A new set of Technical Documentation packs has been issued. These are:

  • TDP3c for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 1.2 with SAv2
  • TDP4b for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 2.0 with SAv5
  • TDP5a-SAv2 for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 1.3 with SAv2
  • TDP5a-SAv5 for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 2.1 with SAv5

Members should apply to the Secretary to obtain these if required. 

As an explanation of the need for these new packs, please read the following:

Updates to Technical Documentation Packs issued

The device profile files are all collected under a general umbrella with one issue number. These get sent out with the release pack. Users and vendors develop a device profile for their devices. Then we, the PSAC, came along with a correction to the XML. We haven’t got a new release pack number because the WITS-DNP3 protocol version hasn’t changed. We can’t change the issue number of the XML because we don’t want to invalidate the device profiles that the users and vendors have just produced – so we have to keep the device profile filenames and issue the same. The only difference, apart from the correction, is that within the XML files there is a comment line with the file issue date.

 So we have Technical Documentation Packs (TDP) as follows:

  • TDP1 defined WITS-DNP3 version 1.0, supported by XML issue 1.1. This is no longer supported, we don’t have any users, it was the 1st version after inter-operability trials.
  • TDP2 defined WITS-DNP3 version 1.1, supported by XML issue 1.3. This is the main version being currently used in the UK because it’s what the two Master Stations support.
  • TDP3 defined WITS-DNP3 version 1.2, supported by XML issue 1.4. However it was realised that users would also need the XML suite to support WITS-DNP3 version 1.1 so TDP3a was generated which was identical to TDP3 but also had the XML issue 1.3 files. If users want to support several versions of the protocol then they should ask for ALL the relevant release packs. So perhaps TDP3a was unnecessary – the user should have requested copies of TDP2 and TDP3.
  • TDP4 defined WITS-DNP3 version 2.0, supported by XML issue 1.4. There was no need for an XML change because this version of the protocol merely added SAv5.

 

We then decided to have the two streams, and at the same time we improved the resilience of the XML schema, so we issued:

  •  TDP2a, still defining WITS-DNP3 version 1.1. However, we incorporated the improved XML files for issue 1.3 with internal dates 24-01-2013
  •  TDP3b, still defining WITS-DNP3 version 1.2. However, we incorporated the improved XML files for issue 1.4 with internal dates 24-01-2013
  •   TDP4a, still defining WITS-DNP3 version 2.0. However, we incorporated the improved XML files for issue 1.4 with internal dates 24-01-2013

 We then added features and released:

  • TDP5 (SAv2), defining WITS-DNP3 version 1.3, supported by XML issue 1.5
  • TDP5 (SAv5), defining WITS-DNP3 version 2.1, supported by XML issue 1.5

 So up until now all relevant info has been in the Technical Documentation Packs. Users can request the pack(s) for the protocol versions they intend to support. These are until now::

  • TDP2a for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 1.1. This uses SAv2
  • TDP3b for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 1.2 with SAv2
  • TDP4a for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 2.0 with SAv5
  • TDP5-SAv2 for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 1.3 with SAv2
  • TDP5-SAv5 for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 2.1 with SAv5

 However we’ve issued TB#46 that makes changes to the XML suite. The corrections to the XML affect WITS-DNP3 versions 1.2, 1.3, 2.0 and 2.1.

 Therefore we should incorporate the corrected XML files in new release packs, so the following have been generated:

  •  TDP3c for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 1.2 with SAv2
  • TDP4b for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 2.0 with SAv5
  • TDP5a-SAv2 for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 1.3 with SAv2
  • TDP5a-SAv5 for users wanting WITS-DNP3 version 2.1 with SAv5

 These are the current Technical Documentation Packs. I hope that is clear.