[Imported] Trio E Series Licensed Ethernet/Serial Radio Gateways and Serial Device Servers

[sbeadle]

>>Message imported from previous forum - Category:Trio Data Radios<<
User: joelw, originally posted: 2018-10-16 22:07:07 Id:46
This is a re-posting from the obsoleted (October 2018) "Schneider Electric Telemetry & SCADA" forum.

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**_jweder:_**

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The Trio E Series Ethernet/serial radios are capable of converting common Ethernet based protocols to serial protocols, and converting from serial to Ethernet. This can significantly reduce the cost of system design when conversion is required, as no external device such as a Digi, Lantronix or Moxa gateway is needed. Not only is cost lower, but also power requirements, cabinet space and configuration time.

The E Series Ethernet/Serial product line includes the ER45e remote type, the EB45e base/repeater, and the EH45e Hot Standby repeater. The EH45e includes two EB45e's, each with its own Ethernet port for redundancy and quick switch-over.

Conversion between Ethernet and serial may be performed by either the Access Point (Host site) radio or by the Remote site radio. As the Ex45e product line is inherently a narrow band 9600 bps product, it is most efficient to convert at the SCADA Host polling radio and thus send each message over the air as a low-overhead serial message.

To view the configuration items discussed below, open the TView+ E Series programmer. (R3.22.0 or newer is required to access all of these features) Either perform a Read from an Ex45e radio, or if offline go to the Modem menu, then E Series, then select ER45e.

To perform conversion within the Host radio, two Virtual ports are available by opening the Stream Setup dialog in the E Series TView+ programmer. A Virtual port emulates a real serial port within the radio's operating system. It is possible to perform a conversion either from a protocol such as Modbus RTU in TCP or UDP (serial protocol in a TCP or UDP wrapper), or from a more purely IP-based protocol such as Modbus/TCP, to serial Modbus RTU.

Both conversions are configured in the same manner. Select either the User Port option for Modbus RTU in TCP or UDP, or the Modbus Gateway option for Modbus/TCP or Modbus/UDP. You may then configure a TCP or UDP connection. TCP Server is likely the most commonly used mode. All that's typically required is to specify a Local IP Port number.

The resulting serial Modbus RTU message must then have a Transmit Stream ID (SID) attached to it for routing on the serial system to the correct destination serial port(s). Also configurable is a Receive SID to allow serial response messages from other devices to be sent to this specific Virtual port for conversion back into an Ethernet-based protocol.

Once the new configuration has been written to the radio, the SCADA Host software will simply send messages to the IP address of the Host radio and the IP port number of the desired Virtual port.

Conversion from Ethernet to serial may also take place at the destination Remote radio via the Transport mode dialog. (this is less efficient as IP overhead will be sent over the 9600 bps link) This does however allow routing to a specific destination radio and serial port when no other address information is available. It also allows IT staff to perform tests such as SNMP health checks, pings, etc of all Remote sites.

To perform conversion at the Remote radio, set that radio's serial port Transport mode to either Device Server for protocols such as Modbus RTU in TCP or UDP or to Modbus Gateway for protocols such as Modbus/TCP or Modbus/UDP. By clicking IP Setup you can configure for either TCP or UDP, and either a Client, Server or Client/Server connection.

Due to the inherently low bandwidth nature of the Ex45e radios, it is often required to provide Ethernet filtering. It is essential to maintain tight control over the amount of traffic on the system. Careful management will ensure the system remains reliable. As an added feature to assist with bandwidth management, filtering is available. Click on the Advanced button in the Ethernet Port Configuration area. This filtering can protect the system from various devices which might generate unnecessary traffic, and provide an additional degree of security.

**Note 1:** The Ex45e radios require firmware R5.3.1 or newer to provide access to all of the features discussed. TView+ R3.22.0 or newer is required to program the Ex45e's device server and gateway.

**Note 2:** For more detailed technical configuration information, please refer to the User Manual. Alternately, contact Tech Support by phone at 1-888-226-6876 or by email at SupportTRSS[at]schneider-electric.com