Abstract: A monitoring unit for a remote site includes a processor and memory configured to receive definitions of measurements and alarms to be collected at the remote site and to store the definitions of the measurements and alarms, a plurality of port connectors for communicating the processor with downstream collection devices that collect the measurements and alarms at the remote site, and a communication system for reporting the collected measurements and alarms to upstream systems. The definitions for the alarms and measurements can be provided from the port connections, stored script processes, and SNMP proxy. The memory is configured to automatically store a history of the measurements and alarms collected which can be exported to the upstream systems. The processor is configured to collect derived measurements not directly collected from the downstream collection devices.