70072-0158-04

NOVEMBER 2006

TECHNICAL NOTE

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

TheDistributedNetworkProtocolVersion3.0(DNP3.0)isanopenSCADA
(systemcontrolanddataacquisition)protocolusedforcommunicationsand
interoperabilityamongsubstationcomputers,RTUs,IEDs(IntelligentElectronic
Devices),andMasterStations.DNPisusedforsubstationautomationsuchas
reclosingschemesautomation,adaptiverelaying,capacitorbankcontrol,auto
loadtransferandbustiecontrol.DNP3.0ismanagedbytheDNPUsersGroup
whosemembersrepresentutilitiesandequipmentvendors.
ThemultiportDNPfeatureonsomePowerLogicIONmetersallowsmultiple
DNPportstocommunicatewithseveralDNPnetworkssimultaneously,both
seriallyandviaEthernet.

NOTE
Multiport DNP functionality in ION7550/ION7650 requires firmware version 250 or later. Multiport DNP
functionality in the ION8600 requires firmware version 310.

ThisdocumentprovidesinstructionsforconfiguringmultiportDNPenabledION
meterstocommunicateoveraDNPnetwork.

In This Document
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
DNP Protocol and ION Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Step1:ConfiguringtheDNPSlaveOptionsModules ....................... 4
Step2:PortConfiguration .............................................. 7
Step3:ConfiguringtheDNPSlaveExportModules........................ 9
Step4:ConfiguringtheDNPSlaveImportModules ....................... 11
DNP Architecture Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Additional Information
Electrical equipment should be
installed, operated, serviced, and
maintained only by qualified
personnel. No responsibility is
assumed by Schneider Electric for
any consequences arising out of
the use of this material.
2006 Schneider Electric.
All rights reserved.
www.powerlogic.com

IONReference
DNP3Overviewfoundatwww.TriangleMicroWorks.com
www.dnp.orgforgeneralDNPusersgroupinformation
Yourmeterstechnicaldocumentation

Before You Begin

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Before You Begin

YoushouldhaveagoodunderstandingofDNP3.0beforebeginningthefollowing
procedures.EspeciallyimportantisinterpretinghowthesettingsintheDNP
OptionsmodulesandtheDNPSlaveExportmoduleswillaffectyourDNP
network.ConsulttheIONReferenceformoreinformationabouttheseION
modules.
AbasicoverviewofDNPisprovidedinthisdocument.SeeDNPArchitecture
Overviewonpage 13.
DetailedDNPdeviceprofiledocumentsareavailableforyourmeterfromthe
PowerLogicwebsite.Thesearedesignedtoaddressapplicationanddatalink
layerissues,identifydeviationsfromsubsetsandprovideanimplementationtable
thatliststheobjectvariations,functioncodesandqualifier,thatthedevice
supports.Seewww.dnp.orgforgeneralDNPdocumentation.

DNP Protocol and ION Meters

YoucanusetheDNPprotocolforstatic(realtime)datacommunicationswitha
DNPnetwork.Readandwritecapabilityisprovided.Historicdata,suchaslogs
andwaveformlogs,mustbecommunicatedthroughtheIONprotocol.
ThemultiportDNPfunctionalityallowsforuptothree,simultaneousDNPsessions
onthesameIONmeter.AsessionisdefinedascommunicationbetweenoneDNP
masterandoneDNPslave(IONmeter)onaport.Eachsessioniscontrolledbythe
settingsinthecorrespondingDNPSlaveOptionsmodule,whichhasbeen
assignedtoit.
Meter with Multiport DNP

