Acquiring data from remote terminal connected to our network.

[AaronGesicki]

We have installed a QSI QTERM-G70 terminal on our network. This terminal would be used to enter data from several plant in-process audits. This terminal is an Ethernet-enabled graphic terminal with object-based programming. It stores the firmware and the user application in a compressed format in flash memory and then transfers them to RAM memory when the terminal is powered on.
We will be entering a 9 digit numeric string which contains three separate entries of interest. What I want to do is import these strings, this date, into Lookout. Then I want to Hypertrend the three separate parameters as well as log this info in a spreadsheet.
I need some help on where and how to begin. I can successfully ping this dev
ice from our SCADA computer, so I know it's out there.
I've already created a Lookout process file for this, with a control panel which contains an ASCII object. Now what?

[Khalid]

Hi,

We will need to know the communication protocol used by this terminal so we can chaff-out the useful info' form the raw data.

You will use the IPASCII object (instead of the ASCII object). Here's a KB article explaining the details (applicable to both ASCII and IPASCII objects).

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/3efedde4322fef19862567740067f3cc/a78096bbd72d0d388625681d0056b1be?OpenDocument

Hope this gets you started at least.

Regards,

Khalid

[AaronGesicki]

Khalid -

Creating the IPASCII object did allow me to enter the TCP/IP address. That's progress. I have not yet completed the Knowledge Base article, so this might be an unnecessary discussion once I do my homework.

Tech Service at QSI sent us this comment in response to our request for detail on communication protocol:

"For packet addressing you are using TCP/IP. For protocol you are writing your own. You have to figure this out. So far your protocol is 9 bytes that you send to the SCADA. Protocol can be any format of data exchange.
You need to program the SCADA using a IPASCII object. You need to program the SCADA to wait for you to connect or to go out and connect to the G70 and then exchange data."

[Khalid]

Glad to know about the responsive support team at QSI. The RQVs and RSVs can be tricky. Start off with no request-formatting at all; you will see the complete unformatted response in Response datamember. Then gradually start playing with RQVs and RSVs.

You may want to check-out this free tool from sysinternals:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/tdimon.shtml

TDIMon let's you see the TCP/IP data going back and forth. Their PortMon, for serial and parallel ports, is another excellent utility to have in our software toolbox 🙂

Good luck!

Khalid

[AaronGesicki]

It's been a while, but I'm back on this. I tried leaving the Request format blank - that didn't work. then I tried using what's in the attached file, without success.
It appears that port definition is hanging this up, although perhaps it's the RQV and RSV details.
I need more help making this work.
I've attached the Lookout files with this object and it's current configuration.

[Khalid]

I am afraid this involves setting up some test system and working with port numbers (like you rightly pointed out); unfortunately I do not have time for this.

You may want to seek NI Support's help with this issue.

Khalid