The Aggregator is the core program of the Controlstar® SCADA system, it is the Server process that supports one or more SCADA clients. An Aggregator handles the communications with the Controlstar® and Micro-Controlstars, it marshals this data and submits it to an embedded ‘Cloudscape’ relational database. When a Controlstar® is communicating to the aggregator the ‘live’ data is both stored in the ‘Cloudscape’ data base and transmitted to any SCADA clients that are currently displaying the information from that Controlstar®.

The Aggregator protocol with the Controlstar® provides a secure efficient communication path that ensures the synchronisation of data, controls, unit configuration, and programs. The Aggregator also handles the division of systems into zones; in this individual operations personnel only view and controls those parts of a system (i.e. zone) that corresponds to their responsibilities and/or interest. 

An Aggregator has three operational modes:

• As a local master, providing a SCADA server, which includes the ‘Cloudscape’ database for a complete system or Zone. The Aggregator handles the communications and synchronises the time of each Controlstars®.
• As a local slave, this is typically a laptop that is used during roaming access by GSM. For roaming access all connections are manually initiated and the Aggregator communicates directly with the Controlstar®’s. When the laptop is being infrequently used its database will become out of date, to reduce the time to collect the historical information the slave aggregator’s database can be quickly synchronised with a master Aggregator by a dial up, Ethernet, or WI FI connection. This Aggregator-to-Aggregator Synchronisation allows an operator to quickly synchronise a slave aggregator.
• As a dual Hot standby sever configuration, in this mode two Aggregators permanently synchronise their respective data bases, one systems acts as the master and controls the communications with both the Controlstars and any other remote aggregator. On the failure of a master, the standby takes control.

MQ SCADA Protocol

Data from remote locations is proving increasingly important as organizations face stronger competitive pressures to closely monitor and control all aspects of their business. The MQ SCADA protocol provides end-to-end seamless connectivity from the field level to enterprise applications within IBM's WebSphere Business Integration software. The solution helps organizations integrate different areas of their business and those of customers and partners. Automating the flow of information across the entire value chain and transforming businesses to become more agile and responsive. The MQ SCADA is an event-driven, publish and subscribe protocol operating over TCP/IP. Applications for MQ SCADA are industry wide, with particular relevants to oil and gas, environmental monitoring, process control, utilities and transport. The Controlstar® supports the MQ SCADA protocol directly from the unit without the need for specialized gateways. The Fusion configuration tool allows a user to select the information and controls what each Controlstar® publishes via the MQ SCADA protocol.