IEC 60870-5-101/104 Test Tool

The Main Window

With the main window, the user can easily follow the telegram flow of the CS 101 or CS 104 communication. The most important information in the telegrams is shown in a clearly arranged table. The telegram list is configurable with a filter to select the message types to show, and the user can save and load the content to a file. The main window also provides quick access to the most frequently used features like connect/disconnect and interrogation requests.

System Commands

In the System Commands window, the user can send all types of protocol-specific commands such as interrogation requests, time synchronization, reset, etc, and easily set the command details. All commands from the CS 101/CS 104 standards are supported.

Send Parameters

Using this window it is possible to send parameters in control direction, such as P_AC_NA_1 (Activation), P_ME_NA_1 (Normalized), P_ME_NB_1 (Scaled) and P_ME_NC_1 (Short float). The parameters (address, value, etc.) can be easily modified by modifying the configuration fields displayed according to the parameter type selected.

Connection Parameters (Protocol Mode – CS 104)

The Connection Parameters window gives access to the connection configuration. All the needed settings for the connection can be found in this window. When on Protocol Mode – CS 104 the parameter categories such as Application Layer, Transport Layer (APCI), and others needed to properly configure the connection are displayed accordingly. In CS 104 mode it is also possible to configure TLS security (not available for the freeware version). The “Settings” button just after the TLS checkbox leads to the “TLS Settings” window where the user can load the certificates and credentials such as client identity, private key, and server authentications.

Python Script support and command line version

The Python Script feature allows running Python scripts inside the tool. The Python scripts have access to most of the tool features by a Python API, like configuring and starting the connection, getting and sending telegram messages, and many other functionalities that are found on the tool that can be easily integrated into scripts. Also, all standard Python APIs are available and external APIs can be added. The scripts can also run automatically when a condition is configurated to trigger when a connection or disconnection occurs. There is also a command line version of the tool without a graphical user interface. With this feature, the Python test scripts can be integrated into an automatic test environment.

Process Commands

The tool supports all kinds of process commands – like single commands, double commands, regulated step commands, settings, etc. – with or without timestamps, making it possible to send commands that influence the process. The shown process command fields change depending on the selected command type and allow easy modification of all parameters of the command.

The Freeware Edition only allows sending single commands.

Monitoring Telegrams (Reverse)

In this window is possible to send a monitoring message in the reverse direction. The window supports all standard monitoring telegram types with or without timestamps (CP24Time2a and CP56Time2a). Telegram parameters can be easily modified here, like addresses and cause of transmission. The fields needed to configure the message are displayed according to the message type selected.

User-Defined Type Editor

With this feature, you can create types (templates) for user-defined (non-standard) telegram types. The creation of a telegram type is done by setting the ASDU head and selecting the “standard types“, which are the elements that can be added to the message of your customized type, e.g. “scaled value“ and many others. These types can be sent by the tool and also displayed in the main window telegram list and details window.

Send Message

The Send Message window is used to send standard messages and commands as well as user-defined types. This is the most flexible way to send messages. All types of messages (including monitoring messages in the reverse direction) are supported and all parameters of the telegrams can be modified, being the needed fields displayed according to the message type selected.

Connection Parameters (Protocol Mode – CS 101)

The CS 101 mode supports “balanced” and “unbalanced” communication. The available serial ports can be selected both in the “Serial parameters” field and in the main window in the quick access menu for connections. As in the CS 104 mode, the parameter categories are displayed accordingly to the configuration parameters needed for the protocol, such as Application Layers and Serial Parameters for CS 101 mode.

Information Object Viewer/Raw Message/Message Log

The Information Object Viewer shows the latest state (with value, timestamp, and quality) of all received information objects in a table. This table can also be exported as an excel document. The raw message window shows the original message bytes together with some meta information. It can also be used to copy the raw message bytes in different formats.

Manual Message

The Manual Message window allows the user to manually type or insert messages from other sources. After entering the message bytes and the protocol parameters the telegram will be interpreted and shown in the Telegram details window. This can be useful to analyze single telegrams (e.g. from log files or extracted from pcap files).

Telegram Detail

The telegram details window shows all telegram details for the different protocol layers aside from the corresponding message bytes. You can open multiple telegram detail windows to visually compare different telegrams.