Ovation Ethernet Link Controller

Module
Data Sheet

Features:

Provides native Ethernet connectivity

capability at the I/O level

Enables faster, more efficient integration of

robust data from third-party devices

Dedicated processor increases the number

and type of supported devices

Easily add new communication protocols

without a full system upgrade

Simplifies link configuration

Provides full communication redundancy

Offers hot-swapping capability to streamline

maintenance activities

Provides bidirectional data throughput

CE Mark certified

Offers an extra measure of information

isolation and security

RS232 serial interface for third-party devices

Ethernet Link Controller Module

Emerson Process Management Power & Water
Solutions Ovation Ethernet Link Controller
(ELC) is a flexible, redundant I/O module that
offers I/O-level Ethernet interface capability that
is tightly coupled with the Ovation control
system. This translates into a number of benefits
for power, wastewater, and water utilities that
utilize Ovation technology. The expanded
capabilities of the Ovation ELC give plant
operators additional insight for making better
informed decisions to optimize plant availability,
efficiency, and reliability.
The dedicated ARM processor on the module
significantly expands the number and types of
third-party devices and systems that can be
supported by an Ovation Controller, as well as
the increasingly sophisticated data they provide.

Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc.

PWS_005874 [7]

The module, which offloads all communications

protocol processing previously handled by the
controller, also offers faster access to the data
from these devices and more efficiently
integrates the information into the Ovation
system.
The ELC uses a standard Ovation I/O base and
utilizes the built-in bus communications to the
Ovation Controller. An RJ45 port interfaces the
module to the third-party device or system. The
Ovation Controller directly reads the modules
memory area allowing transferred data from a
third-party device to be included in the Ovation
system database. With the module, data
exchanged with other devices can be easily
applied to Ovation control schemes and
displayed in graphics.
The ELC includes diagnostics to detect adverse
conditions. The state of the module can be
determined by reading the diagnostic LEDs

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Ovation

Ethernet Link Controller Module

Data Sheet

located on the front, or at any Ovation

Workstation connected to the system.
The ELC can send point information to the
Ovation Controller using either the network or
the backplane bus.

Configuration
Standard Ovation Developer Studio engineering
tools are used to configure the ELC. The base
software that contains the specific infrastructure
for the configuration of the ELC is loaded into
the Ovation system with an application protocol
package that includes configuration details for
the specific communication protocol being
applied.
The ELC base software and application protocol
packages are independent from the Ovation
version, and new communications protocols can
be added at any time without having to upgrade
the Ovation system. The tools plug-in
environment provides significantly easier and
faster link configuration.

Redundancy
The ELC supports module as well as port
redundancy. Module redundancy is configured
with the Ovation Developer Studio and allows
one ELC to perform as the primary module,
while a second module is the backup. Whenever
failure of the primary module is detected, the
backup module assumes control.
Port redundancy is configured at the line level
within the protocol configuration tool. A primary
port and an optional backup port may be
defined. If the primary port fails, communication
can proceed through the backup port.

The local processing power and memory of the

ELC make it ideal for protocol handling
applications including interfacing with various
systems such as:
Turbine supervisory vibration
Certified burner management
PLC, safety, electrical, SCADA
Chemical analyzer
Process analyzer
Substation IEDs
Support is provided for some individual
standards as defined in the protocols
conformance documents for basic functions
including reading and writing data structures,
status, time, diagnostics, registers, bits, or
blocks of registers. Also included is support for
client/server, publisher/subscriber, master/slave,
poll/response, report by exception, as well as
other mechanisms as required by the protocols.
Standard application protocol packages that are
available for the ELC include:
IEC 61850 MMS Protocol Client
Modbus/TCP Master/Slave
DNP3 Server/Client both
IEC 60870-5-101 Client and Server via
Serial (supports both balanced and
unbalanced communications)
IEC 60870-5-104 Client and Server via
Ethernet (supports both balanced &
unbalanced communication)
GE GSM Client (GE Mark V- VI-VIe
turbine control systems)
Turbine Control Interface Client Protocol
Allen Bradley DF1 Client Protocol
Allen Bradley EIP protocol (PCCC and
Native line both)
Allen Bradley CSP Client protocol

