CIPS Wuxi Backup Center went into operation on June 25, 2016. To verify availability of CIPS Wuxi Backup Center, to test switch operation manual and to strengthen emergency response, CIPS Operator, coordinating with 27 CIPS Direct Participants, finished a drill of site switch between the primary and the backup center in accordance with system operation and maintenance plans of China National Clearing Center (“CNCC” hereinafter) on November 19, 2016. CIPS Operator, 27 CIPS Direct Participants, Operation Department of CNCC Shanghai Center, CNCC Wuxi Primary Center, CNCC R & D Department and CNCC Engineering Department participated in this drill.
All the preparatory work including making drill plans & control tables and practicing sand table simulation was completed before the drill.
There were two stages in this drill. First, CIPS Shanghai Primary Center switched to CIPS Wuxi Backup Center. Then, CIPS Wuxi Backup Center switched back to CIPS Shanghai Primary Center. CIPS Operator also sent relevant personnel to CIPS Wuxi Backup Center to conduct the verification. On the drill day, all the 27 CIPS Direct Participants completed business processing correctly and all the work at both stages was completed within expected time so that desired goals of the drill were achieved.
This drill fully verified correctness of switch process and availability of the system, strengthened collaborative capacity between CIPS and CNCC’s relevant departments, raised risk awareness of CIPS Staff and improved CIPS’s service levels.
Automatic switching tools programmed by Wuxi Primary Center were adopted in this drill. Instructions were executed automatically and results were shown immediately by using an intuitive interface to operate and display. Problems were found mainly in the following aspects: checking process of configuration consistency between the two sites, automatic verification tools for technique and business processing, sensation of participants.
CIPS Operator will cooperate with CNCC’s relevant departments to continue optimizing technical validation & automatic switching tools, shortening switch time and improving emergency response skills. Later, CIPS Operator will invite CIPS Direct Participants to conduct switch operation to enhance user experience and improve continuous service levels.
