Data timeout plugin for Data Loggers

Latest version: 5.0.1 build 1126. November 28, 2025.

The Data Timeout filter plugin is designed for professionals who need to know when data stops coming, not only when it is present. It monitors data sources, such as serial ports or TCP/IP connections, and generates events if data does not arrive within a defined time. Instead of silently losing information when a device hangs, a cable fails, or a connection drops, the plugin notifies you in a clear and controlled way. You can then trigger visual alerts, sounds, or automated actions through event handling plugins.

This plugin is especially useful in environments where gaps in data are critical. Typical areas include industrial automation, building management systems, telemetry, laboratory instruments, and IT infrastructure monitoring. For example, you may receive a measurement from a sensor every 30 seconds. If no message arrives for 5 minutes, the plugin can generate an event, write a special record to the log, and notify an operator. The plugin focuses on the absence of data, so you do not need to write complex scripts or custom checks in your own applications.

Download  | PDF manual

Configuration is simple. You select one or more parser variables from the data parser plugin and specify timeout values for each of them. A parser variable can be any extracted value, such as a temperature reading, device ID, or status field. The plugin can control up to four parser variables at the same time. You may also use the special name "*", which tells the plugin to apply the same rule to all received variables from the parser. For each monitored variable, you define the timeout interval, event name, and optional behavior, such as generating an event only once or on every repeated timeout. This gives you both fine control and flexibility for different devices and data streams.

The plugin can also generate a data record instead of, or in addition to, a logical event. For example, if a device stops sending data, the plugin can insert a row like:

DATE_TIME_STAMP=2025-11-28 08:00:00;SOURCE_ID=Pump_01;STATUS=Timeout

This record can be logged, exported, or further processed like any other data message. You can then use your reporting, trending, or alerting tools to detect gaps and correlate them with other events. The plugin can show you a status window that lists all monitored variables and the time since the last data was received in HOURS:MINUTES:SECONDS format. This helps you quickly see which devices are silent and for how long, without digging through large log files.

Using the Plugin with Advanced TCP/IP Data Logger

The plugin also works with Advanced TCP/IP Data Logger and can control each client connection separately. This is valuable when you have many devices connected over the network, each identified by its IP address or client ID. The plugin can track timeouts per client, so one failing device does not affect the status of others.

Consider a system where multiple remote sensors send UDP or TCP packets to the logger every 30 seconds. Each packet contains a timestamp, a client identifier, and a measured value. Example incoming data:

2025-11-28 08:00:00;CLIENT_ID=CLT_001;LEVEL=15.2
2025-11-28 08:00:00;CLIENT_ID=CLT_002;LEVEL=20.7
2025-11-28 08:00:30;CLIENT_ID=CLT_001;LEVEL=15.1
2025-11-28 08:01:00;CLIENT_ID=CLT_002;LEVEL=20.8

The parser decodes incoming data, adds a timestamp to the DATE_TIME_STAMP variable, and stores the client ID to the CLIENT_ID parser variable. You then configure the "Data timeout" plugin as follows:

Parser variable: CLIENT_ID
Timeout: 40 seconds
Event name: TCP_CLIENT_TIMEOUT
Control for each client separately: Enabled
Generate data record by event: Enabled

If client CLT_002 sends the second packet with an unexpected delay (60 seconds), the plugin will generate a timeout event for this client only. The generated data record may look like

DATE_TIME_STAMP=2025-11-28 08:02:00;CLIENT_ID=CLT_002;STATUS=Timeout

Key Features

• Detects missing data based on configurable timeouts for up to four parser variables.
• Works with all our data loggers.
• Generates named events for integration with event handling plugins and notification systems.
• Can create custom data records on timeouts for logging, reporting, and export to external systems.
• Supports optional "resume" events when data flow is restored after a timeout.

Summary

The Data Timeout plugin gives you reliable, configurable monitoring of data gaps across different and various data sources. It helps you detect silent failures, generate alerts, and log timeout events in a structured and consistent way.

Download  | PDF manual