IEC TR 61850-90-4 Recommended Switch Features (PTP, PRP/HSR, GOOSE/SV, SCL)
Key point — you don’t need to implement everything at once. Evaluate features by project needs and real-world use. The list below uses three tiers: Must-have, Recommended, and Situational options for IEC 61850-90-4 substation networks.
Feature checklist — Must-have / Recommended / Situational
| Tier | Feature | Key points & target requirements | Common scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|
| Must-have | QoS (802.1p) / VLAN (802.1Q) | Use priority queues and logical isolation to keep GOOSE / SV low-latency and interference-free. | All IEC 61850 substation networks |
| Must-have | Storm Control | Suppress broadcast / multicast flooding to prevent bursts from delaying protection messages. | Mixed-traffic environments; operations & maintenance |
| Recommended | IEEE 1588v2 (PTP; TC / BC; hardware timestamping) | Core for Process Bus / synchrophasor; improves SV accuracy and event ordering. | Precise timing and event sequencing requirements |
| Recommended | PRP / HSR seamless redundancy (RedBox when needed) | Zero-time switchover for link / node failures; protection / control stays uninterrupted. | High availability; protection schemes |
| Recommended | GOOSE / SV prioritisation and multicast capability | Line-rate, low-latency; IGMP Snooping / Querier, static multicast, QoS, Storm Control. | Real-time comms for protection / control / measurement |
| Recommended | SCL (System Configuration Language) workflow support | Import / mapping / version control; faster rollout and better interoperability. | Multi-device projects; engineering file handover |
| Situational | Cut-through / low-latency forwarding | Reduce per-hop latency when bit errors are controlled; combine with QoS. | Ultra-low-latency paths |
| Situational | TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking) features | Consider for new builds or upgrades; plan together with PTP / QoS. | High-determinism requirements |
| Situational | Security hardening (802.1X, ACL, RADIUS, Port Security, etc.) | Reduce risks of unauthorised access and malicious traffic; align with IEC 62351 where applicable. | Utility cybersecurity policies; remote O&M |
Why these features? See the reasons behind real-time, reliability, and interoperability
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