Session 1

Workstation with DNP

Master Software

Page 2

Session 2

DNP Master Device

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

DNP Protocol and ION Meters

IONmetersareintegratedintoaDNPnetworkusingIONmodules:
DNPSlaveImport(DSI)modulestakethevalueofaDNPobject(writtenbya
DNPmasterdevice)andimportitintoanIONregister.IONImportmodulesare
thenlinkedtootherIONmodules(suchasadigitaloutputmodule).
DNPSlaveExport(DSE)modulestakethevaluefromtheIONregisterand
createaDNPobjectthatcanbereadbyaDNPmasterdevice.
DNPSlaveOptions(DSO)modulesletyouspecifypersessionoptionsforall
DNPSlaveImportandExportmodules.Youcandefinethedefaultvariantsthat
arereturnedforvariousclassesofpollingandcommunicationsoptionssuchas
timesynchronizationperiodsanddatalinklayersettings.Theoutputregisters
ontheDNPSlaveOptionsmodulesindicatehowmucheventbufferspaceis
availableforthatsession.
Forspecificdetails,seethemoduledescriptionsintheIONReference.

NOTE
DNP points defined by DSI and DSE modules are common to all sessions.

Example read Framework

DNP Slave Options module

sets options for all DNP
Slave Export and Import
modules, for this session

DNP Slave
Export Module

Power Meter
Module
Vln a
ION Meter

DNP Slave
Options Module

DNP Objects

Data is
available
to DNP
Master

Source 1
Communication port
is set to DNP 3.0

Inthisexample,thePowerMetermoduleislinkedtoaDNPSlaveExportmodule
whichconvertstheIONdata(Vlna)intotheappropriateDNPobjects.These
objectsareavailablethroughthemetercommunicationsportthatisconfiguredto
usetheDNP3.0protocol.TheDNPSlaveOptionsmodulesetspersessionoptions
foralloftheDNPSlaveExportmodules.

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Page 3

Step 1: Configuring the DNP Slave Options Modules

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Example write Framework

ION Meter

DNP Slave
Options Module

Control command
from DNP Master

DNP Objects

DNP Slave
Import Module

DNP Slave Options module

sets options for all DNP
Slave Export and Import
modules, for this session

Relay 1

Digital Output
Module

Communication port
is set to DNP 3.0

External relay
for backup
generator

Inthisexample,theDNPMastersendsacontrolcommandtotheIONmeter
which,inturn,switchesanexternalrelay.Sucharelaycanbeusedtoturnonand
offabackupgenerator.

Step 1: Configuring the DNP Slave Options Modules

TheDNPSlaveOptionsmoduleprovidessettingsthataffectallDNPSlaveExport
andDNPSlaveImportmodulesforthatsession.AllmultiportDNPenabledION
metershavethreepreconfiguredDSOmodules.AllDSOmodulesarecore
modules;youcannotaddordeletethem.
UseIONsoftwaretoconfigurethesettingsintheDSOmodule.Consultthetable
belowforalistofsetupregistersandtheirfunctions.

Page 4

Setup Register

Function - see the ION Reference

BinInStatic

Variant for Binary Input Static objects.

BinInEvents

Variant for Binary Input Event objects.

BinInEvDepth

Maximum number of Binary Input Events that can be stored*

BinCntStatic

Variant for Binary Counter Static objects.

FrzCntStatic

Variant for Frozen Counter Static objects.

FrzCntEvents

Variant for Frozen Counter Event objects.

FrzCntEvDepth

Maximum number of Frozen Counter Events that can be stored*

CntChangeEvents

Variant for Counter Change Event objects.

CntChangeEvDepth

Maximum number of Counter Change Events that can be stored*

AIStatic

Variant for Analog Input Static objects.

FrzAIStatic

Variant for Frozen Analog Input Static objects.

FrzAIEvents

Variant for Frozen Analog Input Event objects.

FrzAIEvDepth

Maximum number of Frozen Analog Input Events that can be stored*

AIChangeEvents

Variant for Analog Input Change Event objects.

AIChangeEvDepth

Maximum number of Analog Input Change Events that can be stored*

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Step 1: Configuring the DNP Slave Options Modules

Setup Register

Function - see the ION Reference

AOStatic

Variant for Analog Output Block objects.

