ComX application "gotchas"

[ram_kaushik]

Hi folks,

Wanted to bring up two things I learned recently about the ComX 200.The first is already documented but thought I'd include it for completeness. Talked to the product team already about these but want to avoid misapplication.

Gotcha#1:

With the gateway feature in firmware v1.1 currently, PME can only read the connected meters, and  *cannot* read the on-board analog and digital inputs. This could be an issue with WAGES application for example. In the push-to-cloud case, it should be fine.

Gotcha#2:

For push-to-cloud, GPRS/Ethernet are the only communications mechanism. wifi is for configuration only with the current firmware version, making it of very minimal usefulness. The documentation is extremely misleading in that it does not clearly state what the box *cannot* do. And by lumping ethernet/GPRS/wifi together in the data sheet, the implicit and natural assumption is that all functionality will be identical in both mechanisms.  This is already a cause of *huge* confusion. Thanks to Tien Vu for escalating this one.

[dborle]

Hi Ram,

I fully agree with you, especially on the second point. It took me and my colleagues some time to finding this out (also because of the highlighted text in the features)!
Thanks a lot for this clarification.

Cheers

Daniel

[Yu_Diao]

Ram,

Very good info, it is alwasy nice to know these "Gotchas" before go to site assuming everything is good. Could you iterate more about #1? Do you mean, when gateway is enabled, a master software (PME) can only reached the downstream devcies tied to the ComX's RS485 port, but NOT the ComX itself, which make it exactly like EGX?

Regards,

[LaurentCoene]

Hi!

Both of your statements are correct!

For the wi-fi, there's a reason to that: the original pre-release of the box actually was working as a wifi client. However, during the testing period, the R&D team discovered some potential problem with heat when using the dongle as a wifi client, so the feature was removed right before the actual release. (and I guess the documentation got left out).

I do believe that this is still on the roadmap though, so we can all hope to have that one day! 🙂

[JamesJeanette]

Thanks Laurent.  Yes, you are correct.  There were some documents not updated, but I am having those removed.  Please use the Com'X 200 Version 1.1 User Guide for the most updated information.

As Ram described, the EBXA-USB-WIFI is ONLY used for Setup and Configuration today.  There is a release planned for "WiFi Infrastructure," which will then allow you to connect the Com'X to a customer's wifi infrastructure...allowing you to send data over wifi.  This is scheduled for this year (Q3), and I will keep you updated as we have an official release date.

James

[Anonymous user]

Totally correct

For Wifi, We intent to provide a USB extension cable that will allow to install the dongle outside the Com'X 200.

The interest will be double :

1) Reduce temperature constraint supported by the dongle (the temperature inside the Com'X 200 is 15 degree above the temperature outside the Com'X 200)

2) Improve transmission : in case of a metallic cabinet, it is better to avoid the attenuation of the metallic enclosure

3) Reduce EMC disturbance risk fort other electronic devices near the Com'X 200

Jef

[chriswhite]

In terms of GPRS data collection, has much work been done on the amount of data that is transmitted from ComX?  I'm trying to estimate the cost of collection data per channel, based on the standard EO XML format.

[EvonneYin]

Hi All,

Is there any updates on the 2 gotcha's especially for No.1?

Gotcha#1:

With the gateway feature in firmware v1.1 currently, PME can only read the connected meters, and  *cannot* read the on-board analog and digital inputs. This could be an issue with WAGES application for example. In the push-to-cloud case, it should be fine.

Can the PME read the onboard analog and digital inputs via GPRS connectivity now? This is a very important feature which we have to get it right when we pitch about WAGES monitoring.If it is possible, how do we do it?

For Gotcha #2, is the WiFi now available as a LAN infrastructure?

Any indication of when these features are available is appreciated.

Many thanks.

Evonne

[dborle]

Hi Evonne,

As far that I know, GPRS can only be used for pushing data to the cloud and not for a connecting a system like PME to the box.

: Are there any plans to implement this function as well (using the Com'X as a gateway over GPRS)?

Thanks

Daniel

[Anonymous user]

Those 2 points :

• Modbus gateway for AI and DI
• Wifi access in permanent mode for data acquisition and publication

are available in version 1.3

Regards

Jef

[JamesJeanette]

Hello Daniel.

You are correct, GPRS is only for pushing logged data.  We have had some requests for the Com'X 200 to perform as a gateway over GPRS, but we are looking into the costs and performance of that much data passing through (as a gateway).

James

[sesa77557]

Hi James,

I confirm that the Gateway functionality over 3G  (the new modem available will  be the 3G one instead the slow GPRS version) it's very interesting (feedback received from many Customers).

