Control Solutions’ Babel Buster MX-61-SP is a specialized SNMP Gateway used to connect devices with proprietary serial communication protocols to your SNMP network. The Script Basic programming environment lets you write your own custom protocol interpreter to interact with your serial device, and share data retained in the gateway in the form of “registers” that are accessible as SNMP MIB variables.

The MX-61-SP also includes a Modbus TCP client and server. Therefore, this gateway can also be used to connect devices with proprietary serial protocols to Modbus TCP, or use it as a gateway to connect Modbus TCP devices to SNMP while also connecting the proprietary serial device(s).

MX-61-SP Proprietary Protocol Gateway Functionality

Feature Highlights
• Connect Proprietary Serial Protocol Devices to SNMP v1, v2c, v3
• Script Basic programming for custom serial protocols
• User HTML support for adding custom web pages
• SNMP Get/Set access to all data points
• SNMP trap generation, user programmable criteria
• Modbus TCP Client and Server
• Configured via secure internal web server
• FCC, CE Mark
• Software Included, No Drivers to Buy

Babel Buster MX-61-SP proprietary serial protocol to SNMPv3 gateway

Babel Buster MX-61-SP Proprietary Serial to SNMPv3 Gateway

Order code: MX-61-SP
Retail price: $549.00

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Control Solutions’ Babel Buster MX-61-SP is a specialized SNMP Gateway used to connect devices with proprietary serial communication protocols to your SNMP network. The Script Basic programming environment lets you write your own custom protocol interpreter to interact with your serial device, and share data retained in the gateway in the form of “registers” that are accessible as Modbus TCP registers or SNMP MIB variables.

The SNMP manager can use SNMP Get to retrieve contents of any shared data register. In addition, the MX-61-SP uses threshold rule templates to continuously monitor register data and generate SNMP Traps upon sensing of “alarm” conditions.

The MX-61-SP supports SNMPv3 as well as SNMPv2 and SNMPv1. User credentials for SNMPv3 access are entered via the built-in secure web user interface.

You can write to your serial device using SNMP Set with a little help from your custom program. Simply include code in your program that will check your selected registers for new data, and send that data to your serial device.

The MX-61-SP can also make your serial device’s data accessible to Modbus TCP as holding registers or any of the other standard Modbus register types. The MX-61-SP’s Modbus register map is user configurable.

Control Solutions has benchmark tested configurations in which the MX-61 MIB size was a few hundred variables and external SNMP manager tools could successfully walk the entire MIB in a very short time. Your MIB size may vary depending on how resources are allocated in your particular application. The resource allocation page in the MX-61-SP gives you some indication of resource allocation, but is unable to predict how much of the available resources might be taken up by your Script Basic program. Therefore, with Script Basic, the MIB size that can be supported is going to be less than the 1,000 in the standard MX-61.

The MIB is divided into branches, with the 32-bit integer branch being the most universal. There are also 64-bit integer, and both 32-bit and 64-bit floating point branches as well as a character string branch. You configure the MIB by assigning local Modbus registers to positions in the MIB branch.

Traps (or SNMPv3 Notifications) are generated based on rule templates you fill in, and they reference data found in the MIB branches. In addition to sending the relevant data with the trap or notification message, the templates include user defined character string messages.

The MX-61 is a significant enhancement over its predecessor, the SPX. The hardware includes a faster processor and hardware encryption engine for efficient rendering of secure web pages and for support of encryption as needed for SNMPv3. The software includes numerous enhancements.

• SNMPv3 support (in addition to SNMPv1/v2)
• IPv6 support
• Secure (HTTPS) web server
• User defined register map for Modbus
• Greater flexibility in assigning local register data types
• Support for reading character strings from Modbus
• CSV import of register maps for client/master configuration
• Menu options to clear part or all of configuration

Script Basic can program your MX-61-SP to be a passive listener capturing data from something like a data logger. Script Basic can also program your MX-61-SP to be an active polling device to query your serial device and interpret the response to provide data to SNMP (or Modbus TCP).

Configuration of the MX-61-SP gateway is done via the web pages served by the internal web server. You simply fill in templates. The entire configuration is saved in the internal Flash file system in XML format. This file may be exported to replicate additional copies of the configured device, or for backup.

Screen shot from MX-61-SP Proprietary Protocol to SNMP Gateway

Click the link below to view a demo copy of the entire Web UI. This demo web is the BB3-6101-V3SP; however the MX-61-SP is identical except for model number indicated at the top of the page..

 MX-61-SP/BB3-6101-V3SP Demo Web


 Technical Specifications

 

MX-61-SP Features

• Script Basic programming for custom serial protocols
• User HTML support enables user defined web pages with dynamic data
• SNMPv3 in addition to SNMPv1/v2
• SNMP Get/Set access to all data points
• SNMP trap generation, user programmable criteria
• MD5/DES support for Get/Set, encrypted traps not supported
• Up to 2,000 Modbus registers
• Support for multi-register 32-bit, 64-bit data and character strings
• Local registers accessible as any Modbus register type
• Modbus coils, discrete inputs, input registers, holding registers
• Modbus register mapping configured via web interface
• Built-in data scaling for units conversion
• Support for packed holding registers
• Modbus TCP Client and Server
• Configure via secure web pages with password protection
    • TLS 1.2
    • RSA-1024/SHA-256 self-generated certificates
    • Supports externally generated certificates
• Flash file system with XML configuration files
• Includes “10X” configuration file capacity
• Hardened RS-485 transceiver for serial protocol
• 10/100BaseT Ethernet
• DHCP or static IP address
• Field upgradeable firmware upload via ftp
• Powered by 10-30VDC or 24VAC 50/60 Hz
• Power Consumption: 0.1A @ 24VDC
• Panel mount, 70mm H x 131mm W x 38mm D
• Pluggable screw terminal block for power & RTU network
• Operating temperature -20°C to +75°C
• Humidity 5% to 90% non-condensing
• FCC Class A, CE Mark

Maximum Object Counts and System Capacities for MX-61-SP

• MX-61-SP allows user allocation of memory resources. Memory capacity will not support maximum counts of everything possible, but maximum count limits are set high so that you can allocate resources where you need them.

