M.Tech.

Credit Seminar Report, Electronics Systems Group, EE Dept, IIT Bombay,

submitted November 03

Comparison of protocols used in remote monitoring: DNP 3.0,

IEC 870-5-101 & Modbus
Jay Makhija (03307905)
Supervisor: Prof. L.R.Subramanyan

Abstract
A brief introduction to IEC 870-5-101, DNP 3.0 and Modbus is presented together with the
explanation of functionalities provided by these protocols. Comparison between these
protocols, considering various aspects like architecture, functions performed by
individual layers, device addressing and configuration parameter s etc is done. Here
objective is to compare protocols not to conclude which one is better. Selection of
protocol depends mainly on application, specific requirements and functions to be carried
out, which protocol to be used for what purpose is discussed.

1. Introduction
In a SCADA system, the RTU accepts commands to operate control points, set analog output
levels, and provide responses, it sends status, analog, and accumulator data to the SCADA
master station. The data representations sent are not identified in any fashion other than by
absolute addressing. The addressing is designed to correlate with a database contained in the
SCADA master station, and the RTU has no knowledge of which unique parameters it is
monitoring in the real world. It simply monitors certain points and stores the information in a local
addressing scheme. Figure 1 illustrates the data and control flow between a master station and
one or more RTUs.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
TRIP/CLOSE
C RAISE/LOWER
O OPEN/CLOSE
STOP/START C
M I
SETPOINT/VALUES O
COMPUTER M N
PARAMETER DOWNLOAD M I
SYSTEM U T
CONTROL PROGRAMS* M N REMOTE
N E
DATABASE CHANGES* U T TERMINAL
C R
ALARM PARAMETERS* N E UNIT
A F
C R
T A
A F
I C
STANDARD TIME SIGNAL T A
O E
I C
N
O E
ANALOG DATA N
ACCUMALATOR DATA
DIGITAL DATA
STATUS
ALARM
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS
ABNORMALITIES
* Optional field

MASTER COMMUNICATION FIELD

STATION SYSTEM SITE(S)

Figure 1 Master/RTU functional data/control flow [ref. 2]