Movicon.NExT Help on Line - Rel. 4.2.358
One of the main tasks of the I/O Data Server module is to manage communications with the field devices using different communication channels that manage protocols towards the physical I/Os of external peripherals.
The platform is therefore capable of communicating in real-time with field devices using communication drivers that are included with the product or technology that connects to third party OPC UA Servers. Whatever mode is used all the information collected from the field physical addresses is associated to Tags which are found in the Tag List resource used for the Server's Address Space.
The Tag List renders all real-time information visible to all the resources and modules of the entire Automation Movicon.NExT platform whether Server or Client.
This diagram shows an example of an architecture using I/O Drivers or the OPC UA technology to communicate.
The Driver configuration specifications are described in the relating sections of this documentation according to each driver's specific communication protocol type (e.g. Siemens S7. Ethernet-IP, Modbus, Omron and others) along with the OPC UA standard communication technology.
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The I/O Data Server Communication Drivers are installed with the same Server. However, additional drivers, or others created by third parties, may be become available after the installation. |
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Movicon.NExT has been designed to enable expert users to create their own specific communication drivers and integrate them within the platform. However, a SDK is available for developing custom protocols and support and advice is also provided if needed.
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Drivers
The Communication Drivers are components of the I/O Data Server which allows you to manage specific communication protocols to consent the physical connection to field devices.
They are built form dynamic ".NET" libraries (.DLL file) which, according to exception-based logic, notify information received from device's memory areas connected to the I/O Data Server memory areas and vice-versa, according to the predefined settings for the specific communication protocols. The I/O Data Server, which is the gathering point of dynamic information, places this dynamic information in Tags by means of the address space, to the disposal of all platform modules.
Communication Drivers are available in the I/O Data Server and the list is in continuous expansion. The most commonly used drivers are those for PLC devices (Siemens, Schneider, Rockwell, Omron, Mitsubishi, Saia, Panasonic, etc.), fieldbuses (Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, Powerlink, etc.), RTUs and instrumentation (Modbus, etc.) or for infrastructure networks (IEC61870, IEC60850) and civil systems (Konnex, Bacnet, Lon, etc.).
The system's open and modular architecture consents to integration of third party Drivers in the I/O Data Server, to ensure openness needed to the integration of new communication protocols.
Generic connection diagram between Movicon.NExT and field devices. The list of available drivers is long and constantly being added to.
