Introduction

Configure DNP3 communications for your module in the Control Expert DTM.

In the following configuration instructions, make selections that are appropriate for the channel type (server or client).

Configure NET or Serial Channels

Configure CLIENT or SERVER NET channels:

Step

Action

1

Access the DTM configuration for your module.

2

In the open CONFIGURATION window, expand (+) Communication and select Channel Configuration.

NOTE: The Channels/Devices menu item cannot be expanded because there are no configured channels.

3

Select the appropriate tab:

  • Select the CLIENT tab to add client channels.

  • Select the SERVER tab to add server channels.

4

Select the Add New button to view the ADD NEW CHANNEL configuration parameters.

5

Configure the parameters according to the new channel parameter descriptions.

6

Select the Add button to see the newly configured channel in the table.

NOTE: The Channels/Devices menu can now be expanded because there is at least one configured channel. All configured channels appear in this menu.

7

After you create a server channel on the SERVER tab, repeat the above steps to create the corresponding client channel on the CLIENT tab.

– or –

After you create a client channel on CLIENT tab, repeat these steps to create the corresponding server channel on the SERVER tab.

NOTE:

  • Only one type of RTU protocol can be configured in the module (either DNP3 or IEC60870). The module cannot support multiple RTU protocols configured at the same time.

  • If the DNP3 Secure Authentication is configured in the web cyber security setting, confirm that the configured name of the RTU channel matches the channel name in the DTM. Otherwise, the secure setting does not map to corresponding channel in the DTM.

8

  • Select the Apply button to implement the changes

  • Select the OK button to implement the changes and close the dialog box.

NOTE: When you create the first channel, the expandable Channels/Devices sub-menu appears on the CONFIGURATION screen.

9

Repeat these steps to create additional channels while observing these limitations for the module’s role:

  • RTU Ethernet client: 64 connections

  • RTU Ethernet server: 4 connections

  • RTU serial client: 32 connections

  • RTU serial server: 1 connection

    NOTE: The serial client supports the signal from serial field devices to the upper-level network through Ethernet.
NOTE: At any time, you can edit or delete a channel.

Channel Parameter Descriptions

NOTE: When the Control Expert window is active, you can hover the cursor over any field to see a description of the functionality and the available range of values.

These parameters in the ADD NEW CHANNEL fields are available for the DNP3/IEC60870 client and server channel configurations:

Field

Client

Server

Description

Channel Name

✔

✔

Assign a name to the server or client on their respective tabs.

NOTE: The web pages use the Channel Name parameter to identify the configuration that is applied to this channel. Therefore, assign an identical Channel Name when you configure cyber security settings.

Protocol

✔

✔

DNP3 NET Client: Configure the new channel as a DNP3 NET client.

DNP3 NET Server: Configure the new channel as a DNP3 NET server.

DNP3 Serial Client: Configure the new channel as a DNP3 serial client.

DNP3 Serial Server: Configure the new channel as a DNP3 serial server.

IEC60870-5-101 client: Configure the new channel as a IEC60870-5-101 client.

IEC60870-5-101 server: Configure the new channel as a IEC60870-5-101 serer.

IEC60870-5-104 client: Configure the new channel as a IEC60870-5-104 client.

IEC60870-5-104 server: Configure the new channel as a IEC60870-5-104 serer.

Dest Port

✔

  

Define the destination port.

NOTE: This parameter is available for DNP3 NET and IEC60870-5-104 configurations only.

Local Port

  

✔

Define the local port for network communications.

NOTE: This parameter is available for DNP3 NET and IEC60870-5-104 configurations only.

IP Address

✔

  

The IP address in this field is the IP address of the source of the communications packets.

NOTE: This parameter is available for DNP3 NET and IEC60870-5-104 configurations only.

IP Filter

  

✔

Enter the IP address of the remote device.

NOTE:

  • This parameter is available for DNP3 NET configurations only.

  • The default value is 255.255.255.255 (present disable IP filter).

