High availability is a mandatory requirement in modern industrial automation networks. Process control, power systems, water treatment plants, and safety-critical infrastructures cannot tolerate long communication interruptions. Beacon Redundancy Protocol (BRP) is an Ethernet-based redundancy protocol standardized in IEC 62439-5. It provides deterministic fault detection and fast recovery against single point failures while keeping the network architecture simple and… Read More »

A Distribution Management System (DMS) is a software platform used by electric utilities to monitor, control, analyze, and optimize distribution networks. These networks typically operate at medium voltage (MV) and low voltage (LV) levels and deliver electricity from substations to end customers. In simple terms, a DMS helps utilities operate the distribution grid safely, reliably, and efficiently in… Read More »

An Energy Management System (EMS) is a software system used by power utilities to monitor, control, analyze, and optimize the operation of electrical power systems, mainly at the generation and transmission levels. In simple words, an EMS helps system operators keep the power system secure, stable, and economical, while ensuring electricity supply meets demand at all times. EMS… Read More »

Industrial communication networks are very different from office or IT networks. In factories, substations, water plants, and process industries, communication is part of the control system itself. If data stops flowing, machines can stop, processes can become unstable, alarms may be delayed, and safety can be affected. Because of this, industrial networks must be highly available, predictable, and… Read More »

Industrial Ethernet networks form the backbone of modern SCADA, substation automation, manufacturing, and process control systems. Unlike traditional office IT networks, industrial networks must provide high availability, predictable behavior, and fast recovery from failures. Even short communication interruptions can lead to production losses, control instability, or safety risks. To meet these requirements, redundancy is commonly built into industrial… Read More »

SCADA systems provide supervisory monitoring, data acquisition, and remote control of field devices by collecting alarms and status information from distributed sites. Unlike typical IT applications, SCADA traffic is event-driven, time-sensitive, and often safety-critical. Because of this, the choice of VPN technology can directly affect how well SCADA protocols behave over wide-area or untrusted networks. WireGuard and OpenVPN… Read More »

TCP port 22 is one of the most important ports in modern computer networks. It is the default port used by SSH (Secure Shell), a protocol designed to provide secure remote access to systems over an untrusted network. Whenever engineers connect to a server, network device, or industrial system using SSH, they are almost always using TCP port… Read More »

61850 Test Software is essential for validating communication, interoperability, and correct behavior in modern digital substations. From GOOSE messaging and MMS communication to multivendor interoperability checks, the right testing tools help engineers verify that protection, control, and automation systems operate safely and reliably before and after commissioning. This article reviews some of the most widely used IEC 61850… Read More »