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DNP3 Certification Testing

ASE2000-COM test set included with Device certification

 

Overview

DNP vs. IEEE 1815

DNP3 protocol has been adopted as IEEE standard 1815. The DNP3 Users group, specifically the DNP3 Technical Committee, has reviewed the DNP3 Protocol Specifications documents as published by the DNP3 Users group and merged those into a single IEEE 1815 standards document. This single document is or will be available from both organizations, IEEE and DNP3, and will be identical in both places.

DNP3 IED Certification Procedure documents were not included in IEEE 1815. As such, although IEEE 1815 and DNP3 protocols are identical at this time, there are no certification procedures for IEEE 1815. Therefore, a test result document provided by ASE can state compliance with DNP3, but not IEEE 1815 until and if approved by IEEE.

What We Can Certify

At the current time, the DNP3 Users group has published Certification Test Procedures for Outstation (RTU/IED/PLC) certification only. No procedures exist to certify master station operation.

The latest outstation test procedure documents are:

• DNP3 Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) Certification Procedure Subset Level 1 Version 2.6 rev1 28-October-2010
• DNP3 Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) Certification Procedure Subset Level 2 Version 2.6 rev1 28-October-2010

 

These define tests to certify Outstation compliance with required DNP3 Subset Level 1 or DNP3 Subset Level 2 functionality. DNP3 Secure Authentication is not required by either Subset and there are no test standards published to validate compliance with Secure Authentication.

In summary, ASE can test Outstation compliance to DNP3 Subset Level 1 or to DNP3 Subset Level 2. These tests cannot include verification of Secure Authentication.

ASE cannot test Master station compliance.

Tools

The certification process is supported by automated test facilities part of ASE’s ASE2000 Version 2 Communication Test Set, http://www.ase-systems.com/ase2000-test-set/ase2000-testsetv2.asp. One copy of model ASE2000-COM, which uses standard PC COM ports or COM adapters manufactured by others, is included free with every testing contract. The model, which lists for US $2,950, contains support for DNP3 serial and DNP3 LAN/WAN protocols as well as several versions of Modbus and IEC 60870-5 protocols. An ASE2000-COM allows both the device manufacturer and ASE to run the same certification tests and to electronically share and view test results and communication message logs.

Testing Process

The following defines the testing process offered by ASE to test a manufacturer’s Outstation device delivered to ASE’s offices in Campbell, California . Staff from the manufacture’s company need not attend, but may do so. Testing will be performed to either Subset Level 1 or Subset Level 2 standards, but not both. Responsibilities of each party are as follows.

The device manufacturer must provide:

• A device to test (termed DUT), identifying the product name and software release. This information will be included in a certificate, should the DUT pass the certification tests
• Power connectors for a standard AC power plug or terminal blocks for three wire DC power
• Instructions to test the DUT to Subset Level 1 or Subset Level 2 standards
• A completed Device Profile document, either in XML format (preferred), another computer readable format such as PDF or DOC, or printed. The device profile document is available from the DNP3 web site, www.dnp.org, as DNP3 Specification, Volume 8, Appendix 1, Device Profile, Version 2.07, 23-Feb-2010 and also described in IEEE 1815
• Hardware documentation for, minimally, powering and restarting the DUT and for attaching external wiring to a digital input
• Maintenance, diagnostic, or configuration software capable of operation under a Windows system, along with applicable user documentation. This software must minimally support configuration changes to the DUT
• Telephone and Email contact information for technical support to answer questions that will arise related to DUT operation, for configuration changes, and for operation of any related software per the prior bullet. This contact must be available during the testing process within one hour

ASE will:

• Review the DUT Device Profile document to verify that all required features are supported, and, prior to the test, notify the manufacturer of any required feature that has been omitted. Note that features designated as optional and which are not identified as supported by the Device Profile document will not be tested and will be indicated as Not Supported in the test results report
• Perform an abbreviated pre-test to validate basic operation that could cause a detailed test to fail. Pre-test items include basic operation of some features identified in the Device Profile, support of selected function codes, and Internal Indication reporting checks. Any failure in the pre-test will be reported to the manufacturer before the complete test commences. ASE cannot guarantee that all failures will be detected, but will attempt to locate some before performing the complete test
• Problems detected in any prior step may be corrected by the manufacturer at no additional charge. ASE will install new software releases according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Perform a complete test of DNP3 Level 1 or Level 2 standards and in accordance with the Device Profile document. Software updates are no longer permitted after this testing process starts
• Provide a complete test results report in PDF format and a set of messages (MSGX) files showing all communication. MSGX file can be viewed by ASE’s ASE2000 Version 2 Test Set, a copy of which is available for download (free) from the ASE website. The free copy can be used for viewing, but not for communication

Should the DUT Pass

• ASE will provide a Conformance document with the DNP3 LOGO. This document along with the test results file will allow the DUT to be listed on the DNP3 Web site as a conformant device. Note that such a listing requires the manufacturer be a paid-up member of the DNP Users Group
• Provide the manufacturer thirty days to review the test results for accuracy. Specifically, to verify that all supported features included in the Device Profile document were tested, and that all supported features were correctly listed in the Device Profile document. ASE will remedy any error on ASE’s part (i.e., omission of tests for features identified as supported in the Device Profile) by performing the omitted tests and issuing a new test results report. Similar remedies for manufacturer’s errors (supported features identified as not supported in the Device Profile document) may result in additional charge
• At the end of this period, ASE will return the DUT

Should the DUT Fail

• ASE will provide the manufacturer thirty days to review the test results for accuracy. Any errors on ASE’s part will be corrected at no charge. ASE will also allow the manufacturer to modify the Device Profile document to remove any optional feature if such removal would cause the DUT to have passed certification testing. In this case, ASE will proceed as if the modified Device Profile document had been previously submitted and the DUT had passed. Please note that the Device Profile document is part of the official test results. That is, the DUT combined with the Device Profile is what passes certification, not the DUT itself
• At the end of the thirty day period, if requested, ASE will retest the DUT at a reduced charge. The retesting process will follow the same steps as the original test. A reduced charge can be offered since ASE will be familiar with operations of the DUT and should be able to complete a retest in a shorter amount of time

Charges

Please contact ASE for DNP3 Certification test charges.

Other Terms

The manufacturer’s DUT, a completed Device Profile document, and the terms stated above form a contract between the manufacturer and ASE to perform the DNP3 Certification Procedures one time. Any feature not identified as supported in the Device Profile document may not be tested. Failure by the manufacturer to correctly identify a supported feature that needs to be tested could warrant a retest by ASE along with applicable retest charges. Any feature identified as supported, which is a part of the Subset definitions, and which was not tested by ASE shall be tested by ASE at no additional charge.

Manufactures should be aware that it is common for a DUT to fail the certification testing process once. ASE’s pre-test process is designed to lower the likelihood of an initial failure, but cannot guarantee it.

Costs for shipping the DUT both to ASE and return to the manufacturer are the responsibility of the manufacturer. DUT return shipping will be completed per manufacturer’s instructions.