SCADA Communication

The SCADA system for factories and utilities are quite different.
Factories commonly use LAN as their communication while utilities use WAN due to equipment/plants are located very remote.

In our SCADA system at BENECO we use 2 redundant WAN communication. We use Fiber Optic line w/ DLink media converter and combination of Dlink and Cisco Switches. and Engenius(802.llg) for our wireless Communication for our backup.

Based from the experience this is the comparison we observed between the two communication type.

Fiber Optic	WireLess (802.11g)
Speed is Faster( Greater than 1GBps)	Speed is Slower( Less than 64Mbs)
Installation of Fiber/Line - Physically : Underground / Overhead	No Need for Communication Wire/Line but must be Line of Sight
More Expensive (Termination/Fusion)	Less Expensive (Can be configured via internal web based application)
More Prone to damages - Cut Line/Wire (Fusion is Expensive)	Replace and Install (Just Copy the Save configuration)

Each have there advantages and disadvantages. So acquiring communication is based on your specific design.

Free Domain and Host

I just created a sample website using free domain name and web host.

domain name : makoylabz.co.cc

web host (nameserver) : n1.0fees.net & n2.0fees.net

I can test my sample webpage using this free domain and host for my project. I will only purchase the premium account of 0fees.net if my site is working properly then I will purchase for my domain name from other sites.

Sometimes a free webhost is good (testing purposes only). But you must not always rely on free webhost/domain, because you are not guaranteed if your webpage is lost or deleted..

Cannot Connect to Wifi – User Credentials – Vista

I’m at an office and ask for their wifi password. I notice that there Wifi/router (Linksys Cisco) is WEP encrypted so not really secure. But the problem arise when my vista OS is asking for user Credentials (username , password , login domain ). so what I did was go to

1. Network and Sharing Center

2. Manage Wireless Network

3. Add

4. Manually create a network profile

5. Fill up Network Name. to see network name just view available network and you see the network name (I’ve been stuck here for 2 days, just for an error that i miss cased one letter on my network name. so be sure to it that network name are exact. CASE sensitive)

6. Security Type: WEP – you can also see the security type at view available network

7: Security Key: ****** note case sensitive again – Check the box if you want to display the security key you typed.

8. NExt

If done correctly.. you must be connected automatically

Ubuntu Random Freeze/Hang

I’m new in Linux and I found this following solution.

after I install ubuntu linux 10.04/10.10 the systems randomly hang after a few seconds or minutes. Computer hard reset is the only solution. But if you use the safemode mode the system will run normally and will not freeze/hang.

Solution:

The problem may be your video adapter (intel/nvidia)

1. Run in safemode.

2. Remove / Un-install your video driver. Go to Systems>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager (Enter you password)

3. Search for xserver-xorg-video-intel (mostly this problem occur on intel computers – hahahahaha)

4. Mark for Removal then Apply

5. Restart Computer and Log-in normally.

Hope this solves your problem….

Apache / Xammp Cannot Access port 80 on Vista

Locate this file:
xampp\apache\conf\httpd.conf

Open with notepad.
Locate for this texts
#Listen 0.0.0.0:80
Listen [::]:80
#Listen 80

Replace with
#Listen 0.0.0.0:80
#Listen [::]:80
Listen 80

Nice…..

BENECO SCADA System

This is Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BENECO) SCADA system.

Image of BENECO SCADA System

BENECO Commissioned 3/5 of its substation.
After 5 substation will be commissioned they will move to the distribution system and hopefully to SMART Grid.

BENECO SCADA System

BENECO SCADA system specification:

Redundant Servers:
2 – IBM System x3400 (Windows Server 2003 RS)
1 – SCADA Manager Software (Survalent – www.survalent.com)

Monitoring (HMI for SCADA System, IP Cameras)
1 – 52″ LCD Samsung Monitor
1 – 52″ LED Samsung monitor
1 – Desktop Computer (Windows XP)
> Dual VGA
> Core 2 Dou Processor
1 – SCADA HMI Software (Survalent Worldview – www.survalent.com)
1 – DLink Ip Monitoring Software (Dlink – www.dlink.com )

Other/Client Computers (For SCADA Configuration and Report)
1 – Desktop Computer w/ Monitor (Windows XP)
1 – SCADA Explorer & Other SCADA Software
> To Configure/Map/Design the SCADA System
> (Survalent – www.survalent.com)
1 – SCADA HMI Software (Survalent Worldview – www.survalent.com)
1 – Scada Data Management System Software
> Data Management – Historical Data
> Report Generation – Web Based Reports
> (In House Developed – About Me)
1 – SMS Sender
> Send SMS for Alarms – Using Globe Tatoo Broadband
> (In House Developed – About Me)

Provider of Survalent SCADA System at the Philippines : TECHNOFIVE

Survalent – Database Transcription Program – Using MySQL

Install Database Transcription Program (setuptransw.exe) provided by survalent.

Locate : C:\Program Files\Survalent\Transcription\
Rename this files:

> dbtargets_template.txt — dbtargets.txt
> host_template.ini — host.ini
> scada_template.udl — scada.udl

Configure Host.ini with this format :

[Hosts]

HostA=192.xxx.xxx.xxx > SCADA Server IP Address
HostB=
HostC=
HostD=

[User]
Username=SCADA
Password=SCADA

[DEFCOL]
TYPE=TYPE_Q
TABLES=TABLES_Q

Follow: Database Transcription User Guide.pdf For database and table configuration

Add User.DNS using ODBC {Control Panel\Administrative Tool\Data Source (ODBC)}
> At Advance MySQL Configuration Enable this Flags

Flag 1: Return matched rows, Use Compression, Treat BIGINIT as INIT, Enable Safe
Flag 2: Don’t promt when connecting, Enable dynamic cursor

Start Database Transcription Program : (scadup.exe)

Windows 7 – Preparing Desktop Loop

I had a problem after installing Windows 7.
After Installation I fix my desktop shortcuts and themes.
When I restart my computer my desktop, themes and settings return to default.

Solution:
– After Fresh Install Create a New Administrator Account
– at Control Panel – User Account – Create New Account
– Log Off
– Use the New Account
– Goto Control Panel – User Account – Delete The Old Account

Hope This Help…