US Department of Energy Select Perle IOLAN Terminal Servers to Meet NERC CIP Compliance

Online, July 4, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Perle Systems, a global provider of advanced serial to Ethernet and secure device networking solutions, reveals that the US department of Energy uses IOLAN Terminal Servers to meet NERC CIP Compliance.

When the US Congress offered over $50 million to the DoE for smart grid technology, the Western Interconnection Synchrophasor Project (WISP) was born. Synchrophasor measurements are a type of smart grid technology that can keep a grid stable and enhance reliability. The technology establishes a virtual firewall between generation and transmission to protect equipment. Over 160 Schweitzer SEL-487E Station Phasor Measurement Units (PMU's) were installed to provide key measurements that will protect equipment, keep the grid is stable and prevent blackouts.

As part of NERC CIP directive 005 R3.2, agencies within the DoE needed to find a solution that would allow personnel to remotely manage the PMU's using a remote RADIUS authentication and authorization server. Perle IOLAN Electric Utility Terminal Servers were selected.
DoE Network Diagram

"The DoE wanted to leverage the Perle IOLAN Terminal Server as a device that would provide a method for users to authenticate via RADIUS," explains John Feeney, COO at Perle Systems. "The IOLAN would provide the access level username and password to the PMU, allowing the field users to perform their duties, while hiding the password."

Working closely together, Perle ensured the IOLAN Electric Utility Terminal Server provided the different levels of password authentication to the PMUs. Therefore, the DoE were able to meet their NERC CIP compliance obligations without restructuring their existing network or purchasing additional hardware.

Read the complete DoE Terminal Server Case Study on www.perle.com

About the Department of Energy: http://www.energy.gov

The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.

About Perle Systems www.perle.com

Perle Systems is a leading developer, manufacturer and vendor of high-reliability and richly featured connectivity and device networking products. These products are used to connect remote users reliably and securely to central servers for a wide variety of business applications. Product lines include Console Servers, Terminal Servers, Device Servers, Media Converters, Ethernet Copper Extenders, Ethernet I/O, Serial Cards, Parallel Cards, Remote Power Switches and Multimodem Cards. Since 1976, Perle has distinguished itself through extensive networking technology, depth of experience in major real-world network environments and long-term distribution and VAR channel relationships in major world markets. Perle has offices in 9 countries in North America, Europe and Asia and sells its products through distribution and OEM/ODE channels worldwide.