Data Acquisition System: ATDriver Server in ATSCADA

In a modern data acquisition system, communication drivers play a critical role in connecting physical devices to SCADA platforms.ATSCADA provides ATDriver Server as a core component for handling device communication and data exchange in industrial environments. To understand its architecture and capabilities, refer to the ATDriver introduction and system architecture.. To better understand how these systems operate in practice, it is useful to explore a complete software platform used for industrial monitoring and control.

ATDriver Server supports multiple communication drivers, allowing flexible integration with different industrial devices and protocols.

ATDriver Server with 3 fundamental Drivers for connecting physical devices

1. Modbus RTU

2. Modbus TCPIP

3. S7 Ethernet TCP/IP

In modbus rtu and modbus TCP Drivers

tag format declaration is in below format:

The default and only data type of Coils and Input Contacts is Bool.

The default data type of Input Registers and Holding Registers is Word. However, they can also be accessed by Bit (e.g., 300001.2, 400001.7), Dword, Short, Long, and Float, following either the “First Word High” or “First Word Low” principle depending on the checkbox selected in Device Properties → First Word High (checked by default).

Typically, the checked option (“First Word High”) is used for Modbus communication with Siemens S7 PLCs. Other devices such as flow meters and power meters usually use “First Word Low” (unchecked).

Driver Type 3 – S7 Ethernet TCP/IP

This driver is developed by ATProCorp based on the open-source Snap7 project by Davide Nardella (Italy), enabling communication with Siemens S7 PLCs (S7 Ethernet Client) as well as HMI/SCADA PC/PG systems (S7 Ethernet Server) that support Ethernet.

For S7 Ethernet Client, the Tag declaration rules are as follows:
Communication layers must work reliably with monitoring and alerting systems, especially in environments where real-time event detection and notification in SCADA systems are required.

1. Supported memory areas: DB, MB, IB, QB.

2. By default, tags in these memory areas are accessed by byte:
   DBx[0], MB[1], IB[2], QB[3].

• DBx[0].1 (Bool type):
  Refers to bit 1 of byte DBx[0], where x is the DB number
  (same principle applies to other memory areas).

• DBx[0] (Word, Short types):
  Reads/writes 2 consecutive bytes: DBx[0] and DBx[1],
  where the high byte is DBx[0] according to Siemens standards
  (same for other memory areas).

• DBx[0] (DWord, Long, Float types):
  Reads/writes 4 consecutive bytes: DBx[0], DBx[1], DBx[2], DBx[3],
  where the high byte is DBx[0] according to Siemens standards
  (same for other memory areas).

S7 Ethernet Server (ATDriver v2.3 and above)

From version 2.3 onward, ATDriver includes an S7 Ethernet Server
(activate via Tool → Raise S7 Ethernet Server).

This server allows access from:

• S7 Ethernet Client Driver within ATDriver Server, or

• HMI/SCADA PC/PG systems on the same Ethernet network

Users can access it like an S7-1200 PLC for data exchange and sharing.

The ATSCADA S7 Ethernet Server provides:

• 5 DB areas:
  DB1[1024], DB2[1024], DB3[1024], DB4[1024], DB5[1024]

• 1 MB area: MB[1024]

• 1 IB area: IB[1024]

• 1 QB area: QB[1024]

Contact Information

If you would like to learn more about ATDriver Server or start building your own SCADA system, you can download ATSCADA SCADA software to explore its full capabilities.
please contact the ATSCADA Lab hotline for the best support. Thank you.

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