B+B SmartWorx Smart Swarm 351 Industrial IOT Gateway
Translate SCADA protocols to IT in real-time without disrupting, interrupting or reconfiguring your existing networks
The B+B SmartWorx Smart Swarm 351 is ultimately a bolt-on, non-invasive physical device that provides an easy and cost effective way to release and translate your SCADA data, in real-time, to a wider enterprise IT environment. And compared to similar devices and solutions out there, it does so without impacting your programming, processes or people.
Get data without getting in the way (non-intrusive)
Instead of replacing the existing SCADA or automation master device like similar devices already on the market, the SmartSwarm 351 connects to the serial data line and 'eavesdrops' on the communications between the master and the attached slaves. From this it builds a comprehensive picture of the status of each of the connected devices, in real-time, without impacting any performance of the existing SCADA or automation system:
- Connects transparently to existing system by simple connection across the serial bus.
- Does not require any reconfiguration of the system
- Does not impact performance of the existing system
- Learns about connected devices by simply listening to Modbus traffic
At no time will data of any kind flow back into your existing system. Your system won't even know it's there.
No-worry connectivity to IT
Unlike similar devices, the Smart Swarm acts a fully functional gateway via options like Ethernet or cellular, taking care of all of the hardware complexities and potential issues of an unattended communication system that you don't have time to become an expert on, including:
- Session awareness
- Connection re-establishment
- Connection re-routing
- Multiple geographies
- Data optimization
Once our gateway captures the SCADA data, it adds the necessary layers to convert this device specific poll-response into the decoupled, event-driven model needed by IT.
Built rugged to work in your environment
Since your SCADA data needs to be heard and translated at the source, we've designed the Smart Swarm 351 to operate in some of the most demanding environments. Operating Temperatures range from -40C to 75C, with IP42 Ingress protection and 0 to 95% operating humidity (non-condensing).
It is also mountable, with DC power input for 24VDC rail.
Real-time raw data translation with simple, one-time setup
As you know, raw SCADA data is of little use within an IT system as it can only be interpreted with detailed knowledge of the source device and its register map.
Our SmartSwarm 351 gateway allows data to be enriched (translated) in real-time as it is being sent to IT, providing contextualized, self-defining and semantically searchable data understandable by anyone without SCADA knowledge. It accomplishes this by providing a default scheme where topics and value ranges are based upon SCADA terminology but crucially allows users to substitute their own topic space definitions and value ranges for each recovered point.
Sends only the data that IT needs
If you're using a poll-response protocol like MODBUS, you know there are generally no significant changes from poll to poll. If you listen in, translate and send that same type of data to IT via cellular uplink, the result could be very costly in terms of the data plan. And even if you are using a direct connection like Ethernet, asking IT to constantly process the same information may be perceived as wasteful.
- Transparently connects to existing serial Modbus RTU networks
- Provides parallel data feed into Enterprise IIoT systems while the existing Modbus network continues to operate
- User configurable data enrichment and event triggers
- Extensive configuration options for interpretation of Modbus data
- Cellular or Ethernet connection to IIoT system
- Also acts as LAN to WAN bridge for 3rd party device connections