| Newsletter
July 2005
NEW - Powerlink
Homeland Security features
Powerlink software now has several
NEW security features:
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Specify an
auto-logout time. |
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Control over
a user’s access rights
for Operator, User or System.
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Record in the
log file the security level
that a person logged in had
been using. |
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Specify a MAC
address for different users;
this protects against copies
of the software being used
by different PCs to log on
to the Master.
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The new security features were specifically
developed at the request of several
of our US customers who are now
using it. We can see the benefit
of making these features available
to all of our New Zealand clients,
who may also have
security concerns.
We recommend PL 3.7.1 software dated
after 2005-05-26. This update will
be made free of charge to customers
with support contracts when their
next
update occurs. If you’d like
your update earlier please call
one of our support staff to arrange
for it to be sent.
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Powerlink
OPC Server now to Level 2 Data
Access
A NEW version of Powerlink OPC
Server is available which is to
DA2. The original one we supplied
was to DA1, which most mainstream
OPC Clients support.
The new OPC Server allows Powerlink
to interface with Realflex OPC
Client which only uses DA2. For
further details please refer to
www.opcfoundation.org
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NEW - Powerlink Multiport OPC
Server
Powerlink Multiport OPC Server
allows Powerlink Telemetry Server
SCADA software to serve to multiple
OPC clients (HMI’s) simultaneously.
Available in 2, 4 & 8 port
versions. The Multiport OPC Server
also supports our own HMI, Telemetry
Mimic, allowing systems to use
different HMIs simultaneously.
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NEW - Powerlink
Master IP Driver
This new Powerlink Driver allows
Abbey Systems RTUs to communicate
with a Powerlink SCADA Master
directly via ethernet. The communications
path doesn’t go through
the Central Site Equipment modems,
but connects directly to the SCADA
Master PC via its Network Interface
Card. Powerlink RTUs and Topcat
RTUs are also now available with
an Ethernet port option to utilise
this communications architecture.
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DNP3 RTUs
Abbey Systems have for some time
been supplying Powerlink RTUs
for customers with networks using
other SCADA Masters - iPower,
Logica, Siemens, Foxboro. Typically
these RTUs use DNP3 Slave protocol
to communicate with the
SCADA Master.
We now offer DNP3 Slave firmware
in an IP version for SCADA Masters
that can accept IP communications.
We can also offer concurrent DNP3/HDLC
via IP.
This configuration allows remote
configuration of the RTU while
still serving to third party SCADA
Masters.
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NEW Time
Sync module
Our NEW Time Sync module, B07-061,
replaces our first generation
product launched in Feb 2001.
Many of the first generation have
been supplied for electrical substation
timing duties in New Zealand and
Australia. The updated version
is based on the Motorola’s
Oncore Receiver and uses a housing
specifically designed for stationary
siting. We add the PSU and an
output board for our market needs.
Outputs: 1PPS & IRIG-B unmodulated.
Time zones: UTC, NZ Std, NZDLS,
Aust Eastern Std, Aust DLS times.
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Powerlink
software - Download program groups
There is a PL software update
available which increases the
number of download program groups
available from 40 to 60. This
upgrade is recommended if you
are using the programming functionality
of our RTUs and will be supplied
automatically with any new updates
of Powerlink software customers
receive, or earlier if customers
request it.
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Microsoft
Support for Windows 2000
Microsoft have announced that
their support for Windows 2000
(W2k) ends
this month. The last release was
Service Pack 4. Microsoft have
announced there will be one final
update for W2k SP4 which addresses
security.
Don’t Panic. The implications
for the continued operation of
your Powerlink SCADA system are
not significant. We do recommend
the SCADA Masters are updated
every three years and this notification
lends more weight to keeping on
top of updates.
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