The CGR 1000 Series Routers leverage Cisco’s core IP networking technologies with purpose-built hardware and software to create an open platform for partners to build multi-service, secure and reliable Field Area Network solutions that lower the utility's total cost of ownership while also lowering the partner's own cost of development.

Converged Multi-Service Network Architecture

The CGR 1000 Series is a flexible modular platform supporting various wired and wireless interfaces. The CGR 1000 Series router supports a 900 MHz IPv6 RF Mesh that can aggregate up to 5,000 end devices such as smart meters. The router has integrated ethernet and serial interfaces to connect to DA devices such as sensors, capacitor bank controllers, recloser controllers, and remote terminal units. SCADA protocol (serial to IP) translation features allow customers to easily integrate legacy (non-IP) devices on to an IP network. Integrated Wi-Fi port enables remote workforce automation and secure wireless console access while integrated GPS enables location mapping of the router. The modular design provides an easy upgrade path to future communication interfaces without platform replacement.

The CGR 1000 Series portfolio of routers offers platforms for both indoor and outdoor deployments. These platforms come with flexible mounting kits that allow utilities to deploy the routers on a broad array of existing assets such as distribution poles, walls, and inside pad-mounted enclosures. In addition, the CGR 1000 Series offers a wide range of external antenna choices to meet coverage, throughput, and range requirements.

Connected Grid OS provides a set of network and application layer services to help enable customers run multiple applications on a converged communication network. The network segmentation and quality of service (QoS) features allow customers to logically separate different application traffic and to apply specific constraints on each traffic flow. In addition, CG-OS is capable of integrating and hosting utility-specific third-party applications. This allows customers to eliminate cost, space, power, and complexity of deploying and managing single-purpose devices. Customers can also add more applications over time to meet future business needs.

Security

Cisco integrates security as a fundamental building block of the field area network (FAN) architecture. The CGR 1000 Series offers strong security capabilities that are based on Cisco’s Connected Grid security principles and widely adopted cryptographic and security standards.

Security Principle

CGR 1000 Features and Capabilities

 Access Control

  • Mutual authentication and authorization of all nodes connected to the network

  • IEEE 802.1x-based authentication, Role-Based Access Control

  • Certificate-based identity, strong username and passwords

 Data Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy

  • Link-layer encryption in the NAN mesh (AES-128)

  • Network-layer encryption in the WAN (IPsec)

  • Scalable key management – generation, exchange & revocation of encryption keys

 Threat Detection and Mitigation

  • Network segmentation of users, devices and applications in NAN and WAN

  • Access-lists on field area router to filter traffic between users and devices

  • High-performance firewall in the control-center to protect critical assets

 Device and Platform Integrity

  • Tamper-resistant mechanical design, security alerts generated if compromised

  • Hardware chip to store router’s X.509 certificate, other security credentials

  • Tamper-proof secure storage of router configuration and data

Network Reliability and High Availability

The CGR 1000 Series Routers have been designed with both device level and network level reliability to meet harsh physical environments. The CGR 1000 Series is built to meet stringent compliance standards such as IEEE 1613 and IEC 61850-3. The enhanced thermal design and conduction cooling with no moving parts allows support for extended temperature support. Additionally, the routers offer mechanisms for backup power to help ensure uptime for mission-critical applications in the event of power outages. Finally, the support for multiple WAN communication modules, and the network resiliency and routing features in CG-OS, allows utilities to deploy enterprise-class high availability in their communication networks for the distribution grid.

Network Management

A complete suite of network management tools is critical for lowering operating expenses (OpEx) while improving network availability. They do so by simplifying and automating many of the day-to-day tasks associated with managing such challenging network requirements. The embedded management features available in the CGR 1000 Series, Connected Grid Device Manager (CG-DM), and the Connected Grid Network Management System (CG-NMS) allow customers to effectively meet these requirements.

The Cisco FAN solution provides operators with extensive instrumentation and diagnostic information for geographic locations, wireless interfaces, battery management, and other grid-specific details. This information can be fed into the CG-NMS for day-to-day operations, operator dashboards, and real-time troubleshooting. Ease-of-use features such as secure zero touch deployment and a graphical field tool help enable non-IT field technicians to deploy and manage FAN communication equipment effectively. In addition to the utility-specific functionality, the Cisco solution provides customers with true enterprise-class fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security (FCAPS) functionality such as a programmatic XML interface based on the Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF) industry standard, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), over-the-air software upgrades, and security management functionality.

Open Standards

Cisco’s strategy is to encourage the creation and adoption of open communication standards for the smart grid. This in turn encourages the growth of an ecosystem of standards-based, interoperable devices and applications from different vendors while reducing the risk of adopting new technologies for utilities. The Cisco Connected Grid solution is based on a series of open standards, many of them adopted from IP-based technologies such as IPv6. By use of these standards, customers are able to architect and design their network independent of the application layer or physical layer infrastructure. This protects any existing investment while lowering the total cost of ownership for the network over time.