Configure a WITS Field Device to Initiate Only

Some WITS Field Devices do not support 'listening' and so have to initiate their network connections (ClearSCADA cannot initiate a connection).Typically, these types of WITS Field Device use power conservation technology and can only communicate at certain times. For example, a Field Device could have a hibernation mode that means the device is 'asleep'. When the device 'wakes up', it needs to initiate a network connection so that it can communicate with ClearSCADA.

To configure a WITS Field Device to be responsible for initiating a network connection to ClearSCADA:

1. Log on to ViewX via a user account that has the Configure permission, and then display the Form for the Outstation that represents your Field Device (see Display a Form in the ClearSCADA Guide to Core Configuration).
2. Select the Network tab.
3. Use the settings in the Inbound Connections section to specify the network connection that will be used to contact ClearSCADA:
   • Host Address—Specify the IP address (or domain name) of the ClearSCADA server. Your Field Device will use this address and the Port number to initiate a network connection with ClearSCADA.
   • Port—Specify the number of the TCP/IP port on which ClearSCADA is 'listening' (see Configure a Channel's Network Connection Properties in the ClearSCADA Guide to Drivers).

   • Device Port—Choose the network communications port that your Field Device uses when initiating a connection to ClearSCADA. The network communications port is in your Field Device.

     The ports available in the Device Port setting are taken from the Device Profile (see WITS Device Profiles). The options vary depending on whether the Field Device has a permanent or on-demand connection. For example, if you connected a Schneider Electric Talus T4e to ClearSCADA via an Ethernet cable attached to its E1 port, you would choose the Ethernet 1 option.

   • TCP/IP Type—Choose the protocol that your Field Device uses for communications via the specified Device Port.The protocols that are available for the specified Device Port are defined by the Device Profile (see WITS Device Profiles).
   • End Point—Choose Initiating. This sets the Field Device to initiate a network connection to ClearSCADA.

   NOTE: If the ClearSCADA server is behind a router, you may need to configure the Field Device to connect to the router (rather than the ClearSCADA server). The router will then need to be configured to forward the connection to the ClearSCADA server.

4. Repeat step 3 for each network connection to ClearSCADA. For example, if the Field Device is to connect to a Hot-Standby Pair, specify an Inbound Connection to Server A and an Inbound Connection to Server B.
5. Save the configuration.
6. Download the configuration to the Field Device by using the Outstation item's Download Configuration (WITS Outstation) action. If your Field Device does not support configuration download, you will need to configure the network settings using the device's Configuration Application.

Further Information

For more details on the common Network settings (Network, Host Address and Port), see Define an Outstation's Network Properties in the ClearSCADA Guide to Advanced Drivers.

Device Port for WITS Network Connections

TCP/IP Type for WITS Network Communications

End Point for WITS Network Connections

Configure a WITS Field Device to Listen Only

Configure a WITS Field Device to Listen and Initiate via the Same Connection

Configure a WITS Field Device to Listen and Initiate via Separate Connections