Ethernet Link Controller Protocols

Application protocol packages can be loaded
onto the ELC, extending the Ovation system
beyond traditional plant boundaries. The
protocol can be easily deployed on diverse
Ovation platforms in either the ELC itself or,
for example, the Ovation Supervisory Control
and Data Acquisition (SCADA) server, which
supports a wide range of protocols and physical
communications layers, including dial-up, leased
lines and wireless.

Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc.

PWS_005874 [7]

Sequence of Events
Millisecond time stamps can be a useful feature
when an event/alarm happens quickly or in a
chain reaction. The time stamp is crucial in
determining what happened first in a sequence
of events (SOE). The ELC can generate SOE
points that are time stamped by the ELC if the
protocol used supports time stamping (such as
DNP3). The millisecond time stamp provided by

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Ovation

Ethernet Link Controller Module

Data Sheet

the ELC module can be used for SOE and alarm

purposes.

Ethernet Link Controller

Communication Media
Two types of media can be used for ELC
Communication
TCP Ethernet Port
Digi Terminal Server Port
The TCP Ethernet port type is used to
communicate directly with devices using one of
the many Ethernet protocols that are supported
by the ELC. In this case, the ELC would
communicate with the third-party device using
one of the Ethernet protocols that are supported
by the ELC, and the third-party device would
communicate with the end device using RS232/422/485. The third-party device would
handle the translation of the protocol between
Ethernet and Serial.
The Digi Terminal Server port type can be used
when the ELC needs to communicate with a
device using RS-232/422/485.

Ethernet Link Controller

Communication Lines
There are two basic types of communications
lines:
Master line (also called the Client or
Controlling line)
Slave line (also called the Server or
Controlled line)

Physical Interfaces
Two types of physical interfaces are available to
communicate with third-party devices.
RJ45 Port: TCP/IP Interface
RS232 Terminals: Serial Interface

Cybersecurity
The ELC also has important cybersecurity
implications for users. The North American
Electric Reliability Corporations (NERC)
Standards CIP-002 through CIP-009 provide a
cybersecurity framework for the identification
and protection of Critical Cyber Assets to
support reliable operation of the Bulk Electric
System. As part of complying with these
standards, power generators need to define their
security perimeter.
The Ovation Controller communicates with the
ELC over the Ovation I/O bus using a nonroutable protocol. By using the Ovation I/O bus,
the security perimeter stops at the module and
does not extend to remote devices, thereby
providing an extra measure of information
isolation and security for power generators. For
applications that require large data throughput,
the option exists to use Ethernet to allow
communications between the Ovation Controller
and the ELC using routable protocols.

A master line initiates communication with slave

RTU. In this scenario, the ELC is configured to
be the master and its RTUs are the slaves.
A slave line accepts requests from a master
device. In this scenario, a device is configured to
be the master and thus initiates requests to the
slave ELC module.

Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc.

PWS_005874 [7]

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Ovation

Ethernet Link Controller Module

Data Sheet

Ethernet Link Controller Specifications

The following table includes module-specific specifications. Additionally, as part of Ovation, the module
adheres to the common industry standards used by the overall system.

