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SCADA SYSTEM PROTOCOLS

SCADA SYSTEM PROTOCOLS
What are the different protocols in using the SCADA system?

In a SCADA system, the RTU accepts commands to operate control points, sets analog output levels, and responds to requests. It provides status, analog and accumulated data to the SCADA master station. The data representations sent are not identified in any fashion other than by unique addressing.

The addressing is designed to correlate with the SCADA master station database. The RTU has no knowledge of which unique parameters it is monitoring in the real world. It simply monitors certain points and stores the information in a local addressing scheme.

The SCADA master station is the part of the system that should “know” that the first status point of RTU number 27 is the status of a certain circuit breaker of a given substation. This represents the predominant SCADA systems and protocols in use in the utility industry today.

Each protocol consists of two message sets or pairs. One set forms the master protocol, containing the valid statements for master station initiation or response, and the other set is the RTU protocol, containing the valid statements an RTU can initiate and respond to. In most but not all cases, these pairs can be considered a poll or request for information or action and a confirming response.

The SCADA protocol between master and RTU forms a viable model for RTU-to- Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) communications. Currently, in industry, there are several different protocols in use. The most popular are International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60870-5 series, specifically IEC 60870-5-101 (commonly referred to as 101) and Distributed Network Protocol version 3 (DNP3).

IEC 60870-5-101
IEC 60870-5 specifies a number of frame formats and services that may be provided at different layers. IEC 60870-5 is based on a three-layer Enhanced Performance Architecture (EPA) reference model for efficient implementation within RTUs, meters, relays, and other Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs).  Additionally, IEC 60870-5 defines basic application functionality for a user layer, which is situated between the Open System Interconnection (OSI) application layer and the application program. This user layer adds interoperability for such functions as clock synchronization and file transfers.

DNP3
Protocols define the rules by which devices talk with each other, and DNP3 is a protocol for transmission of data from point A to point B using serial communications. It has been used primarily by utilities like the electric companies, but it operates suitably in other areas.

The DNP3 is specifically developed for inter-device communication involving SCADA RTUs, and provides for both RTU-to-IED and master-to-RTU/IED. It is based on the three-layer enhanced performance architecture (EPA) model contained in the IEC 60870- 5 standards, with some alterations to meet additional requirements of a variety of users in the electric utility industry.

source: National Communication System, Technical Information Bulletin 04-1

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