IEC 60870-5 Training #1

Introduction to the IEC 60870-5 Communication Protocol Training Videos

Overview of the IEC 60870-5 communication protocol and its comparison to DNP3.
The training consists of five videos covering different aspects of the protocol.
The first video provides an introduction and an overview of the protocol layers.
The second video focuses on ESDUs (Application Specific Data Units).
The third video discusses the application layer.
The fourth video dives into the link, transport, and physical layers, including polling controls.
The fifth and final video covers security in IEC 60870-5 and concludes the training.
History and objectives of the protocol, including reliable data transmission and optimized bandwidth.
Open standards and interoperability among vendors.
Usage of the protocol primarily in Europe, the Middle East, and electric utilities.

The 60870-5 standard is an IEC standard with several parts.
It follows a similar architecture to the 61850 standard.
The first five sections of 60870-5 talk about different layers, while sections 101, 102, 103, and 104 explain how these layers can be used for specific requirements.
101 is for serial-based communications, 102 is for sending measurements, 103 is for protection functions, and 104 is telecontrol for 101 mapped to TCP/IP.
Unlike DNP3, which is in one document, 60870-5 is split into several sections.
60870-5 supports different topologies, including point-to-point and multi-point.
The terminology used in 60870-5 is different from DNP3 (controlling station vs. master station, controlled station vs. out station).

DNP3 uses a link layer and transport function, while IEC 60870-5 utilizes the TCP/IP protocol suite.
DNP3 encapsulates the entire protocol stack in a TCP/IP message, while IEC 60870-5 replaces the link layer with the TCP/IP stack.
Both protocols have similar application layers that provide functionality such as addressing, data transfer, control operations, and polling.
In DNP3, multiple data types can be mixed in one message, while IEC 60870-5 limits one data type per message.
DNP3 allows multiple points to be controlled in one message, while IEC 60870-5 limits control to one point per message.
DNP3 has a feature where the master can confirm event receipt before the outstation clears its buffer, while IEC 60870-5 does not have an equivalent.
IEC 60870-5 uses cause of transmission in the ASDU instead of DNP3's internal indication bits.