Ethernet Link Controller Specifications

Item

Specification Description

General
Module
Information
S/W Environment
Information
Applications Ports
Protocol Specific
Information
Performance
Redundancy
Capacity

Controller Support

System Support

Power

ARM9 processor

32Mb RAM

32Mb flash
VxWorks V6.x
One RJ45 100BaseT Ethernet ports , RS232 port
Specific protocol implementation packages are available. Time and SOE synchronization
capability at Ethernet Link Controller
Dependent on protocol package, data quantity, and OEM system capability
Redundancy support using two modules
Maximum 25 RTU/third-party devices can communicate with Single ELC on TCP/IP
Ethernet.
Points per ELC module are dependent on link design. Capacity for the Ethernet
communication between the Ovation controller and ELC is up to 20000 points when
using Ethernet between them. Each ELC to controller interface can supports up to 2048
points when using the Local I/O bus.
Each controller supports up to 18 Ovation bus or ELC modules in total, in any
combination within its I/O systems. If these are all ELC modules, this would represent a
total of 18 Ethernet ports. The use of any other bus or ELC modules would decrease
these quantities proportionately.

Ovation local I/O system

Ovation remote I/O system

(Future Implementation)

ELC configuration capability

Time synchronization capability with SOE with GPS derived NTP time distribution
70mA typ, 85mA max @ 24VDC

Diagnostics
Microcontroller
Watchdog timer
I/O bus Watchdog
Timer
LED - P (green)
LED - C (green)
LED - E (red)
LED - I
LED - ACT (green)
LED - FDX (yellow)

168 milliseconds
1.6 seconds nominal. 1.1 sec min, 2.1 sec max.
Power OK
Module to Controller Communications OK
External Fault
None
Ethernet activity
Full Duplex Ethernet communications

Electromagnetic Capability
General Note
EN55011
EN61000-4-2
EN61000-4-3
EN61000-4-4

ELC is CE Mark compliant according to the test data provided in the following table and
when housed in an Ovation CE Mark cabinet
Meets the requirements of the Competent Body for CE Mark approval
Meets the requirements of the Competent Body for CE Mark approval Criteria B
Meets the requirements of the Competent Body for CE Mark approval Criteria A
Meets the requirements of the Competent Body for CE Mark approval Criteria B

Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc.

PWS_005874 [7]

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Ovation

Ethernet Link Controller Module

Data Sheet

Ethernet Link Controller Specifications

Item
EN61000-4-5
EN61000-4-6
ANSI C37.90-11989,
SWC

Specification Description
Meets the requirements of the Competent Body for CE Mark approval Criteria B
Meets the requirements of the Competent Body for CE Mark approval Criteria A
Meets the specification

Safety
EN 61010-1

Meets the requirements of the Competent Body for CE Mark approval

Environmental
Temperature
Storage
Humidity
Vibration

Shock
Altitude (above sea
level)
Power SupplyPrimary & Secondary

0C - 60C
-40C - 85C
0% to 95% RH, NC, max wet bulb 35C

IEC 68-2-6

0.15mm displacement from 10 to 57 Hz and 2Gs from 57 to 500 Hz when attached

to a properly mounted DIN rail

IEC 68-2-27

15Gs for 11mS and sine wave

Operational 300m to 3,000m

Storage: 300m to 12,000m

Nominal 24V, Range 21 to 25V DC. for both Primary & Secondary auctioneered on
board module

Application Notes
Protocol Package Example
The IEC (International Electrotechnical
Commission) 61850 protocol package has
emerged as a global standard for Substation
Automation (SA). Integrating data from electrical
devices used in generators, switchgear,
transmission lines, transformers and substations
drives more-informed decision making
throughout the organization.
A typical IEC 61850 protocol architecture is
shown in Figure 1. This example depicts an
electrical substation system using a number of
Intelligent Electrical Devices (IED) for protection
and control that are connected together on an
Ethernet-based Station Bus.

The main protocols for processed data transfer

used within this example are:
MMS for vertical communications with a
host system such as an Ovation system
GOOSE for inter IED communications
SMV for sharing process data on
another Ethernet-based Process Bus
network
The ELC provides a physical connection point
on the host Ovation control system. The IEC
61850 protocol application package provides
bidirectional communication by converting the
MMS data into Ovation data, and
communicating Ovation commands and status
back to the third-party device.

Figure 1 - Typical IEC 61850 Structure

Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc.

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