Open Systems International
Encyclopedia
Open Systems International, Inc. (OSI) is a supplier of open automation solutions (supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA
), energy management system
s (EMS), generation management systems (GMS), distribution management systems (DMS) and substation
automation systems (SAS)) for real-time management and optimization of complex production, transport, and delivery networks for utilities in the electric, oil & gas, transport, and water industries worldwide.
OSI is a global company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. It maintains a worldwide presence through direct sales in combination with a network of international distributors and alliance partners who implement OSI technology in their regional markets.
A privately held company, OSI was founded in 1992 by a group of innovators with a vision to create a company dedicated to delivering true open-systems products and quality client service to the utility marketplace.
Since then, OSI has remained a competitor in the large-scale utility automation industry with the goal of bringing total platform and hardware independence to an industry plagued by proprietary systems and single-source platform dependence.
OSI offers a full suite of automation products that are used by many utilities worldwide. OSI's monarch platform is the nucleus of this applications architecture
. Modular applications, specific to each utility’s mission, can be attached to this nucleus to provide an operational real-time platform to run its business operations. The modularity of these applications allows utilities to implement the proper application portfolio "just in time," as business missions and requirements change.
OSI’s products include SCADA, NMS
s, GMSs, transmission management systems, DMSs, substation automation systems (SASs), RTUs, and individual software products, as well as e-business solutions for utility operations.
data points down to those requiring a few hundred telemetry
points. monarch is a hyper-open architecture designed for portability. It can be delivered on a number of operating system
s, including all popular UNIX platforms, MS Windows, as well as Linux . Hybrid configurations can also be supported for a "best of breed" selection of operating systems to balance performance, usability and security concerns.
monarch is expandable with standard, off-the-shelf hardware to meet increased sizing requirements while maintaining performance parameters. To eliminate risks of premature obsolescence, no proprietary hardware is used in any component of the system.
monarch's communication interface is fully distributed and IP-based, and readily supports network-based RTUs, IED
s, PLCs and substation automation technology, as well as distributed communications hubs to minimize utility communications costs. The monarch platform supports industry standard open interfaces including SQL
, ODBC, JDBC, DDE
, XML/SOAP, OPC
, CIM
, as well as specific Java
and .NET
API's, and popular middleware adapters to facilitate enterprise information integration needs.
The monarch platform uses simplified maintenance
processes and procedures for database, display and applications maintenance.
SCADA
SCADA generally refers to industrial control systems : computer systems that monitor and control industrial, infrastructure, or facility-based processes, as described below:...
), energy management system
Energy management system
An energy management system is a system of computer-aided tools used by operators of electric utility grids to monitor, control, and optimize the performance of the generation and/or transmission system...
s (EMS), generation management systems (GMS), distribution management systems (DMS) and substation
Electrical substation
A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions...
automation systems (SAS)) for real-time management and optimization of complex production, transport, and delivery networks for utilities in the electric, oil & gas, transport, and water industries worldwide.
Corporate overview
OSI's monarch platform, the company's flagship automation solution, is delivered on a number of hardware platforms to assist utilities to monitor, control, optimize and optimally plan and schedule their real-time operations. This platform assists in the monitoring and controlling of electrical substations, power plants, large electrical transmission and distribution grids, large oil and gas pipeline networks, large hydro and water networks, or transportation and traction power networks.OSI is a global company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. It maintains a worldwide presence through direct sales in combination with a network of international distributors and alliance partners who implement OSI technology in their regional markets.
History
A privately held company, OSI was founded in 1992 by a group of innovators with a vision to create a company dedicated to delivering true open-systems products and quality client service to the utility marketplace.
Since then, OSI has remained a competitor in the large-scale utility automation industry with the goal of bringing total platform and hardware independence to an industry plagued by proprietary systems and single-source platform dependence.
Products
OSI offers a full suite of automation products that are used by many utilities worldwide. OSI's monarch platform is the nucleus of this applications architecture
Applications architecture
An applications architecture describes the structure and behaviour of applications used in a business, focused on how they interact with each other and with users. It is focused on the data consumed and produced by applications rather than their internal structure...
