IEC 61850 Is The Corner Stone Of Manageable Secure Power Systems

On September 16, 2025 I presented a Keynote Address at the 6th PS2 organized by Omicron.

Click HERE for accessing my slides [PDF, 9 MB] 

The crucial slide is on page 25:

The keynote discusses the challenge: Informatics versus electrical engineering. My understanding is that we need every expertise: concrete builder, electricians, metal ... copper ... electrical ... mechanical ... IT, OT, protection, automation, ... cyber security ... and so on. A holistic approach is needed.

Do not expect that one is the superior product ... or most crucial person ... 

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Check out how we could help.

The 30 Year Anniversary of IEC 61850 at Omicron in Klaus (Austria) on September 24, 2025, was a BIG success

The IEC 61850 Community has celebrated the 30 Year Anniversary at Omicron in Klaus (Austria) on September 24, 2025, was really a BIG success. Thanks to everybody that contributed to this success: Omicron employees, IEC TC 57 management, IEC TC 57 WG 10 and WG 19 members, many old friends from all-over. Some photos are already posted at LinkedIn ...

I was asked to tell the IEC 61850 Community the history of the standardization process starting in the 1980s with the fight Tokenbus versus Ethernet, MMS versus FMS, ... x versus y, ...

Click HERE to download my presentation [pdf, 6 MB] 

You can see me on the stage during my presentation:

The event was a great opportunity to meet people I have not met for years, e.g., George Schimmel (Tamarack, later TMW):

I guess I met George the first time in 1985 at the GM Techcenter in Warren (Michigan) ... MAP project.

René Troost and Alain Stuivenvolt from The Netherlands are so smart that they were able to move the stack of 7 layers of the Tower of Hanoi from one stick to another - well done.

On the group photo you find me in the first row/center:

I am still wondering that a lot of experts talk about IEC 61850 as a standard for substations! We are shaping more than the future of digital substations ... after the "Klaus Agreement" (see meeting minutes of the Task Force IEC 61850-8-3) we expect that IEC 61850 will be shaping the future of electric power systems far beyond substations as I discussed some 20 years ago: 

Check HERE a paper on this topic I published in the year 2008.

6th Power Systems Protection Summit (PS2) coming soon

Dissemination of information about IEC 61850 is crucial. One opportunity to listen to an online (virtual) conference is the Middle East 

6th Power Systems Protection Summit (PS2)
September 15–16, 2025

Click HERE for program information.

On day 2 I will give a keynote speech:

Keynote session - IEC 61850 is the Corner Stone of manageable Secure Power Systems
11:00AM - 11:20AM

IEC 61850 has come a long way since mid-1990.  A wide range of applications built with IEC 61850 will act as a game changer for traditional protection, automation, and SCADA products and systems. It aims to provide all parties involved with as much standardized information as possible for power systems. 

I look forward to meeting you virtually.

IEC 61850 (MMS) Messages Traced with Wireshark, Local Host, and Loopback

Have you tried to trace some IEC 61850 (MMS) messages with Wireshark? 

Usually you expect to run Client and Server on different machines to have communication going through an Ethernet Network! Yes! No!

You could easily run the two on one PC and trace the traffic using Wireshark and select the TCP loopback adapter as the interface for Wireshark to look at !!! It is simple.

The address for the server is:

The Client and Server using the IEDScout 5.2 from Omicron:

Trace:

Are IEC 61850 based Systems Cyber-Secure?

Often you hear arguments that IEC 61850 based systems are not cyber-secure ... is that true?

The truth is: The standards series IEC 61850 refers to the standard series IEC 62351. Example:

Power Systems Management and Associated Information Exchange – Communication network and system security – Part 4: Profiles including MMS and derivatives

IEC 61850-8-1 (Mapping to MMS) requires to use TLS ... as defined in IEC 62351-6 !!

Click HERE to access the preview of IEC 61850-8-1 (referring to IEC 62351) and HERE for the preview of IEC 62351-6.

Another issue to protect your IEC 61850 based system is to monitor the traffic and compare it with the configured communication relations and contents:

Click HERE to watch a brief video from Omicron that shows some means to support cyber-security in IEC 61850 based systems. 

There is a lot of activities going on to increase the cyber-security in automation systems.

IEDScout 5.00 Available - One of the Most Crucial Test Tools for IEC 61850

IEDScout is a well known test tool for most of the needed support in the communication with IEC 61850 compliant devices.
Omicron has released the version 5.00 ... providing crucial extensions compared to version 4.2:



IEDScout is a versatile software tool for working with IEC 61850 devices. With Version 5.0, IEDScout offers a new level of cyber security and powerful simulation utilizing the new MBX1/RBX1 hardware.
Additional improvements are:

• IEDScout now supports function-related naming for logical devices
• The icon set has been updated to provide a smooth user experience when used together with StationScout/StationGuard.
• When writing data to an IED, IEDScout will now automatically update the “t” attribute of the data object.
• Improved screen scaling for better readability on high resolution screens.
• License information is now available in the configuration dialog.
• OMICRON’s IEC 61850 library has been updated to include the latest developments in standardization and improve interoperability.
• The usability of IEDScout is continuously improved based on expert reviews and customer feedback.
• Several smaller tweaks and bug fixes improve overall performance and stability.

