(Part Number – CEP-040-202T-01) IP-Tube CEP Bell 202T – Bell 202T 4-Wire Modem Over IP MPLS Ethernet – 4-Wire Modem to Ethernet – Engage

Description

Overview

Flexible Bell 202 Serial Data Extensions over Packet Networks

The IP•Tube CEP 202T has integrated Bell 202T modem interfaces that connect to the Bell 202T 4 Wire modem interface of Data Communication Equipment and transports their serial communication over IP & MPLS Packet networks. This conversion facilitates a cost effective path for Utility and Pipeline industries to migrate their SCADA communication from end of life analog circuits to Ethernet based LAN/WAN/MAN wired and wireless networks.

Utility and Pipeline industries use 4 wire leased line communication circuits to connect remote SCADA equipment to control centers. A significant number of SCADA Remote Telemetry Units only have integrated 4 wire modem interfaces. The IP•Tube CEP 202T extends the life of proven SCADA systems by converting 4 Wire modem interfaces to Ethernet for IP or MPLS Packet network connectivity. 

+The IP•Tube CEP 202T interfaces directly to the 4 wire analog interface of the RTU, transparently encapsulates SCADA protocols from the RTU into IP packets, and transports those packets onto the IP network. At the control center, the central site CEP 202T seamlessly converts the packets back into their original 202T modem data format; or directly to an RS232 DCE interface with an IP•Tube CEP RS232.+

Asynchronous Serial Over IP

Asynchronous characters with 5 to 8 data bits, a baud rate 1.2 kilobits, 1 or 2 stop bits, and with or without parity are efficiently encapsulated into IP packets. The latency is controlled by setting the maximum number of consecutive async characters per IP packet.

SCADA Protocol Transparency

The IP•Tube CEP 202T transports legacy bit or byte SCADA protocols transparently because of its unique TDM circuit emulation capability. RTU transmit data is encapsulated into IP packets at 64,000 samples per second and de-encapsulated at the far end at the same rate, ensuring proper RTU receive data delivery. Multiple RTUs can be IP multiplexed onto T1 circuits for routing to existing cross-connect and channel bank equipment.  Multiple RTUs can be IP multiplexed onto T1 circuits for routing to existing cross-connect and channel bank equipment.

IP•Tube CEP 202T Standard Features

IP•Tube CEP Management

IP•Tube CEPs isolate management and data plane functionality with the use of two separate processor modules. Management processor access is limited to SSH or SNMPv3 encrypted sessions that employ AES256 bit keys and sophisticated NIST passwords. These sessions may be established after authentication via TACACS+ or Radius.
The independent Linux based management plane of the IP•Tube CEP ensures Critical Infrastructure Data is isolated from management network access. The Management Module uses internal serial ports to connect to the Data Plane processor.

Administration and User Logs are available with Syslog.

CEP management security features include:

• Administrative policies for adding, removing, disabling and renaming authorized users; limiting user access to assigned commands; and enabling only desired port numbers.

• User authentication directly or in conjunction with TACACS+ or RADIUS servers including RSA SecureID support for two factor trusted compliance.

• An SSH command interface encrypting management traffic with powerful 256 bit symmetric keys and NIST based passwords.

• Support of the SNMPv3 protocol for secure connectivity to SNMP element managers.

• In addition, administrative accounting data can be reported to syslog servers with accurate timestamps provided by an NTP source.

Dual LAN Interfaces

All IP•Tube CEP 202T models ship with dual 10/100 BaseT Ethernet LAN ports. The dual Ethernet interfaces provide for:

• Management interface on LAN port 2 when LAN port 1 is connected to a VPN tunnel
  
• Protector Option for Redundant Packet Path connections with Constant or Switch Over Criteria

Assured Delivery Protocol

In order to assure high quality communications over links with intermittent or noisy performance, such as Wireless, the IP•Tube CEP 202T employs Engage’s robust Assured Delivery Protocol with the following benefits:

• Packet out of sequence detection and re-sequencing
• Duplicate skipping
• Lost packet retransmissions with configured delay

IP•Tube CEP 202T Optional Features

Protector Option -PRO

IP•Tube CEPs isolate management and data plane functionality with the use of two separate processor modules. Management processor access is limited to SSH or SNMPv3 encrypted sessions that employ AES256 bit keys and sophisticated NIST passwords. These sessions may be established after authentication via TACACS+ or Radius.
The independent Linux based management plane of the IP•Tube CEP ensures Critical Infrastructure Data is isolated from management network access. The Management Module uses internal serial ports to connect to the Data Plane processor.

