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 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.
What Is the ICCP Protocol? TASE.2 (IEC 60870-6) Explained
ICCP (TASE.2) connects utility control centers over WANs. How it works: MMS foundation, bilateral tables, transfer sets, device control, and conformance blocks.
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
IEC 61850 MMS Port 102 Explained
IEC 61850 MMS port 102 explained: why the ISO-on-TCP port was kept, what data rides on it, how GOOSE and SV differ, Wireshark filters, and firewall rules.
IEC 61850 Control Models: Direct, SBO, and Enhanced Security
IEC 61850 control models explained: all five ctlModel values, what enhanced security really means, the Select-Operate flow, and what happens after Operate.
IEC 61850 Data Types Explained: The Complete Practical Guide
IEC 61850 data types from the ground up: basic types, common data classes, data objects and attributes, and how each is encoded in MMS, GOOSE, and SV.
Wireshark GOOSE: Decode IEC 61850 Messages
Wireshark GOOSE decoding step by step: filter EtherType 0x88B8, read gocbRef and datSet, and use stNum and sqNum to spot the exact moment an event fires.
IEC 61850 Sampled Values (SV): Process Bus Reference
IEC 61850 Sampled Values reference: the 9-2 spec, frame structure and ASN.1 encoding, SmpSynch values, control blocks, IEC 62351-6 security, and PRP/HSR.