SelectTimeout

Select Before Operate timeout period (in seconds)

TimeSynchPeriod

Time (in seconds) between IED requests for time syncs.

ALFragSize

Maximum application layer message size (in octets) that IED can send.

DLAck

When device will request data link layer acknowledgements.

DLTimeout

How long data link layer waits (secs) for acknowledgement from
Master.

DLNumRetries

How many times a data link layer packet is re-sent after failing.

CommPort

Which meter communications port this DNP Slave Options module is

assigned to.

ApplCnfrm

Determines if the device will request that the application layer response
be confirmed or not.

DLAddrForEthernet

Determines the unique Unit ID of each Ethernet-connected DNP slave

device.

MasterIPAddr

Which DNP Master over TCP/IP will be allowed to connect to the

session.

UnsolEnable

Enables or disables unsolicited responses for this session. Currently, the

only option is disabled.

UnsolClassMask

Which event classes can trigger an unsolicited response for this

session.

UnsolMaxRetries

Number of unsolicited response retries for this session.

UnsolRetryPeriod

Time period between unsolicited retry attempts for this session.

UnsolDestAddress

DNP Master unit ID address that the unsolicited response will be sent to
for this session.

* Read-only registers.

Changing the default DNP configuration

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

1.

UseDesignersoftwaretolinktheparametersthatyouwanttoaccessthrough
DNP.YoucanaddadditionalDNPSlavemodulesandlinkthedesiredION
parameterstothem.

2.

RightclickonthemoduleinDesignertoaccesstheregisters.IfyourDNP
networkrequiresdatainadifferentformatthanthefactoryDNPconfiguration,
youcaneditthesetupregistersintheDNPSlavemodulesandtheDNPOptions
moduleasnecessary.

Page 5

Step 1: Configuring the DNP Slave Options Modules

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Configuring DNP Slave Options Module in ION Setup (ION8600 only)

1.

RunIONSetupandopentheSetupAssistant.

2.

NavigatetoCommunications>ThirdPartyProtocolsandclicktheDNP3.0tab.

3.

SelectParametermapandclickEdit.

4.

IntheDNPPortsetupwindowthatappears,selectEthernet(AllProtocols)from
thedesiredconnectionnumberandclickOptions.

5.

IntheDNPDefaultOptionswindow,clicktheCommunicationTab.

6.

Configureyourcommunicationsoptionsasdesired.

NOTE
Some third-party RTUs require two identifiers for slave devices, a Master IP Address and a unique Unit
ID. Therefore you must configure both the Master IP address and the DLAddrforEthernet settings.

Page 6

7.

ClickOK.ClickNexttocontinuewithyourDNPmapconfigurations.

8.

ClickFinish.

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Step 2: Port Configuration

Step 2: Port Configuration

TheDNP3.0protocolcanbeusedontheEthernet,serial,modemandinfrared
portsofIONmeters.

NOTE
Depending on your meter model and firmware version, DNP will be available on different communication
ports. See your meters technical documentation for more information.

CommunicationportsarecontrolledbyIONmodulesthatexistonthemeter.
Somemetersallowyoutoconfigurethecommunicationsmodulesthroughthe
metersfrontpanel.Seeyourmeterstechnicaldocumentationformoredetailed
informationonusingthefrontpanel.

NOTE
The DSO module must be assigned to a communication port BEFORE that communication ports protocol
can be changed to DNP. Similarly, if DNP protocol is running on a communication port, the DSO module
assigned to it cannot be assigned to another COM port until DNP is deselected on that COM port.

Assigning the DNP protocol to the communication port via the front panel
1.

ChoosethehardwareportthroughwhichyouwanttotransmitdatainDNP
format.

2.

SettheprotocolinthemoduletoDNP3.0.

YoucanalsouseIONsoftwaretoconfigurethecommunicationsports.Thisisthe
onlymethodyoucanuseforTRANmeters(ION7550andION7650)without
displays.
Assigning the DNP protocol to the communication port via ION Setup

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

1.

