Plug and play of the smart substation’s life cycle is the main line, which includes three stages, i.e. the design, construction and operation. It introduces the method of virtual terminator auto-mapping and network architecture of distributed local protection in the design stage, refers the precast cabin of the new material and the innovation of standard precast optical cable in the construction stage, and studies the advanced application of panoramic simulation closed loop test, no-setting protection of auto-identification system of and smart tripping, etc. in the operation stage. Last it forecasts the future trend of the smart substation combined with its application.