DynaStar Support for CDC and other Bit-Oriented SCADA Protocols

Many utilities have legacy SCADA protocols in place that are difficult to support with modern data networks.  In particular, vendor proprietary “legacy” bit-oriented protocols that do not  use standardized asynchronous  7/8-bit bytes when formatting data messages, are not supported by most serial-IP terminal servers or other network access concentrators.  Utilities with such legacy substation devices have faced expensive telecommunications charges to leave in place long-standing analog private lines and modems dedicated to connecting bit-oriented RTUs to central SCADA hosts.   Many carriers have made analog leased lines increasingly expensive with monthly and mileage charges to discourage continued usage, as they evolve their own networks to fiber and digital infrastructure.

DynaStar DS1500 and DS2000 substation-hardened routers provide integration of serial and Ethernet-based device communications onto a variety of network infrastructures, including Ethernet LAN, fiber Ethernet WAN, digital private lines, Frame Relay services and IP-based WANs, including IP or MPLS-based VPNs.   For SCADA protocols, DynaStar routers support both a routed mode (encapsulation into TCP/IP packets) and non-routed mode (direct encapsulation into low-overhead frame relay frames, a technique called SCADA Frame Forwarding).

DynaStar has selectively added support for bit-oriented SCADA protocols.   Support is now provided for CDC type I or type II protocols.   Other bit-oriented protocols previously supported included Conitel, TRW 9550, SES/PMS91 and GETAC 7020.

With DynaStar bit-oriented support, utilities can now eliminate expensive, dedicated analog private lines for these legacy protocols.  CDC I/II are supported with either IP encapsulation or non-IP SCADA Frame Forwarding.   SCADA Frame Forwarding provides lower overhead and latency important when using lower speed digital facilities or frame relay services such as at 56 kbps.   Serial-IP provides integration of CDC I/II onto multi-application IP-based broadband infrastructures.   Either technique substitutes the economies of shared digital of fiber networks for existing dedicated analog leased lines --- while extending the useful life of existing legacy protocol RTUs.

DynaStar routers provide a full range of NERC CIP security features to allow deployment at critical substations having rigorous Electronic Security Perimeter requirements.  SCADA Frame Forwarding can also be used to create a “non-routable” digital network that may be exempt from CIP standards for some time.    And with support for many different wide area network technologies, DynaStar becomes a substation network integration platform with the flexibility to support both legacy requirements and still evolving applications still to come as substation automation accelerates.