Network Type

✔

✔

Select a network protocol:

  • TCP-IP
  • UDP-IP
  • TCP-UDP
NOTE: This parameter is available for DNP3 NET configurations only.

Advanced Parameter Configuration

After you create a channel with the instructions above, the new channel appears in the table on the CLIENT tab or SERVER tab. At this point, you can configure the ADVANCED PARAMETERS for the channel. These advanced parameters are global settings that are implemented on all server channels or client channels:

Step

Action

1

Select Channel Configuration from the Communication menu.

2

Select the appropriate tab:

  • Select the CLIENT tab to view the CLIENT CHANNEL table.

  • Select the SERVER tab to view the SERVER CHANNELS table.

3

Select a row in the table.

4

Click the Advanced Settings button to view the ADVANCED PARAMETERS table.

NOTE: Depending on your Control Expert window size, you may have to scroll down in the Client or Server tab to see the ADVANCED PARAMETERS fields.

5

Configure the parameters according to the advanced parameter descriptions.

6

  • Select the Apply button to implement the changes.

  • Select the OK button to implement the changes and close the dialog box.

Advanced Parameter Descriptions

NOTE: When the Control Expert window is active, you can hover the cursor over any field to see a complete description of the functionality and the available range of values.

These are the available advanced parameters for the DNP3 client and server channel configurations:

Field

Client

Server

Description
Event Backup Enable  

✔

enabled (selected): Events are backed up upon a power outage.

disabled (empty): Events are not backed up upon a power outage.
Rx Frame Size

✔

✔

Configure the frame size in the receive link layer.
Rx Frame Timeout  

✔

Configure the timeout value for waiting for a complete frame after receiving the frame synchronization.
Confirm Timeout

✔

✔

Configure the maximum wait time for link level confirmation.
Confirm Timeout

✔

Configure the minimum time (ms) after a character is received before an attempt to transmit the character on this channel.
Offline Poll Period

✔

  

Configure an interval for reattempting to establish communications for an offline session.
Rx Buffer Size

✔

✔

Configure the receive buffer size for the physical port.
Rx Fragment Size

✔

Configure the maximum received application fragment sizes.
Tx Fragment Size

✔

✔

Configure the maximum transit application fragment sizes.
Channel Response Timeout

✔

  

Configure the wait time for the DNP3 client's response to a transmitted request.
Inhibit command when CPU stop

✔

 Check this box to stop sending commands when the CPU stops.
Tx Frame Size

✔

✔

Configure the transmit link layer frame size.
Confirm Mode

✔

✔

NEVER : Never request link layer confirmations.

SOMETIMES : Request link layer confirmations for multi-frame fragments.

ALWAYS : Always request link layer confirmations.
Max Retries

✔

✔

Configure the number of reattempted link layer confirmation timeouts.
First Char Wait

✔

✔

Configure the minimum time (ms) after receiving a character before an attempt to transmit a character on this channel.
Rx fragment Size

✔

✔

Configure the maximum receive application fragment sizes.
Restore Mode  

✔

Main Channel: Restore events for the main channel or main redundancy group.

All Channels: Restore all events.
Max Queue Size

✔

Configure the maximum number of requests that are queued on a DNP3 client.
Exlude value 0 for BO Pulse_Trip commands

✔

Check this box to stop sending BO Pulse_Trip commands (Select, Operate, Direct, DirectNoAct, Auto) when the variable value changes to 0.

After you edit any of these parameters, click the Update button to update the configuration.

Edit Channels

Edit the parameters for an existing channel:

Step

Action

1

Click the pencil icon in the Edit column for the channel you want to edit.

2

Re-configure the parameters in the EDIT CHANNEL and ADVANCED PARAMETERS fields (described above).

3

Click the Update button to update the configuration.

4

Click the OK or Apply button to record the changes.

Delete a Channel

Delete an existing channel:

Step

Action

1

Select the check box that corresponds to the client or server channel.

2

Select the Delete button.

3

Select the Update button.

4

  • Select the Apply button to record the changes.

    –or–

  • Select the OK button to record the changes and close the dialog box.