 Configuration items to configure and store this information in Geo SCADA Expert. The information enables Geo SCADA Expert to generate configuration for downloading to the SCADAPack x70 devices.
• Configuration that is specific to the communications protocol being used. You use the relevant protocol-specific outstation and point items to configure and store this information in Geo SCADA Expert. For example, if Geo SCADA Expert is to communicate with the SCADAPack x70 devices using the DNP3 protocol, you use SCADAPack x70 DNP3 outstation and point items to configure and store that protocol-specific information in Geo SCADA Expert. The information stored using these database items does not affect the behavior of the SCADAPack x70 devices; instead it defines how Geo SCADA Expert is to communicate with the SCADAPack x70 devices using the required protocol. For example, it specifies how Geo SCADA Expert is to retrieve data from those devices, and process that data to raise alarms, generate events, and so on.

The two interrelated database items - the SCADAPack x70 Configuration and protocol-specific database items that together represent a particular SCADAPack x70 device, input or output - are known as an 'object-pair' in Geo SCADA Expert. The protocol-specific database item references the SCADAPack x70 Configuration database item. To aid configuration of the protocol-specific item, some of the settings from the SCADAPack x70 Configuration item are displayed on the protocol-specific item's configuration Form; such settings are 'grayed out' and provided for information only.

As far as day-to-day operation is concerned, you work with the protocol-specific database items, as these are the database items that Geo SCADA Expert uses to store the data that it retrieves from plant, and to send controls to plant. So, for example, you might embed the protocol-specific database items in Mimics so that operators can monitor the status of those items. Likewise, to view a point's current or historic data, you view the current or historic Trend of the protocol-specific point. To download configuration to a SCADAPack x70 device, you use the Download Configuration pick action on the protocol-specific outstation item (as the transport mechanism used to download the configuration varies per communications protocol).