OpenIONSetupandconnecttothemeter.

2.

DoubleclicktheSetupAssistantfromtherighthandpanetoopen.

Page 7

Step 2: Port Configuration

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

3.

SelecttheCommunicationsfolderfromthelefthandpaneandclickonPort
Settings.

4.

ClickthetabofthecommunicationsportyouwishtouseforDNP.

5.

SelectProtocolandclickEdit.Youwillbepromptedforthemeterpassword.

6.

SelecttheDNPV3.00protocolfromthedropdownboxthenclickOK.

Assigning the DNP protocol to the communication port via ION Enterprise

Page 8

1.

OpenyourmeterintheDesignercomponentofIONEnterprise.

2.

FindtheCommunicationsmoduleforthecommunicationsportyouwishtouse
forDNP,inthemetersframework.RightclicktheCommunicationsmoduleto
configure.

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Step 3: Configuring the DNP Slave Export Modules

3.

RightclickontheCommunicationsmoduleanddoubleclickontheProtocol
setupregistertoedit.

4.

SelecttheDNPV3.00protocolfromthedropdownboxthenclickOK.

Step 3: Configuring the DNP Slave Export Modules

DNPSlaveExportmodulestakethevaluefromtheIONregisterandcreateaDNP
objectthatcanbereadbyaDNPmasterdevice.
TheDSEmodulesarepreconfiguredtocommunicatenumericorBooleanvalues
inaspecificformat.Ifthesesettingsdonotsuityourneeds,youcanmodifythe
setupregistersorrelinkthemodulestootherpowersystemdata.Or,youcanadd
additionalDSEmodulesandlinkthemtoIONparameters.
TheDNPSlaveExportmodulesupportsfourcategoriesofDNPdataobjects:
Static:currentrealtimevalueofadatapoint(i.e.phaseAvoltage).
Event:generatedwhenastaticobjectexceedsadeadbandthreshold.
FrozenStatic:Staticvaluerepresented/generatedatthetimetheDNPmaster
issuesafreezecommandorthefreezeinputispulsed.
FrozenEvent:Staticvaluerepresented/generatedatthetimetheDNPmaster
issuesafreezecommandorthefreezeinputispulsed.
UseIONsoftwaretoconfigurethesettingsintheDSEmodule.Consultthetable
belowforalistofallthesetupregistersandtheirfunctions.

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Setup Register

Settings in a default framework

BasePoint

Varies see your meters DNP 3.00 Device Profile document for default DNP to
ION mapping.

StaticObj

11 modules are Analog Input; three are Binary Counter

EventObj

Disable Event Objects

Deadband

FrozStaObj

Disable Frozen Static Objects

FrozEvtObj

Disable Frozen Event Objects

EventClass

Class 1

Page 9

Step 3: Configuring the DNP Slave Export Modules

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Setup Register

Settings in a default framework

Scaling

OFF (excluding Unbalx10 and Freqx10 which are ON)

IONZero

IONFull

0 (1000 for Unbalx10 and 100 for Freqx10)

DNPZero

DNPFull

0 (10000 for Unbalx10 and 1000 for Freqx10)