. Modular applications, specific to each utility’s mission, can be attached to this nucleus to provide an operational real-time platform to run its business operations. The modularity of these applications allows utilities to implement the proper application portfolio "just in time," as business missions and requirements change.
OSI’s products include SCADA, NMS
NMS
-Science and technology:*Network Monitoring System*Network management station*Network management system*Neurally mediated syncope*Neuroleptic malignant syndrome*non-maximum suppression -Science and technology:*Network Monitoring System*Network management station*Network management system*Neurally...
s, GMSs, transmission management systems, DMSs, substation automation systems (SASs), RTUs, and individual software products, as well as e-business solutions for utility operations.
Platforms
- monarch is OSI’s open system architecture for large-scale system implementation of many thousands to millions of monitoring data points. The monarch architecture offers multiple choices in terms of hardware, operating system and database platforms, and is expandable, upgradeable and maintainable.
- monarch lite is OSI’s SCADA platform for smaller SCADA systems for up to a few thousand monitoring points. It is based on various open industry standards including Intel Pentium servers, Windows or Linux operating systems and the DNP, MODBUS or IEC communications protocols.
- e-scada is a hosted SCADASCADASCADA generally refers to industrial control systems : computer systems that monitor and control industrial, infrastructure, or facility-based processes, as described below:...
application platform for delivery of automation services via the Web for monitoring of remote assets or for serving real-time information to industrialIndustryIndustry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
customers or end users.
- OSIRIS is a Linux-based Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU) designed for monitoring communications, electric distribution, water, gas and transportation.
Architecture
OSI’s monarch platform is a scalable open system architecture that can support applications requiring millions of SCADASCADA
SCADA generally refers to industrial control systems : computer systems that monitor and control industrial, infrastructure, or facility-based processes, as described below:...
data points down to those requiring a few hundred telemetry
Telemetry
Telemetry is a technology that allows measurements to be made at a distance, usually via radio wave transmission and reception of the information. The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure...
points. monarch is a hyper-open architecture designed for portability. It can be delivered on a number of operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s, including all popular UNIX platforms, MS Windows, as well as Linux . Hybrid configurations can also be supported for a "best of breed" selection of operating systems to balance performance, usability and security concerns.
monarch is expandable with standard, off-the-shelf hardware to meet increased sizing requirements while maintaining performance parameters. To eliminate risks of premature obsolescence, no proprietary hardware is used in any component of the system.
monarch's communication interface is fully distributed and IP-based, and readily supports network-based RTUs, IED
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
s, PLCs and substation automation technology, as well as distributed communications hubs to minimize utility communications costs. The monarch platform supports industry standard open interfaces including SQL
SQL
SQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....
, ODBC, JDBC, DDE
Dynamic Data Exchange
Dynamic Data Exchange is a technology for interprocess communication under Microsoft Windows or OS/2.- Overview :Dynamic Data Exchange was first introduced in 1987 with the release of Windows 2.0 as a method of interprocess communication so that one program can communicate with or control another...
, XML/SOAP, OPC
OPC
OPC may refer to:Computing* OLE for process control** OPC Foundation, a related consortium* Open Packaging Conventions* Operations Planning and Control, renamed to IBM Tivoli Workload Scheduler...
, CIM
CIM
CIM may refer to:Institutions and companies:* California Institution for Men, a state prison in the USA* Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum* Canadian Investment Manager designation of the Canadian Securities Institute...
, as well as specific Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
and .NET
.NET Framework
The .NET Framework is a software framework that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large library and supports several programming languages which allows language interoperability...
API's, and popular middleware adapters to facilitate enterprise information integration needs.
The monarch platform uses simplified maintenance
Software maintenance
Software Maintenance in software engineering is the modification of a software product after delivery to correct faults, to improve performance or other attributes....
processes and procedures for database, display and applications maintenance.