Chapter 5 - Guidelines For Configuring The Ip Data Link - Bristol Babcock Network 3000 Setup Manual

Chapter 5 - Guidelines For Configuring the IP Data Link

The data link refers to the actual mechanism by which data flows through the
network. This includes the port and communication line itself, and for purposes of
our discussion, also includes the software configuration for the ports and the
communication line. The functioning of the data link is completely independent of
the applications which use the link (HMI/SCADA packages, IP_Client/IP_Server
Modules, etc.)
A Bristol Babcock network using the IP protocol operates like any other IP
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network. Data messages from a node are divided up into small pieces called
packets. The packets are transmitted through the communication line (such as an
Ethernet cable) and are then re-assembled into the full data message when they
reach the destination node. Currently, the Ethernet port is the only type of IP
connection supported by Bristol Babcock networks.
Just as many BSAP network terms do NOT apply in IP networks, many of the
concepts associated with BSAP data link configuration (polling, etc.) do NOT apply
in IP data link configuration. (These terms still apply, however, within a BSAP sub-
network underneath an IP node.)
The main configuration activities involved in IP data link configuration involve
setting up communication ports. These include:
Setting up the Network Host PC (NHP) for this network. (This was discussed as
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part of Chapter 3.)
Defining a Master port in any IP node which serves as a network master to a
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BSAP sub-network. (If applicable, see Chapter 4; if you are not including a
BSAP sub-network, this activity is unnecessary).
Declaring one or more IP ports in the ACCOL load of each IP node, using
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ACCOL Workbench.
Specifying the characteristics of the IP port(s) in the RTU's FLASH memory
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using the "RTU Comm Config" feature of LocalView.
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The specific type of IP protocol Bristol Babcock uses is called the User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
Network 3000 Communications Configuration Guide Page 5-1