Click HERE for more information on IEDScout 5.0

Omicron offers new ways for IEC 61850 Substation Automation System testing

Testing the automation, control, and SCADA communication in IEC 61850 Substation Automation System (SAS) is as time consuming as testing the protection – or often even more.

StationScout simplifies the testing and reduces the required effort significantly.

With its powerful functions, StationScout is a specialist for the whole lifecycle of a SAS – from engineering to continuous maintenance. The clear status overview provides ideal support for commissioning and maintenance engineers during the different tasks in Substation Automation Systems utilizing IEC 61850.

Key features:

Status overview: StationScout provides a clear overview of the substation, visualizing the communication according to IEC 61850 in SCL files, values and states in the substation.

Signal tracing: The communication diagram of StationScout allows for signal tracing, from the overview down to the detailed communication message attributes.

Automated testing: StationScout is able to re-use predefined test plans for an automated testing procedure.

Cyber security: The dedicated hardware of StationScout ensures cyber secure operation within the substation communication network.

Simulation: The powerful simulation features of StationScout simplify testing and commissioning. Missing IEDs and IOs can also be simulated.

Defining own names: IEC 61850 abbreviations are quite cryptic. Defining of own names in StationScout allows for comfortable asset handling.

Click HERE for detailed information about the StationScout (English)
Click HERE for detailed information about the StationScout (German)

Conflicting Use of TCP Port 102 for IEC 61850 and Simatic S7

IEC 61850-8-1 defines how the abstract IEC 61850 services (ACSI) are mapped to MMS (ISO 9506). The MMS protocol runs on ISO/OSI Transport Layer, ISO/OSI Session Layer, ... For IEC 61850 it has been decided to use TCP/IP as transport protocol.

TCP has to be "extended" by some definitions to get the same services and protocol features as provided by ISO/OSI Transport Layer class 0: The IETF RFC 1006 defines how to use TCP for MMS. RFC 1006 defines among other issues to use TCP Port number 102 for the MMS Server role. Any IEC 61850 Server role has to run on port 102 - independent of the platform it is running on: protection device, control device or a Windows PC.

Siemens SIMATIC S7 PLCs use RFC 1006 entitled "ISO Transport Service on top of the TCP" (ISO-on-TCP) as a protocol extension for the TCP protocol for connection between two systems.

RFC 1006 (and thus Port 102) is used for standard connections in the SIMATIC environment.

• STEP 7 remote programming via LAN
• ISO-on-TCP connections
• S7 connections via Industrial Ethernet

I have come across situations where PCs are running SIMATIC S7 tools that are using Port 102! In that case you cannot run an IEC 61850 Server role on the same PC (with the same IP address) - because Port 102 is already in use!!

If you have trouble running an IE 61850 Server role on your computer - check also if Port 102 is already in use. In one case we figured out this situation with a server model (SCL) that we tried to simulate with the Omicron IED Scout! IED Scout reported an error: TCP Port 102 already in use. We stopped the SIMATIC S7 application to free the Port 102.

This is another use case where the IEDScout reports very useful error information!

Here is an example of the command "netstat -a" (may use as well "netstat -a -b") to figure out, if the port 102 is used or not: Waiting for port "102": 


Click HERE for the Server demo (shown on the right).

Click HERE for a list of ports used by Siemens SIMATIC S7.

Who can tell you what IEC 61850 really is?

Has ever someone learned what IEC 61850 really provides
from product presentations of vendors? Maybe to some extent?

How do people understand and learn what the standard series IEC 61850 really offers to the protection, automation and supervision of energy systems and what this all means for their application (as vendor, user, consultant, ...)?
A bit by reading power point presentations and papers ... and listen to presentations ... and to some extent by attending presentations and hands-on exercises conducted by equipment and tool vendors.
Is this enough?
If you are happy with the products - without understanding how far IEC 61850 is really implemented - then you could go and ... quite often at the end of the day you may learn that you got far to less



or far too much compared to what the standard would provide for your needs:


You need more vendor-independent information and experience from long-term experts like Andrea Bonetti (FMTP) or Karlheinz Schwarz (SCC). Sure, any demonstration or hands-on exercise of any IEC 61850 feature requires products like the great IEDScout of Omicron or ... BUT: the products implement just a fraction of what IEC 61850 is all about.
If you want to learn the Philosophy of IEC 61850 and compare it with the many different other approaches like IEC 60870-5-104, or other products, then you need independent information and experience. And finally you need to understand how the product X of vendor A compares to the product Y from vendor B.
To meet two of the most experienced experts and discuss with them your needs, doubts and complains, ... please register for the next training courses in Stockholm next week or in Karlsruhe in May.
Click HERE for the details of seminars in German.
Click HERE for the courses in English.
See you soon.
After the education of more than 4,000 attendees I know what people need ... and what they get by vendor-driven "education".

