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Reality Check: What Features Do I Need in an SNMP RTU?

How do you find the right SNMP RTU? Look for more features than just SNMP support. Many devices can output SNMP Traps - when you're evaluating an RTU, look instead at how many alarm monitoring functions it can perform.

The NetGuardian 832A monitors 32 discrete alarms and 8 analog alarms, pings 32 network elements, controls 8 relays, provides LAN reach through access to 8 serial ports, and reports via SNMP or DCPX, e-mail, or pagers.

Here are 5 essential features that your SNMP RTU must have:

1. Discrete alarm inputs (also called digital inputs or contact closures): These are typically used to monitor equipment failures, intrusion alarms, beacons, and flood and fire detectors.
   
2. Analog alarm inputs: While discrete alarms monitor on/off conditions, analog alarms measure continuously variable levels of voltage or current. Analog alarms monitor temperature, humidity and pressure, all of which can critically affect equipment performance.
   
3. Ping alarms: An RTU that supports ping alarms will ping devices on your network at regular intervals. If a device fails to respond, the RTU will send an alarm as an SNMP Trap, providing immediate notification that the device has failed or gone offline.
   
4. Control relays: Don't waste time and money sending a technician to a remote site miles away simply to turn a switch. An RTU with control relay outputs will let you operate remote site equipment directly from your NOC.
   
5. Terminal server function: Your RTU can also serve as a terminal server to remote-site serial devices. Your devices connect to the RTU's serial ports, giving you immediate Telnet access via LAN from your NOC at any time.

DPS Telecom offers SNMP RTUs that meet all these requirements - and offer stand-alone local visibility through any web browser, expandable alarm capacity, LAN access via dial-up connection and more.

To learn more about DPS RTUs, request a live Web Demo.

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