TheBasePointregistermapsthefirstinputofaDSEmoduleintoaDNPpoint
number.TheDNPmastercanthenreadthestatic,frozen,andeventobjects
associatedwiththatDNPpoint.Eachsubsequentinput,anditsrelatedDNPpoint,
isaddressablebytheappropriateoffsetfromthatBasePoint.
TheScalingregisterdetermineswhetherornotthemetersmeasurementsare
scaledforoutputtoaDNPmaster.Youcanusethistoscaleuptoincludedecimal
components.IONZeroandIONFullspecifytherangeofsourcevalueswhile
DNPZeroandDNPFullspecifytherangeofoutputvalues.Valuesarelinearly
mappedfromtheIONZero,IONFulltoDNPZero,DNPFullranges.
StaticObjisaBinaryInput,BinaryCounterorAnaloginputfromanIONregister.
YoucanenableEventObj,totriggeraneventwhenavalueexceedsaspecified
deadbandthreshold.Theseeventsarereturnedtothemasterinaclass13pollas
specifiedintheEventClassregister.
WhenFrozStaObj,FroEvtObjareenabledandafreezeoccurs,thestaticobjectmakes
twothings(ifenabled):
AFrozenStaticobjectthatgetsreturnedinaclass0poll(aFrozenstaticobjectis
overwritteneachtimeafreezehappens)
AFrozenEventobjectisreturnedinaclass13poll(frozeneventsarenot
overwrittenasmoreeventobjectsarecreated,unlessthereisnofreespace)
EventClassdefinestheclassofeventthatiscreatedbytheExportSlavemodule.A
class1,2,3pollisthenusedtoretrieveeventsasappropriate.
DNPSlaveExportmodulessupportthefollowingDNPfunctions:
Function

DNP Slave Response Functions

Description
Confirm

Message fragment confirmation used in meter responses. No response to

this message is required.

Response

Meter responds to a master request message.

Confirm

Message fragment confirmation used in meter responses. No response to

this message is required.

Read

Master requests particular objects from meter; meter responds with

requested objects that are available.

DNP Master Transfer Functions

Page 10

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Step 4: Configuring the DNP Slave Import Modules

Function

Description

DNP Master Freeze Functions

DNP Master Time Synchronization

Functions

Immediate Freeze

Meter copies the specified objects to a freeze buffer and responds with
status of the operation.

Immediate FreezeNo Acknowledge

Meter copies the specified objects to a freeze buffer but does not respond
with a status message.

Freeze and Clear

Not supported.

Freeze and ClearNo Acknowledge

Not supported.

Delay Measurement

Master requests data from the meter in order to calculate the meters
communication delay and use it for time synchronization. The meter
responds with the Time Delay object.

Step 4: Configuring the DNP Slave Import Modules

TheDNPSlaveImportmoduletakesDNPobjectsandimportsthemasvaluesinto
IONregisters.TheDSImoduletakesaDNPAnalogOutputorBinaryOutput
objectandconvertsitintoanIONnumericorBooleanvalue.TheDSImodule
allowsthemetertoreacttocontrolcommandsfromaDNPmaster.

NOTE
No DSI modules are present in the default framework.

VariousparametersareavailablethroughDNP,howeverimportingDNPdatatothe
meterisnotafactoryconfiguredoption.ThepossiblesettingsforDNPSlaveImport
modulesare:
Setup Register

Supported Range or Options

Default Setting

DNPPoint

0 to 15

DNPObjGrp

Analog Output or Binary Output

Binary Output

RelayMode

1 or 2 points per address

1 point per address

DNPPointspecifiesthepointnumberoftheDNPobjectthatyouwanttomapto
theIONmodule.DNPObjGrpspecifiesthegroupoftheDNPobjectandRelayMode
specifiesthemethodofaccessingtriporcloserelays.
TheDSImodulesupportsthefollowingfunctions:
Function

DNP Master Transfer

Functions

Description
Confirm

Message fragment confirmation used in master requests. No response to this message is

required

Read

Master requests particular objects from meter; meter responds with requested objects that
are available. For Analog Outputs, the value of the AnalogOut output register is returned as
the status. For Binary Outputs, the ORd value of the Relay 1 & Relay 2 output registers are
returned as the status. For class 0 polls, status of all Analog and Binary Outputs are returned.

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Page 11

Step 4: Configuring the DNP Slave Import Modules

Function

DNP Master Control

Functions

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Description

Select

Select (or arm) output points (controls, setpoints, analog outputs) at meter but do not activate
them; meter responds with the status of the output points selected. When it receives the Select
message, the meter starts a timer and must receive an Operate message before the timer
expires to activate these outputs.

