Introduction to the IEC 61850 Driver

IEC 61850 is the International Electrotechnical Commission IEC’s protocol standard for communication networks and systems for power automation. The IEC 61850 driver provides additional functionality to enable the Application Server to communicate directly with IEC 61850 compatible IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices). The IEC 61850 driver communicates using the MMS protocol as defined by IEC 61850 standard.

The IEC 61850 protocol is mainly used in substation automation installations. The IEC 61850 driver is used to interface with the substation equipment at station level. It can import or consume any of the Substation Configuration Language (SCL) file types that are applicable for the driver in order to configure, and communicate with, the substation equipment.

This driver is an advanced driver. It provides additional functionality to enable Geo SCADA Expert to interface with specific supported devices using a particular protocol. To interact successfully with such devices, you need to:

• Install and run the driver
• Ensure that the driver is licensed
  
• Configure the required database items and settings on the driver
• Ensure that the database items (and any database items on which they depend) have valid, saved, configuration and are 'In Service'.

Intended Audience

This guide is primarily intended for engineers who are responsible for configuring IEC 61850 items and features in the Geo SCADA Expert database.

The guide also contains information for:

• Operators and engineers who use the IEC 61850 driver to monitor and control plant
• Maintenance engineers.

Document Scope

This guide explains the configuration, features and database items that are specific to Geo SCADA Expert’s IEC 61850 driver.

Prerequisite Reading

This guide contains technical information that is intended for users that are sufficiently familiar with Geo SCADA Expert configuration and operation. Before reading this driver guide, ensure that you are familiar with:

• Geo SCADA Expert configuration practices, procedures, and the configuration of properties that are common to many database items. For more information, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Core Configuration, and the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Core Point Configuration.
• Driver structure, components, and configuration properties, pick actions, and status attributes that are common to many drivers. For more information, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Drivers.

• Advanced driver configuration order, outstation types, and configuration properties and logging options that are common to many advanced drivers. For more information, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers.

Some sections of this guide are intended for operator-level users. These sections are intended for users that are familiar with the navigational and operational aspects of Geo SCADA Expert. Before reading the operational sections in this guide, ensure that you are familiar with:

• The Geo SCADA Expert user interfaces (ViewX and Virtual ViewX), the various types of display, their navigation and operation. For more information, see the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to ViewX and Virtual ViewX Clients.

Policy of Continuous Development

To maintain Geo SCADA Expert's position as a leading SCADA solution, we operate a policy of continuous development. Each new version of our product supports additional features and functionality to previous releases. To use the new drivers, features, or functionality involving database items, your system has to be running the latest version of Geo SCADA Expert software. Additionally, if you have upgraded from an earlier version of the product, you have to deactivate any Database Emulation that was activated during the upgrade process. You should only deactivate the Database Emulation once you have successfully completed the upgrade process on all of the servers and clients in your system (see Deactivate Database Emulation after a Successful Upgrade).