300+ SCADA Protocol Articles & Guides
Deep dives on Modbus, DNP3, IEC 60870-5-101/104, IEC 61850, OPC UA, Profinet, MQTT, IEC 62443, and substation automation — written for practicing engineers.
ICCP vs IEC 61850: Two MMS Protocols, Two Jobs
ICCP vs IEC 61850 compared: why both run MMS on port 102, how their data models differ, control and reporting differences, and where the two meet in a utility.
Industrial Dashboard Software: 6 Tools Compared
Industrial dashboard software compared: Grafana, PI Vision, Canary Axiom, Node-RED, FUXA and ThingsBoard, with protocol reach, cost and where each one fits.
Most Popular SCADA Systems and Where Each One Fits
Most popular SCADA systems compared: Ignition, WinCC, iFIX, AVEVA, FactoryTalk, MicroSCADA X and more, with protocol support, licensing, and fit notes.
SCADA as a Service Explained: Cloud SCADA for Utilities
SCADA as a Service explained: what SaaS means for grid control systems, which functions can move to the cloud, and which have to stay on the plant floor.
ADMS Vendors: Schneider vs Siemens vs GE vs Hitachi
ADMS vendors compared: Schneider EcoStruxure, Siemens Spectrum Power, GE Vernova GridOS, and Hitachi Network Manager. Architecture, DER, and protocols.
What Is an ADMS? Advanced Distribution Management System
ADMS platforms merge SCADA, DMS, and OMS into one real-time control system. Learn the architecture, core applications, protocols, and how vendors compare.
What Is a Communication Protocol? Rules, Types, Examples
Communication protocol basics: what it is, how services and protocols differ, how a message moves layer by layer, and the main types used in IT and industry.
What Is RabbitMQ? The AMQP Message Broker, Explained
RabbitMQ is an open source message broker built on AMQP 0-9-1. See how its routing model works, what the core objects do, and where it fits in real systems.
MQTT Broker Redundancy and High Availability: Complete Guide
MQTT broker redundancy explained: clustering, bridging, active/passive failover, load balancing, client-side patterns, and broker-specific recommendations for HA.
IEC 61131-3: The Complete Guide to PLC Programming Languages
IEC 61131-3 defines how PLCs are programmed — the languages, data types, function blocks, and software model. A complete guide, current to the 2025 fourth edition.
Modbus to MQTT: How the Gateway Bridge Works
Modbus to MQTT explained: how a gateway maps registers to topics, builds JSON payloads, and handles reads, writes, QoS and TLS. With a worked example.
What Is Sparkplug B? A Complete Guide to MQTT for Industrial IoT
Sparkplug B explained: the Eclipse Foundation MQTT specification for industrial IoT, topic namespace, protobuf payload, birth/death certificates, and state management.
Python MQTT: Complete Guide to paho-mqtt 2.x
Python MQTT with paho-mqtt 2.x: connect, publish, subscribe, QoS, TLS, JSON, reconnection and common errors. Working code plus the 2026 API change.
Null Modem Cable Pinout: DB9 & DB25 Wiring Reference
Null modem cable pinout for DB9 and DB25 connectors. See 3-wire, loopback, and full handshaking wiring, plus how it differs from a straight cable.
XON and XOFF: Software Flow Control Explained
XON and XOFF are the two characters behind serial software flow control. See the DC1/DC3 codes, the pause-resume cycle, and when to use it vs RTS/CTS.
What Is AMQP 0.9.1? A Complete Guide to the Protocol
AMQP 0.9.1 explained: the RabbitMQ protocol, exchanges, queues, bindings, routing keys, delivery guarantees, and why it remains widely used despite AMQP 1.0.
MQTT vs AMQP: A Complete Comparison
MQTT vs AMQP compared: the differences between MQTT and both AMQP 0.9.1 and AMQP 1.0, feature by feature, with honest guidance on which fits which use case.
What Is AMQP 1.0? A Complete Guide to the Protocol
AMQP 1.0 explained: the ISO/IEC 19464 messaging protocol, its peer-to-peer model, nodes, links, delivery guarantees, security, and how it compares to alternatives.