Operate

Activate the meters outputs that were previously selected with the Select function; respond
with the status of the outputs.

Direct Operate

Activate the meters outputs without a preceding Select message; meter responds with the
status of the outputs.

Direct Operate-No
Acknowledge

Activate the meters output without a preceding Select message; meter does not respond with
the status of the outputs.

NOTE
Class 0 polls return DNP status objects for both Analog and Binary Output objects.

Importing DNP data into ION registers

Page 12

1.

InDesigner,useaDNPSlaveImportmoduletotakeaDNPAnalogoutputor
BinaryoutputobjectandmapthemintoIONregisters.

2.

TherearenoinputregistersfortheImportmodule.Youmustconfigurethe
setupregisterstodefineaDNPobject.ConsulttheIONReferenceforinformation
ontakingthesetupinformationandoutputtingittoIONregisters.

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

DNP Architecture Overview

DNP Architecture Overview

DNP3.0isalayeredprotocolthatadherestoasimplifiedthreelayerstandard
proposedbytheIEC(InternationalElectrotechnicalCommission).TheOSI(Open
SystemInterconnection)isthemorecommonsevenlayerprotocolstandard.IEC
callsthisthreelayerstandard,theEnhancedPerformanceArchitecture,orEPA.
DNP3.0addsafourthlayertotheEPAcalledapseudotransportlayerthatallows
formessagesegmentation.
Physical Layer
Thephysicallayeristhematerialmediaoverwhichtheprotocoliscommunicated.
Mostcommonly,DNPisspecifiedoverasimpleserialphysicallayersuchasRS
232orRS485.Themediaofthelayercanbefiber,radioorsatellite;supporton
Ethernetisalsodefinedinthestandard.ThephysicallayerofDNPhandlesthe
stateofthemedia(clearorbusy),andsynchronizationacrossthemedia(starting
andstopping).Themaximumsizeofaphysicallayeris292bytes.
Data Link Layer
Thedatalinklayermanagesthelogicallinkbetweensenderandreceiverof
informationanditimproveserrorcharacteristics.Thisisaccomplishedbystarting
eachdatalinkframewithaheaderandinsertinga16bitCRCevery16bytesofthe
frame(aframeisaportionofacompletemessagecommunicatedoverthephysical
layer).Themaximumsizeofadatalinkframeis256bytes.Eachframehasa16bit
sourceaddressanda16bitdestinationaddress,whichmaybeabroadcastaddress
(0xffff).Theaddressinformation,alongwitha16bitstartcode,theframelength,
andadatalinkcontrolbyte,andtwoCRCbytesiscontainedinthe10bytedata
linkheader.

Data Link Header:

Start Octets

05

Data
Link
Control

Length

64

Destination

LSB

MSB

Source

LSB

CRC
10 BYTES

MSB

TOTAL

Data Block:
Transpor
t Header
I BYTE

Applicatio
n Header
2 OR 4
BYTES

Object
Header
#1
VARIABLE
SIZE

Data #1

VARIABLE SIZE

Object
header
#2
VARIABLE
SIZE

Data #2

VARIABLE SIZE

CRC used every

16 bytes

Data #n

CRC used
every
16 bytes

...

Thedatalinkcontrolbyteindicatesthepurposeofthedatalinkframe,andstatus
ofthelogicallink.Possibledatalinkcontrolbytevaluesinclude:ACK,requestdata
linkconfirm(ACK)offrame,NACK,requestlinkstatus,linkneedsreset,link
statusreply,linkisreset.

