IEC 60870-5-104

  • IEC 60870-5-104 (also known as IEC 870-5-104) is an international standard, released in 2000 by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). As can be seen from the standard's full designation 'Network access for IEC 60870-5-101 using standard transport profiles', its application layer is based on IEC 60870-5-101.

    IEC 60870-5-104 enables communication between control station and substation via a standard TCP/IP network. The TCP protocol is used for connection-oriented secure data transmission.

    IEC 60870-5-104 limits the information types and configuration parameters defined in IEC 60870-5-101, which means that not all functions available in IEC 60870-5-101 are supported by IEC 60870-5-104. For instance IEC 60870-5-104 does not support short time stamps (3-byte format), the length of the various address elements is set to defined maximum values. But in practice, vendors very often combine the IEC 60870-5-101 application layer with the IEC 60870-5-104 transport profile, without paying attention to these restrictions. This might then lead to problems, if a device strictly applies the standard.

    Interoperability between devices by different vendors is ensured by the interoperability list, which is defined by the standard. In the list, the function range is defined for each device by marking the applicable functions. The common denominator between different vendor lists defines the possible function range.

    The biggest advantage of IEC 60870-5-104 is that it enables communication via a standard network, which allows simultaneous data transmission between several devices and services. Apart from this, the same pros and cons apply to IEC 60870-5-104 sand IEC 60870-5-101. Issues that remain to be dealt with are the definition of communication with redundant systems or networks and, with the use of the internet, data encryption.

ISO/OSI Model
7 Application Layer IEC 60870-5-104 Companion Standard
IEC 60870-5-5, IEC 60870-5-4
6 Presentation Layer n/a
5 Session Layer n/a
4 Transport Layer TCP (RFC 793)
3 Network Layer IP (RFC 791)
2 Link Layer PPP (RFC 1661 & RFC 1662)Transmission of IP datagrams over ethernet network (RFC 894)
1 Physical Layer X.21Ethernet (IEEE 802.3)
Supported Information Types
Control Direction
  • Single Command
  • Double Command
  • Setpoint
  • Regulating step command
Monitoring Direction
  • Single indication [1 Bit] with quality
  • Single indication [1 Bit] with quality and time tag
  • Double indication [2 bit] with quality
  • Double indication [2 bit] with quality and time tag
  • Measured scaled value with quality
  • Measured scaled value with quality and time tag
  • Measured normalized value with quality
  • Measured normalized value with quality and time tag
  • Measured floating point value with quality
  • Measured floating point value with quality and time tag
  • Bitpattern [32 bit] with quality
  • Bitpattern [32 bit] with quality and time tag
  • Counter value with quality
  • Counter value with quality and time tag
  • Step position value with quality
  • Step position value with quality and time tag
  • Event of protection equipment with quality and time tag
Protocol Features
  • Application Layer

    On-demand transmission (e. g. single indications, analogs, ...)
    Spontaneous transmission (e. g. single indications with time tag, ...)
    Direct command transmission (with select before operate)
    Clock synchronization
    File Transfer

  • Address Space

    Common Address of ASDU: 1..65535
    Information object address: 1..16777215

Available Protocol Stacks

IEC 60870-5-104, Master

IEC 60870-5-104, Slave

Applicable Products
  • ipRoute
    ipRoute

    Router for IEC 870-5-101 and IEC 870-5-104 protocols

  • ipConvLite
    ipConvLite

    Universal protocol converter for small and distributed applications

  • ipConvOPC
    ipConvOPC

    Windows software package for universal conversion between diverse standard protocols

  • ipConv/VM
    ipConv/VM

    Universal protocol conversion for VMware Workstation and VMware ESXi

  • ipConv/Cloud
    ipConv/Cloud

    Universal protocol conversion for the cloud environment or Linux based edge devices

  • ipConvLite/MEC2PBS
    ipConvLite/MEC2PBS

    Universal protocol converter with integrated PROFIBUS-DP, slave interface

  • ipConvLite/MEC2PBM
    ipConvLite/MEC2PBM

    Universal protocol converter with integrated PROFIBUS-DP, master interface

  • ipConvLite/MEC2PNS
    ipConvLite/MEC2PNS

    Universal protocol converter with integrated PROFINET-IO, slave interface

  • ipConv
    ipConv

    Universal protocol converter for highest degree of flexibility

  • ip4Cloud/SEC3PB
    ip4Cloud/SEC3PB

    Capture PROFIBUS data by eavesdropping and transmit it to Cloud/IT or SCADA services

  • ip4Cloud/SEC3IO
    ip4Cloud/SEC3IO

    Switch and monitor digital I/O states to transmit them to IT/Cloud/SCADA services

  • ipELB
    ipELB

    4-Port Ethernet Line Breaker with relay controlled Ethernet ports and integrated I/O module

  • Fink WinPP Protocol Simulator
    Fink WinPP Protocol Simulator

    Simulationsoftware for IEC 60870-5-101, IEC 60870-5-102, IEC 60870-5-103, IEC 60870-5-104, SINAUT 8-FW 16-1024 PCM/DPDM

References
  • ELIA
    ELIA, Belgium

    Products: ipConv
    Protocol Stacks: Modbus TCP/IP, Master IEC 60870-5-104, Slave Telegyr 065, Master Telegyr 102, Master Telegyr 809, Master Tracec 32, 62, 92, 92P, 122, 130 & 142 Master

  • Storebælt
    Storebælt, Denmark

    Products: ipConv
    Protocol Stacks: IEC 60870-5-104, Master IEC 60870-5-104, Slave Simatic TDC, Master Modbus TCP/IP, Master

  • SEC SVC
    SEC SVC, Saudi Arabia

    Products: ipConv
    Protocol Stacks: IEC 60870-5-101, Slave IEC 60870-5-104, Slave IEC 61850, Client Simatic TDC, Master

  • BLS Lötschbergtunnel II
    BLS Lötschbergtunnel II, Switzerland

    Products: ipConv ipRoute
    Protocol Stacks: IEC 60870-5-104, Master IEC 60870-5-104, Slave SNMP, Client

  • BLS AlpTransit - Lötschbergtunnel
    BLS AlpTransit - Lötschbergtunnel, Switzerland

    Products: ipConv ipRoute
    Protocol Stacks: OPC DA 3.0, Server IEC 60870-5-104, Slave IEC 60870-5-101, Master IEC 60870-5-104, Master SNMP, Client

  • Yunnan-Guangdong
    Yunnan-Guangdong, China

    Products: ipConv
    Protocol Stacks: IEC 60870-5-104, Slave Simatic TDC, Master

  • FSC HECHI
    FSC HECHI, China

    Products: ipConv
    Protocol Stacks: SC1801, Slave IEC 60870-5-104, Slave IEC 60870-5-101, Slave Simadyn-D, Master