Administration and User Logs are available with Syslog.

CEP management security features include:

• Administrative policies for adding, removing, disabling and renaming authorized users; limiting user access to assigned commands; and enabling only desired port numbers.

• User authentication directly or in conjunction with TACACS+ or RADIUS servers including RSA SecureID support for two factor trusted compliance.

• An SSH command interface encrypting management traffic with powerful 256 bit symmetric keys and NIST based passwords.

• Support of the SNMPv3 protocol for secure connectivity to SNMP element managers.

• In addition, administrative accounting data can be reported to syslog servers with accurate timestamps provided by an NTP source.

Applications

SCADA

The volume application for the IP•Tube CEP 202T is the conversion of legacy serial communication interfaces of Utility SCADA systems from leased telco circuits to IP and MPLS packet services.

Legacy Utility SCADA installations utilize technology that was designed decades ago.  Many substations have proprietary or bit orientated SCADA communication protocols that require the constant delay of circuits.

Engage adapted our Serial Circuit Emulation technology to facilitate the transparent transport of Serial SCADA over packet networks and to comply with the unique Utility industry specifications required by NERC.  NERC is the Electric Reliability Corporation for North America, subject to oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and governmental authorities in Canada.  NERC’s jurisdiction includes users, owners, and operators of the bulk power system.

A NERC reliability standard mandates that SCADA systems have Data Center Front End redundancy.  The IP•Tube CEP RS232 at the Substations support from 1 to 4 Data Center redundant and diversely routed connections.  

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NERC -CIP mandates control center redundancy. RTUs must be accessible from, and be able to connect to, multiple control centers. IP•Tube CEP continuously monitors connectivity to the active control center and automatically switches to the active backup control center (1 to 4 supported).

• Meets NERC mandates for control center redundancy
• Preserves investment in RTU and Central site SCADA
• Facilitates control center redundancy with IP flexibility
• Supports up to four redundant control centers
• Redundant and diverse connectivity

NERC is committed to protecting the bulk power system against cybersecurity compromises that could lead to misoperation or instability.  Engage incorporated a sophisticated locked-down embedded Linux based management module into the IP•Tube CEP that exceeds the NERC -CIP cybersecurity standards and is upgradeable to support future standards.

Management module isolates management and data plane functionality with the use of two separate processors modules. Management processor access is limited to encrypted sessions via SSH, or SNMPv3, that employ AES 256 bit keys and sophisticated NIST passwords. These sessions may be established after authentication via TACACS+.

The independent Linux based management plane of the IP•Tube CEP ensures Critical Infrastructure Data is isolated from management network access. The Management Module uses internal serial ports to connect to the Data Plane processor.  Administration and User Logs are available with Syslog.

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The IP•Tube CEP installations achieve NERC CIP compliance with a combination of internal and external functions.

Internally the Management Module software has the sophistication to implement comprehensive policies and privileges for administrator and user accounts. Administrator policy includes removal, disabling or renaming.

Interoperability with external functions such as Syslog, Network Timing Protocol TACACS+ and RADIUS with its support for RSA SecureID delivers trusted compliance.

Multi-Drop

In order to minimize the number of analog telephone circuits required to connect Data Center Front End SCADA controllers to Substation Remote Terminal Units Multi-Drop communication protocol was implemented. The CEP Multi-Drop feature allows a single RS-232 SCADA host connection to communicate with up to 8 remote terminals over a packet based network. The IP•Tube CEP transparently supports Multi-Drop by simultaneously transmitting IP packetized Front End SCADA messages to up to eight remote IP•Tube CEPs. The IP•Tube CEP connected to the addressed RTU detects a control signal and sends the SCADA response back to the Serial interface connected to the Front End polling port.

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Electronic Security Perimeter

The IP•Tube CEP in combination with industry standard services meets the Electronic Security Perimeter’s NERC CIP-005 specifications.  In addition Control Plane isolation from the Data plane provides a higher level of security for the Cyber Assets.