What communication protocols do you use?

This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at 14/04/2007 15:50:31

Choose the communications protocols that are most important to you from the list above (listed in no particular order). If your favourite is missing, let me know.

SNMP
Modbus
User configurable ASCII

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 26/03/2007 21:20:03

Thanks for your input. Modbus is already available. SNMP is schedule for release in a few weeks.

Not sure about the configurable ASCII. Over what transport is it received? Is it polled, or simply listened for? Under what criteria is it configurable? That seems to be pretty much a wide open description.

SNMP

-PS

ModBus RTU, ModBus TCP/IP

BACnet
MODbus
LonWorks
SNMP

Straight TCP/IP UDP

What about an OPC Client Interface? This would open up a whole world of protocols for which OPC Servers have already been built. There are a few Open Source Java OPC Clients out there (such as https://sourceforge.net/projects/jeasyopc) which could be good targets for integration into Mango?

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 12/04/2007 17:21:35

The philosophical objection to OPC is of course its exclusiveness to Microsoft operating systems (notwithstanding the availability of linux ports). The tangible objection is that companies have to pay the OPC fees to play in their park, which in my personal opinion puts the lie to their claim of openness. The same applying to LonWorks of course. When, like Serotonin, you are providing a free, open source product, the tendency is to hesitate to work pro bono with others with obvious commercial influences.

Still, the Java version looks promising. We'll check it out.

Rockwell / Allen Bradley PLCs. The protocol is called CIP, and it can be tranported over serial or IP links. It would be nice if Mango could talk to them.
Check out http://www.tuxplc.net/ - ther is a GPL library there for AB Comms

Hi popeye,

Thanks for your input. Sadly, we don't have any AB equipment in our lab, which makes the development of a protocol implementation rather sketchy (developing only from documentation is hopeful at best). If there is simulation software available, or if someone were willing to loan us some equipment (free software = no budget to buy), we should be able to get this done.

Modbus (RTU, TCP),
M-Bus
BACnet (Ethernet, IP, MS/TP),
LonTalk,
IEC-60870-5-104.

Clipsal (http://www.clipsal.com), a division of Schneider Electric, is into building automation. They have developed an "open standard" protocol called C-Bus (http://www.cbus-enabled.com/default.html).

Why don't you consider adding C-Bus to your list of protocols?

Regards

Prodyut

Hi Prodyut,

Thanks for the suggestion. Sadly it may be some time before we get to this due to (paying) project work that is keeping us very busy. Of course, Mango is open source software, and so we encourage those with a development yen to feel free and implement new stuff.

Hi

1 wire. & Tcp/ip