How to get Interoperability and Interchangeability with IEC 61850?

The standardization process in the context of IEC 61850 is picking up quite fast. As you have learned in the posts of today and older ones, there are several new topics on the list of items to work on for future new parts of IEC 61850.
One of the crucial objectives is the interoperability and INTERCHANGEABILITY of devices from different vendors in a multi-vendor system.
To reach this goal, we need standards! Sure. But what is absolutely required is the EDUCATION of experts from Vendors, Utilities and System integrators.
We offer the right courses for you: With focus on protection, automation and SCADA.In English and German.
Due to the request from power engineers FMTP and NettedAutomation have scheduled several dates for public training courses in 2017:
The next courses are:

19-23 September 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden [EN]
10-13 Oktober 2016 in Karlsruhe, Germany [EN]
07-09 Dezember 2016 in Karlsruhe, Germany [DE]

Click HERE for more details.

Hurry to reserve your seat!

You would get more than in any other course - because two of most experienced experts (Andrea Bonetti and Karlheinz Schwarz) will guide you through the most crucial aspects of IEC 61850. The combined experience of the two is unparalleled.

Experience with the OMICRON IEDScout Version 4.10 - The Name Space Concept

As you may know we have defined a very powerful namespace concept into IEC 61850. It allows to use logical nodes and data objects from multiple application domains in one single SCL File.
This concept has been incorporated into the standard (IEC 61850-6, -7-1, -7-2, -7-3, 7-4, and 8-1) some 15 years ago. At that time I was the editor of parts -7-1 and -7-2.
By the way: These five (5) parts are often called "The Core Parts of IEC 61850".

The name space “IEC 61850-7-4:2003” indicates that ALL instances within this logical device
are derived from the 2003 editions of IEC 61850-7-4, IEC 61850-7-3, and IEC 61850-7-2. The logical device name space could be understood as the prime name space. The attribute ldNs is an attribute contained in the name plate of the logical node zero (LLN0).
A device that implements more than one Logical Device can support multiple prime name spaces - one per Logical Device.

The name space for Edition 2 of the core documents is as follows:

        IEC 61850-7-4:2007A

The Omicron IEDScout V4.1 analyzes this Logical Device name space and acts according to the name space configured. Let's see how that works.

If the LD name space is missing then the default value will be used: this means Edition 1 of the core documents).
The following figure shows an SCL file that does not contain a value for the "ldNs". Now we open the SCL file with the IEDScout 4.1.The IEDScout figures out that the prime name space is Edition 1 of the core parts. In Edition 1 of IEC 61850-7-3 (Common Data Classes) there are no CDCs like ENS and ENC defined. This is indicated in the warning area. Edition 1 of IEC 61850-7-3 defines INS and INC instead.



The new enumerated Common Data Classes (ENS, ENC and ENG) have been added in Edition 2 of IEC 61850-7-3. The SCL File with the Edition 2 prime name space is shown next:


The IEDScout does not show any warning!

Smart!

What does that mean for all of us? We have to make sure that our IEC 61850 models configured in an SCL File are according to the prime name space we want to use!

And: The IEDScout has many other powerful (browsing, testing, ...) features build-in that help you to get your IEC 61850 based system running according to the standard series IEC 61850, IEC 61400-25, ...

I am using the IEDScout 4.1 in my training courses. Attendees learn how to model IEDs and how to test them.

Click HERE for downloading a 30 days fully functional evaluation license.

Started the Year 2016 successfully with the Omicron IEDScout 4.10

I hope you had a good start into the year 2016!

During the last days of 2015 and the first days of 2016 I have set up a new notebook and upgraded to Windows 10, Office 2013, ... and Omicron's IEDScout 4.10.

I had to test a control model with operate services. The version 3.0 was very confusing in getting me the information I was looking for. So I decided to upgrade immediately to version 4.10.

This was one of the best decisions of the "young" year 2016!

The version 4.10 is way easier and less confusing to be used for testing real products! The model shows exactly what is crucial for the tester:

This version is an IEC 61850 tool - not just a MMS browser with some flavor of IEC 61850.

Here is the link to the page for free downloading of the fully functional demo version:

https://www.omicronenergy.com/en/products/all/secondary-testing-calibration/iedscout/noc/1/#Description

If you are looking for a professional IEC 61850 Browser and testing tool: The IEDScout is exactly what should test and consider to purchase.

So, the second day of 2016 was already a successful day here in my office. More to come.

I look forward to helping you to get the right education and tools.