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Page 13

DNP Architecture Overview

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Whenadatalinkconfirmationisrequested,thereceivermustrespondwithan
ACKdatalinkframeiftheframeisreceivedandpassesCRCchecks.Ifadatalink
confirmationisnotrequested,nodatalinkresponseisrequired.
Pseudo-Transport Layer
Thepseudotransportlayersegmentsapplicationlayermessagesintomultiple
datalinkframes.Foreachframe,itinsertsasinglebytefunctioncodethatindicates
ifthedatalinkframeisthefirstframeofthemessage,thelastframeofamessage,
orboth(forsingleframemessages).Thefunctioncodealsoincludesarollingframe
sequencenumberwhichincrementswitheachframeandallowsthereceiving
transportlayertodetectdroppedframes.
Application Layer
Theapplicationlayerrespondstocompletemessagesreceivedandbuilds
messagesbasedontheneedfor,oravailabilityofuserdata.Oncemessagesare
built,theyarepasseddowntothepseudotransportlayerwheretheyare
segmentedandpassedtothedatalinklayerandcommunicatedoverthephysical
layer.Thetotallengthofreceivedmessagesisindicatedbypseudotransportlayer
asitappendsdatalinklayerframes,eachwiththeirownindicatedlength.
Whenthedataistoolargeforasingleapplicationlayermessage,multiple
messagesmaybebuiltandtransmittedsequentially.Eachmessage,exceptthelast,
indicatesthatmoremessagesfollow.Becausetheapplicationdatacanbe
fragmented,eachmessageisreferredtoasafragmentthatmayeitherbesingle
fragmentoramultifragment.
ApplicationlayerfragmentsfrommasterDNPstationsaretypicallyrequestsfor
operationsondataobjects.ApplicationlayerfragmentsfromSlaveDNPstations
aretypicallyresponsestothoserequests.
Asinthedatalinklayer,applicationlayerfragmentsmaybesentwitharequest
forconfirmation.Anapplicationlayerconfirmationindicatesthatamessageis
receivedandparsedwithouterror.(Adatalinklayerconfirmation(ACK)indicates
thatthedatalinkframeisreceivedanditpassedCRCerrorchecks.)
Eachapplicationlayerfragmentbeginswithaheaderfollowedbyoneormoreobject
header/objectdatacombinations.Theheadercontainsanapplicationcontrolcode
andanapplicationfunctioncode.Theapplicationcontrolcodecontainsthe
followinginformation:
identifiesifthemessageismultiorsinglefragment
specifiesifanapplicationlayerconfirmationisrequestedforthefragment
identifiesifthefragmentwasunsolicited
providesarollingapplicationlayersequencenumber
Theapplicationlayersequencenumberallowsthereceivingapplicationlayerto
detectfragmentsthatareoutofsequenceordropped.Theapplicationlayerheader
functioncodeindicatesthepurpose,orrequestedoperationofthemessage.DNP
allowsmultipledatatypesinasinglemessagebutitonlyallowsasinglerequested
operationonthedatatypeswithinthemessage.Theheaderfunctioncodeapplies
toallobjectheaders,andthereforealldatawithinthemessagefragment.

