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.
IEC 61850 Log Control Blocks: LCB and LOG Explained
IEC 61850 log control block guide: how LCB and LOG differ from reporting, every attribute, EntryID and TimeOfEntry, the query services, and when to log instead of report.
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.
IEC 61850 Report Control Blocks: BRCB and URCB Explained
IEC 61850 report control block reference: BRCB vs URCB, every attribute, TrgOps and OptFlds decoded, BufTm and IntgPd, and the write order that breaks clients.
ICCP Operations and Services: The Complete TASE.2 Map
ICCP operations mapped to MMS services both directions: every TASE.2 operation and action, the variable names that disambiguate them, and the error codes that matter.
ICCP Conformance Blocks: What Servers Actually Support
ICCP conformance blocks decoded: what blocks 1-5 give you, why blocks 6-9 were removed, how to read Supported_Features, and the spec quirks around blocks 3, 11, 12.
The ICCP Protocol Stack: OSI Over TCP/IP Explained
ICCP protocol stack layer by layer: TASE.2, MMS and ACSE over OSI presentation and session, ITOT (RFC 2126) on TCP/IP, ports 102/3782, selectors, QOS and priority.
ICCP Bilateral Tables Explained (TASE.2 Access Control)
How ICCP bilateral tables work: the agreement behind them, association checks, per-object access control, the Bilateral_Table_ID variable, and the CIM exchange model.
Process Bus vs Station Bus: IEC 61850 Architecture
Process bus vs station bus in IEC 61850: which protocols run on each, time sync and hardware differences, redundancy, bandwidth, and procurement guidance.
PTP Power Profile Explained (IEC/IEEE 61850-9-3)
PTP Power Profile explained: the 1 microsecond budget, grandmaster and transparent clock requirements, holdover, PRP and HSR integration, and link rules.
What Is a Merging Unit? IEC 61850 Process Bus Explained
Merging unit explained: how it digitizes CT and VT signals and publishes Sampled Values, with TCTR and TVTR modeling, SAMU vs built-in, and sample rates.
Decrypt Industrial Protocol Traffic in Wireshark
Decrypt industrial protocol traffic in Wireshark using SSLKEYLOGFILE: TLS-secured Modbus TCP on 802, IEC 104 on 19998, IEC 61850 MMS, and OPC UA sessions.
IEC 61850 Logical Nodes Explained: Complete Reference
IEC 61850 logical nodes in full: all 13 LN groups, the ones you meet daily like XCBR, PTOC, MMXU, CSWI, and GGIO, plus data objects and object references.
Wireshark IEC 61850 MMS: Decode Client/Server
Wireshark IEC 61850 MMS capture and decode: the PRES user context fix for port 102, association setup, Read and Write services, reports, and control sequences.
IEC 61850 SCL File Types: ICD, SSD, SCD, IID, CID, SED
IEC 61850 SCL file types explained: what ICD, SSD, SCD, IID, CID, and SED each contain, who creates them, and how they connect in the engineering workflow.
IEC 61850 Security: Threats, IEC 62351, and Hardening
IEC 61850 security threats against GOOSE, MMS, and Sampled Values, and what IEC 62351 does about them: TLS profiles, HMAC, role-based access, and hardening.
Energy Management System (EMS): Functions, Architecture, Benefits & Standards
Learn what an Energy Management System (EMS) is, how it works, its functions, architecture, benefits, and the role of IEC 61970 and CIM standards.
IEC 61850-3 Ethernet Switch: Requirements and Testing
IEC 61850-3 Ethernet switch requirements in full: EMC and immunity limits, power supply ratings, climatic and seismic tests, VLAN setup, and IEEE 1613 compared.
4 Best IEC 61850 Test Software for GOOSE & MMS (Engineers’ Guide)
**61850 Test Software** is essential for validating communication, interoperability, and correct behavior in modern digital substations. From GOOSE messaging and MMS communication