DNP3-PROTOCOL

IEEE 1815 DNP3 SCADA electric utilities.

Definition

DNP3 3-layer architecture: Application Layer (96 different objects), Pseudo-Transport Layer (segmentation), Data Link Layer (CRC-16 frames). Implementations: DNP3 serial (RS-232/485), DNP3 over TCP/IP (port 20000), DNP3 over UDP. Functions: Read, Write, Select, Operate, Direct Operate, Cold Restart, Warm Restart, Time Synchronisation, Class polling. Cybersecurity via Secure Authentication v5 (SAv5) with X.509 certificates. Adoption: ~70% North America electrical utilities, Australian National Electricity Market, Canadian Hydro.

Origin

DNP3 developed 1990 by GE Harris (became GE Digital) ; standardised IEEE 1815-2010 published 2010 ; revision IEEE 1815-2012 published 2012.

Example in context

A Pacific Gas & Electric California utility supervises 2500 substations via DNP3 over IP ; each substation has Schweitzer SEL-3530 RTAC IED exporting 50000 measurements.

Related terms

• IEC 61850 substation — modern competitor.