A Deep Dive into the DNP3 Outstation Simulator

In the world of industrial automation and SCADA systems, the DNP3 protocol is a cornerstone of communication between master stations and remote devices. To help developers, engineers, and students better understand and work with this protocol, I've created the DNP3 Outstation Simulator, an open-source tool built with Spring Boot.

This blog post will take you on a tour of the simulator, highlighting its key features and showing you how to get started.

What is the DNP3 Outstation Simulator?

The DNP3 Outstation Simulator is a Java-based application that emulates a DNP3 outstation (also known as a slave). It provides a web-based interface for dynamically configuring and monitoring data points, making it an ideal tool for:

  • Testing DNP3 Master Implementations: Verify that your DNP3 master can communicate correctly with an outstation.
  • Development and Training: Learn the ins and outs of the DNP3 protocol in a hands-on environment.
  • Prototyping: Quickly set up a simulated outstation to test new ideas and configurations.

Key Features

The simulator is packed with features designed to provide a realistic and flexible testing experience:

  • Web-Based UI: A user-friendly dashboard allows you to monitor and control the outstation's data points in real-time.
  • Dynamic Configuration: Add, delete, and modify data points on the fly without restarting the application.
  • Comprehensive Data Point Support: The simulator supports a wide range of DNP3 data points, including:
    • Analog Inputs (AI): For continuous values like temperature and pressure.
    • Binary Inputs (BI): For digital states like on/off or open/closed.
    • Double-bit Binary Inputs (DBBI): For devices with intermediate states, such as circuit breakers.
    • Binary Outputs (BO): For sending control commands from the master to the outstation.
  • REST API: A complete REST API allows for programmatic control and integration with other tools.
  • Open Source: The project is fully open-source and available on GitHub, so you can customize it to fit your needs.

Getting Started

Ready to give it a try? Here's how to get the DNP3 Outstation Simulator up and running:

  1. Prerequisites:

    • Java 21
    • Apache Maven

  2. Clone the Repository:

    git clone [Link to GitHub Repository]
cd dnp3-outstation-simulator

  3. Build and Run:

    ./mvnw clean install
./mvnw spring-boot:run

  4. Access the Dashboard: Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:47771 to access the simulator's dashboard.

Connecting to a DNP3 Master

To connect the simulator to a DNP3 master, you'll need to configure the master with the simulator's IP address and port (20000 by default). You can find detailed instructions in the project's Readme.md file.

Conclusion

The DNP3 Outstation Simulator is a powerful and flexible tool for anyone working with the DNP3 protocol. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting, I encourage you to check it out and see how it can streamline your testing and development workflow.

I'm always looking for feedback and contributions, so feel free to open an issue or pull request on GitHub.

Happy simulating!


Source Code: Github