If you are speaking about the cost of the "connection" I think it will be a non-problem because of all the mobile operators offer very competitive subscriptions...

If the problem is related to the performances of Com'X200, we should be able to increase performances to be able to answer to the Customers' needs.

Best Regards,

Roberto

[JamesJeanette]

Thanks for the feedback Roberto.

[Anonymous user]

We have also to consider the GPRS infrastructure.

Usually, the GPRS provider, which provide a public APN access, will block the incoming traffic.

(This is to protect your mobile against malicious access)

As a consequence, the modbus traffic to Com'X 200 Modbus server will not be routed by default.

There are 2 solutions :

1) Request to the GPRS provider to provide a private APN access (extra fee)

==> We will have also to modify in the Com'X 200 the firewall routes in order to enable incoming modbus traffic through GPRS interface

(NOTE : this feature is already available in Com'X 500 prototypes)

2) Build a VPN tunnel from the Com'X 200 to the customer scada system.

The Com'X 200 already includes a "OpenVPN" client, but this client is not configurable :

The destination of the VPN is today limited to =S= technical support (remote access for maintenance)

There is a project called "Power View Remote Access" that will use this "OpenVPN" client to open a tunnel between the Com'X 200 and a =S=

portal. All the HTTP / HTTPS traffic to the Com'X 200 and the IP devices connected to the Com'X will be routed to the portal.

(this project should be available 1H2015)

NOTE : In this second solution, only the HTTP(S) traffic will be routed.

There is no way to provide a tunnel between the Com'X 200 and a private destination such as a customer scada for modbus traffic

Regards

Jef

[sesa77557]

Thanks Jef for your feedback but please consider that I was speaking about the future 3G key instead the actual GPRS.

I'm sure you know that ouside Schneider Electric offer there are a lot of manufacturer that produce and sell 3G modems that allow the bi-directional communication with DDNS services already embedded,

So why not opening the bi-directional communication in Com'X products (200/210/510) and also giving the possibility to support DDNS services?!

Regarding the 2 solution proposed

1a) Let's modify the the firewall routes in order to enable incoming GPRS/3G traffic

1b) I don't understand if this feature will be available in Com'X500

2) Based on Customer feedbacks (not mine) this is a BIG MISTAKE in Com'X offer: Customer are also asking to provide a tunnel between the Com'X offer (200/210/510) and a private destination (not only SE portals)

I think it is clear that for all these "bi-directional com options" inside the Com'X the only responsible will be the Customer: he will decide if enable these services or not (default option will be not) --> completely the same as 3G modems

People, let's wake up: it seems that we are worried about cybersecurity but companies that are specialist in router/modems/etc... seem not to be like us --> in my opinion it it not the right approach to tell the Customer to buy another external 3G modem to be able to do what it could be possible to do with Com'X - if we are not able to extend these features in Com'X, this offer will be limited and not exactly answering Customer needs.

BR

Roberto

[arjanbijker]

I agree wholeheartedly

[Anonymous user]

I have searched solution of "Modbus over GPRS" :

I would like to get something to replace a RS485 cable between a modbus slave and a scada by a GPRS link,

I did not want to modify the modbus slave or the scada program.

I accept to change a little bit the Scada configuration (eg change modbus RTU master to modbus-TCP client)

But I have found only modbus gateway: this is device that read data in the modbus slave using modbus protocol,

But the kind of gateway I have found, uses a specific and private publication protocol over the air, and this protocol can be used only by specific destination platform (and not by any  scada)

==> Could you please me send me information and prices about the manufacturers that offer the type of GPRS Modem that you mentionned

Thanks a lot

[arjanbijker]

The inhand ir701gs55-485 would do the trick

Sent from my iPad

[sesa59910]

Hi Ram,

Regarding Point No.2 I would also like to just highlight to everyone that the unit's GUI still states that WiFi can be used for Data Publication. This will definitely confuse our customers.

This can be viewed by Clicking "Selection Help" next to the Network Configuration drop down as shown in the attached image.

FYI this is in Firmware 3.0.7 of the Com'X510, which I believe is the current version.

Best regards

Scott Cramer

[Anonymous user]

Hi Scott,

I'm not sure why this thread was revived, but it's actually from 2014. You are correct that the most version 3.0.7 and greater can publish data over WiFi.

Best Regards,

Colton

[sesa59910]

Thanks for the clarification Colton. A colleague sent me a link to this topic roughly 1 week ago, I honestly did not notice the age of it.

Very much appreciated.

Best regards

Scott