Specifications

36 Rockwell Automation Publication AG-SG001G-EN-P - April 2015
Chapter 2 Choosing a Telemetry Network
• Security
DNP3 offers a Secure Authentication option. This is a sophisticated
mechanism that the RTUs can use to verify that the communication
packets actually came from their master and vice versa. This prevents
hackers from using spoofing or replay to disrupt RTU operations and can
be used in conjunction with other security measures such as encryption.
Other Protocols
You may need to choose a different protocol if you are:
• Using links, such as satellite or packet radio, that may require software
handshaking to communicate
• Expanding an existing system (you are adding Allen-Bradley remote
stations) or specifying a retrofit, which is not using DF1 protocol
• Emulating someone else's product with an Allen-Bradley programmable
controller
All MicroLogix controllers (except MicroLogix 1000), Micro800 controllers
(except Micro810 12-pt), and DataSite RTUs have Modbus RTU Master and
Slave built-in. DataSite RTUs and MicroLogix 1400 controllers also have
Modbus TCP and DNP3 slave protocols built-in. FactoryTalk View SE software
can communicate with Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, and DNP3 through
standard OPC.
Once a non-Allen-Bradley protocol is used, Allen-Bradley protocol advantages,
such as remote station to remote station messaging and online programming, may
no longer apply.
However, if you need to use other protocols, our third-party protocol suppliers
provide gateway solutions between Allen-Bradley devices and devices that
communicate by using non-DF1 protocols.
See the following tables for a list of protocols available from third-party suppliers.
You can find their addresses and web sites listed in Appendix A
. For the most up-
to-date list of available protocols, see the supplier’s web page.