1 Scope

This part of IEC 62351 defines network and system management (NSM) data object models that are specific to power system operations. These NSM data objects will be used to monitor the health of networks and systems, to detect possible security intrusions, and to manage the performance and reliability of the information infrastructure. The goal is to define a set of abstract objects that will allow the remote monitoring of the health and condition of IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices), RTUs (Remote Terminal Units), DERs (Distributed Energy Resources) systems and other systems that are important to power system operations.

Power systems operations are increasingly reliant on information infrastructures, including communication networks, IEDs, and self-defining communication protocols. Therefore, management of the information infrastructure has become crucial to providing the necessary high levels of security and reliability in power system operations.

The telecommunication infrastructure that is in use for the transport of telecontrol and automation protocols is already subject to health and condition monitoring control, using the concepts developed in the IETF Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) standards for network management. However, power system specific devices (like teleprotection, telecontrol, substation automation, synchrophasors, inverters and protections) need instead a specific solution for monitoring their health.

The NSM objects provide monitoring data for IEC protocols used for power systems (IEC 61850, IEC 60870‑5‑104) and device specific environmental and security status. As a derivative of IEC 60870‑5‑104, IEEE 1815 DNP3 is also included in the list of monitored protocols. The NSM data objects use the naming conventions developed for IEC 61850, expanded to address NSM issues. For the sake of generality these data objects, and the data types of which they are comprised, are defined as abstract models of data objects.

In addition to the abstract model, in order to allow the integration of the monitoring of power system devices within the NSM environment in this part of IEC 62351, a mapping of objects to the SNMP protocol of Management Information Base (MIBs) is provided.

The objects that are already covered by existing MIBs are not defined here but are expected to be compliant with existing MIB standards. For example protocols including EST, SCEP, RADIUS, LDAP, GDOI are not in scope.