Introduction to the MQTT Driver

This driver is an advanced 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'.

Intended Audience

This guide is primarily intended for engineers who are responsible for configuring MQTT items and features in the Geo SCADA Expert database.

This guide also contains information for maintenance engineers.

Document Scope

This guide explains about the configuration, features and database items that are specific to Geo SCADA Expert's MQTT Driver.

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.

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.

WARNING

POTENTIAL SECURITY BREACH

We strongly recommend using network-connected Geo SCADA Expert drivers in a private network only (either physical or virtual). We recommend against using such drivers for communications over the public Internet. If the drivers are used over the public Internet, as a minimum those drivers should use TLS to help provide a secure connection over the network.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage. The breach in system security could expose sensitive data and the leave the database vulnerable to unauthorized and potentially malicious use.

MQTT is an ISO standard publish-subscribe-based messaging protocol. It is a lightweight protocol designed for communications between small sensors and mobile devices in remote locations, where network bandwidth is limited or unreliable.

The MQTT driver in Geo SCADA Expert supports communications using MQTT versions 3.1 and 3.1.1.

You run the MQTT driver in conjunction with the relevant MQTT extension driver. The extension driver enables Geo SCADA Expert to receive messages in the format that is supported by the MQTT clients that publish the messages. Use this guide in conjunction with the Geo SCADA Expert guide for that extension driver.

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).