This driver is a simple driver. It provides additional functionality to enable ClearSCADA 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'.
HilscherTM produce various products designed for use with fieldbus technology and for communications using one of several industrial fieldbus networks.
The ClearSCADA Hilscher driver enables ClearSCADA to transmit data to and from Hilscher devices, where those devices use one of the following fieldbus control networks:
- PROFIBUS®—The ClearSCADA Hilscher driver enables ClearSCADA 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 ClearSCADA 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 ClearSCADA database (see Configuring ClearSCADA 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 ClearSCADA Guide to Core Configuration). See a system administrator for the documentation associated with such custom actions (also known as ‘methods’).