Page 14

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

DNP Architecture Overview

Point Map Organization

InDNPdataisorganizedintodatatypes.Eachdatatypeisanobjectgroup,
including:binaryinputs(singlebitreadonlyvalues),binaryoutputs(singlebit
valueswhosestatuscanberead,pulsedorlatcheddirectly,orthroughSBOtype
operations),analoginputs(multiplebitreadonlyvalues),analogoutputs
(multiplebitvalueswhosestatusmaybereadorcontrolleddirectly,orthrough
SBOtypeoperations),binarycounters(multiplebitvaluesusedtostoreincreasing
parameterssuchasenergycounts),timeanddate,filetransferobjects.
Oneormoredatapoints,ordatatypes,existforeachobjectgroup.Adatapointis
asingledatavaluethatisspecifiedbyitsobjectgroup.Variationsexistwithineach
objectgroup.Anobjectgroupvariationistypicallyusedtoindicateadifferent
methodofspecifyingdatawithintheobjectgroup.Forexample,variationsof
analoginputsallowfortransferofthedataas16bitsignedintegervalues,or32
bitsignedintegervalues.
Sinceanapplicationlayermessagemaycontainmultipleobjectheaders,object
headerthatspecifiesanobjectgroup,avariationoftheobjectgroup,andarange
ofpointswithinthatobjectgroupvariation.Someapplicationlayerheader
functioncodesindicatethatobjectdatafollowseachobjectheader.Otherfunction
codesindicatethatthereisnoobjectdatainthemessageinsteadmultipleobject
headers,ifpresent,followeachothercontiguously.Forexample,areadrequest
messagefragmentonlycontainsobjectheadersthatdescribetheobjectgroups,
variations,andpointrangesthatarerequestedtobereadandresponded;aread
responsemessagefragmentcontainsobjectheadersandtherequestobjectdata.
DNPallowsobjectpointrangestobespecifiedinavarietyofways.Forrequest
messages,objectpointrangesmayconsistofarequestfor:allpointsofthe
specifiedobjectgroup,acontiguousrangeofpointsbeginningwithaspecified
startingpointandendingwithaspecifiedstoppingpoint,amaximumquantityof
points,alistofrequestedpoints.
Forresponsemessages,objectpointrangestypicallyconsistofeitheracontiguous
rangeofpoints,withaspecifiedstartingpointandstoppingpoint,orwithalistof
points.Forresponseobjectpointrangesthatconsistofalistofpoints,apoint
numberprecedeseachdataobject.Thenumberofpointsinthelistisspecifiedas
partoftheobjectpointrange.
Reporting Model
Manyoftheobjectgroupshavecorrespondingobjectgroupsthatcontainchange
data.Changedatarepresentspointsthathavechangedforaspecifically
correspondingobjectgroup.Forexample,objectgroup1representsbinaryinputs
(consideredstaticdata),andobjectgroup2representsbinaryinputchangedata.
Whenapointinobjectgroup1isdetectedtohavechanged,achangeeventis
createdinobjectgroup2forthesamepointnumber(ifbinaryinputchangeevents
areenabled).Includingonlypointsthathavechangedinresponsemessages
allowssmaller,efficientmessages.Suchreportingschemesarecalledreportby
exception,orRBE.

2006 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

Page 15

DNP Architecture Overview

Multiport DNP 3.0 and ION Technology

Foreachchangedatapoint,atimecanbeassociatedwiththechange.Forbinary
input,eachdetectionofadatavaluethatchangesisconsideredachangeevent.For
analoginputandbinarycounter,aneventiscreatedwhenthechangeisbya
certainamount(deadband).Atanygiventime,itispossibletohavemultiple
changeeventsforsomepointsandnochangeeventsforotherpoints.
Objectgroupsandthedatapointswithinthem,arefurtherorganizedintoclasses.
Thisprovidesanefficientmethodofrequestingdata;asimple(andsmall)message
issenttorequestalldatainaspecificclass.Thisisreferredtoasscanningforclass
data.TherearefourclassesdefinedinDNP3.0.Class0representsallstatic(not
eventdata).Classes1,2,and3,canrepresentdifferentprioritiesofchangeevent
data.Byassociatingdifferenteventdatawithdifferentclasses,theclassescanbe
requestedwithvaryingperiodicrates.

NOTE
Frozen statics and frozen events are specific to analog inputs and binary counters.

Ifclass1containsthehighestprioritychangeeventdataandclass3containsthe
lowestprioritychangeeventdata,thenaclass1pollshouldbeperformedasoften
aspossible,aclass2pollperformedlessoften,andaclass3pollperformedeven
lessoften.Foreachclassdataresponse,onlytheclassdatathathaschangedis
returned.Finally,toacquiredatanotassociatedwitheitherclass1,2,or3,an
integritypoll,consistingofaclass0scan,isperformed.Sincealargeamountof
datamaybereturnedinaclass0scan,itshouldnotbeperformedoften.

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