This driver is a simple driver. It provides additional functionality to enable Geo SCADA Expert 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'.
Geo SCADA Expert is a flexible and extensible SCADA host platform that can be used for a multitude of purposes, including gathering data from and controlling remote devices. The Geo SCADA Expert FloBoss Driver extends the core functionality of Geo SCADA Expert to enable it to communicate with supported Emerson FloBoss Flow Computers, using the ROC Protocol.
Intended Audience
This guide is intended for engineers that are tasked with configuring Geo SCADA Expert to communicate with supported Emerson FloBoss Flow Computers using the ROC Protocol.
The guide assumes an advanced level of expertise with Geo SCADA Expert, Microsoft Windows, electronic flow measurement, and FloBoss Flow computers.
Document Scope
This guide explains how to install and configure database objects on the Geo SCADA Expert FloBoss Driver and provides information about the example configuration that is available for importing into your database from a Geo SCADA Expert database export (sde) file.
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.
- Simple driver composition, configuration order, and configuration properties and logging options that are common to many simple drivers. For more information, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Simple Drivers.
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 Geo SCADA Expert FloBoss driver provides a subset of the features that are available using Emerson’s custom ROC Protocol, with a bias towards gathering historical data from FloBoss flow computers.
With the Geo SCADA Expert FloBoss driver, you can:
- Retrieve daily, hourly and minute history from a FloBoss. The driver will backfill missing historic data due to communications outages.
- Read analog and discrete points on a FloBoss.
- Write to (control) analog and discrete points on a FloBoss.
- Automatically keep the clock on a FloBoss synchronized with the host clock, if configured to do so.
- Retrieve event logs from a FloBoss and store them in a user friendly format in the Geo SCADA Expert database.
- Retrieve alarm logs from a FloBoss and store them in a user friendly format in the Geo SCADA Expert database.
- Implement complex systems, like redundant Geo SCADA Expert servers. The Geo SCADA Expert FloBoss driver integrates natively into Geo SCADA Expert.
- Read current values, like today’s volume for a gas flow meter run, from a FloBoss.
- Read and write strings, like a unit’s label, or a point tag, from a FloBoss.
- Make common changes, like changing the orifice plate diameter, or the gas composition for AGA-8 calculations, from within Geo SCADA Expert.
- Read and control user defined points in a FloBoss.
Policy of Continuous Development
To maintain Geo SCADA Expert's position as a leading SCADA solution, we operate a policy of continuous development. Each new version of our product supports additional features and functionality to previous releases. To use the new drivers, features, or functionality involving database items, your system has to be running the latest version of Geo SCADA Expert software. Additionally, if you have upgraded from an earlier version of the product, you have to deactivate any Database Emulation that was activated during the upgrade process. You should only deactivate the Database Emulation once you have successfully completed the upgrade process on all of the servers and clients in your system (see Deactivate Database Emulation after a Successful Upgrade).
The level of technical information in this guide is for users who have an advanced level of expertise with Geo SCADA Expert, Microsoft Windows, electronic flow measurement and FloBoss flow computers.