• Maximum Modbus registers 2000

• Maximum Modbus RTU device count 240
• Modbus RTU read map count 1000
• Modbus RTU write map count 1000

• Maximum Modbus TCP device count 200
• Modbus TCP Client read mapcount 1000
• Modbus TCP Client write map count 1000

• Maximum MIB Size: 2000 Variables, Integer branch
• Maximum MIB Size: 1000 Variables, other branches

 User Guide

 Documents and Links

 Videos - It's Easier than Reading!

MX-61 and BB3-6101 Video Library

Watch these videos for an introduction to configuring the gateway. It's easier than reading!

These videos were recorded using a BB3-6101; however, the MX-61 will be identical with the only exception being the model number indicated at the top of the web pages.

Introduction to the MX-61 and BB3-6101 Modbus-SNMP Gateway

Configuring MX-61 and BB3-6101 Modbus Client

Configuring MX-61 and BB3-6101 SNMP Agent

 Configuration Builder

CSV to XML Conversion Tool

Babel Buster Configuration Builder

You would normally use the web pages found in the gateway itself to configure the gateway. But you may be able to take a shortcut if you have a long list of registers already in CSV file format.

The Babel Buster Configuration Builder is used to facilitate building of configuration files (aka "profiles") for Babel Buster network gateways by converting XML files to CSV files and vice versa. This simplifies the process of creating or changing a large number of entries because you can use any standard spread sheet program to manipulate the content of one or more CSV files, and then convert that into an XML configuration file that can be loaded into the gateway. If the gateway will be reading a long list of Modbus registers, for example, you can sometimes just copy a list of registers from another source, paste into a simple text file, and import that into the spread sheet program. Then add a header line to label the content, add a handful of additional columns, and you quickly have most of a complete configuration. Very often, the only thing that changes from one line to the next is the register number. The other entries can be quickly made by entering once and using the spread sheet program's "fill down".

The Babel Buster Configuration Builder simplifies the process of making global changes to a large number of gateway register or object "maps". The gateway “converts” protocols by querying devices on one network with one protocol, and then saving that data internally so that it may be accessed on another network using a different protocol. The designation of what should be queried is referred to as a “map” in the gateway. In most applications, most or all maps are “read” maps, meaning the gateway will read data from some other device. A “write” map will write data to that device. Most often the gateway will actively read data from a device and passively wait for another device on the alternate network to query the gateway to obtain that data. But it is also possible to configure the gateway with two sets of maps, one to actively read device A using protocol A, and then actively write that data to device B using protocol B. The process can also be reversed, and can be done concurrently. You may both read and write data on one network while writing and reading data on the other network.

What to Expect from the Conversion Tool

The point of this configuration builder is to simplify the process of entering long lists of registers or objects. Where most of the parameters are the same for many maps, using a spread sheet program's "fill down" makes the process fast and easy.

There are situations where creating a CSV file for configuring some aspect of the gateway is actually going to create more work than simply using the web UI or PC based software to directly configure that aspect. Configuring the Modbus RTU port baud rate is one such example. There is only one setting. A CSV file would create more work rather than less, as intended. Therefore, the configuration builder only supports CSV import/export for those aspects of gateway configuration that involve long lists of largely replicated parameters. There are a very limited number of list type entries that are not supported in part because they are seldom used, and in part because very little of the list is replicated from one entry to the next. The BACnet Broadcast Distribution Table is one such example.

Do note, however, that if you have already done a lot of configuration, have saved that to an XML file, and want to add a list from a CSV file, you can do that. Refer to the section in the user guide that talks about modifying an existing configuration.

Get the Tool Now!

This tool is free and available for download now. Unzip and run the bb-builder-setup.exe file. Open the program, and click the help icon (blue question mark in upper left corner) to access the user guide. The very first section tells you how to get started.

NOTE: Version 2 of the configuration builder tool supports BB3-6101 file formats, and supports upgrading XML files from BB2-6010 format to BB3-6101 format. Also do note that the BB3-6101 can import CSV files directly. If you have a compatible CSV file ready to go, just upload that into the BB3-6101 - no need to convert to XML first.

Download the Babel Buster Configuration Builder here.

CSV to XML Conversion Tool

Configuration Service

Need even more help with your network gateway configuration task? We can do the configuration for you, or at least give you a big head start. We are working on building a library of configuration files for commonly used devices. If yours isn't already in the library, we will add it. To get started, open a support ticket and attach a copy (typically a .pdf document) of whatever documentation you have for your device. In addition, provide a list of the registers or objects you want to read or write. Of course, you can also start by asking if we already have that device in our library. If you have a proprietary application that you do not want included in our library, you can hire us at a very reasonable rate to do custom, proprietary configuration work for you, too.

 Support

Our most extensive technical support is provided by the same engineering staff that developed the products. Your personal attention from this staff is available via the support ticket system.

No user/password is required to open a new ticket. Once you open a ticket, you will immediately receive an email with your ticket number. Your ticket number becomes your login to review your ticket(s) later. Click the Support Ticket icon anywhere you see it. (If you do not get an email with your ticket number, within minutes, check your junk folder, spam settings, etc, and try again if necessary.)

 Open a Ticket