An IEC 61850 server (e.g.

a washing machine) has an access point that determines how it can be

reached. The server can serve one or more clients (associations). A server can host several logical
device instances, each has different logical nodes instances (functions as defined in chapter 3). For
example, a washing machine can have a logical device instance WM01 which is broken down into
logical nodes instances LPHD1, LLN0, MMXN1, MMTN1, ZAPL1. Each of these LN has its own
data objects and attributes. These attributes can be put in data sets which can be used for other
services such as MMS Services, GOOSE, SV, etc.
The next sections will described in details how IEC 61850 services can operate on these instances to
support information exchange as described in Scenario 1.
4.3.1.1 Device capabilities
As logical nodes represent specific functions of a device, the HCMC can obtain the list of LNs within
a device to get its functional capabilities. This is made possible thanks to the self-description of IEC
61850, in which several GetXXDirectory and GetXXDefinition services 52
are supported. The services that are supported in each level of the information object tree is shown in
Figure 4.6.
Figure 4.6: IEC 61850 server structure and the related services
The HCMC (client) can use the GetServerDirectory service to retrieve a list of the names of all
logical devices made visible on the washing machine (server). The parameters needed to perform the
GetServerDirectory service include:
Request:
- ObjectClass: shall contain an identification of the selected class. The client shall select one of the
following classes: LOGICAL-DEVICE or FILE-SYSTEM
Response+: shall indicate that the service request succeeded. A successful result shall return the
following parameter.
- Reference [0..n]: shall contain the ObjectReference of the logical devices and file systems.
Response-: 53

Response-: The parameter Response– shall indicate that the service request failed. The appropriate
ServiceError shall be returned