User's Manual

Bridges Hardware Guide Silver Spring Networks 11
2 Deploying Silver Spring Networks Bridges
Supported Network Topologies
To accommodate placements of existing RTUs in the field, bridge units can be deployed in the
following network topologies:
• Master/Remote Topology
• Teaming Topology on page 13
• A combination of Master/Remote and Teaming Topology
In the Master/Remote topology, a master bridge connects to the SCADA (Supervisory Control
And Data Acquisition) master. The master bridge communicates over RF to remote bridges that
connect in turn to RTUs.
Master/Remote Topology
In the Master/Remote topology, an eBridge master residing at the substation communicates with
a larger set of remote bridges in the field.
Note: Master and Remote bridges are configured as Masters and Remotes at the manufacturing
facility. The first device to be deployed in the DA network is the master device, which can act as the
takeout point for DA management traffic bound for the CO. The master bridge may also connect to an
Access Point, that itself acts as the takeout point for the DA network. In our examples for this chapter,
an Access Point is not shown.
To deploy bridges in a Master/Remote topology:
• At a substation, connect the master bridge to the local SCADA master.
• In the field, connect an eBridge or sBridge Remote to the RTU.
When the SCADA master sends a message to the RTU, it passes through the master bridge,
which sends it on to the remote bridge in the field, wirelessly via RF. The remote, in turn,
passes the message to the RTU. In an extremely simplified manner, this system represents