SIEMENS
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Siemens D 35 · 2017
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Overview
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Communication
PROFINET
Open standard
PROFINET, the open multi-vendor standard (IEC 61158/
IEC 61784), is supported by PROFIBUS and PROFINET
International (PI). It stands for maximum transparency, open
IT communication, network security and simultaneous real-time
communication.
Thanks to its openness, PROFINET provides the basis for a stan-
dardized automation network in the plant, to which all other
machines and devices can be connected. Even the integration
of existing plant components, for example with PROFIBUS,
presents no problems due to the use of network transitions.
Use of web tools
Thanks to the unrestricted support of TCP/IP, PROFINET permits
the use of standard web services in the device, such as web
servers. Irrespective of the tool used, information from the auto-
mation level can be accessed from virtually any location using a
commercially available Internet browser. This considerably sim-
plifies commissioning and diagnostics. Users can then decide
for themselves how much openness to the IT world they want to
allow for their machine or plant. This means that PROFINET can
be used simply as an isolated plant network or connected via
appropriate security modules, such as the SCALANCE S
modules, to the office network or the Internet. In this way, new
remote maintenance concepts or the high-speed exchange of
production data become possible.
Expandability
On the one hand, PROFINET facilitates the integration of existing
systems and networks without any great effort or expense. In this
way, PROFINET safeguards investments in existing plant com-
ponents that communicate via PROFIBUS and other fieldbuses
such as AS-Interface. On the other hand, additional PROFINET
nodes can be added at any time. By using additional network
components, network infrastructures can be expanded using
cabling or wireless methods – even while the plant is operating.
Efficiency
Greater global competition means that companies must use
their resources economically and efficiently. This applies in par-
ticular to production. This is where PROFINET ensures greater
efficiency. Simple engineering guarantees fast commissioning,
while reliable devices ensure a high level of plant availability.
Comprehensive diagnostic and maintenance concepts help to
reduce plant downtimes and keep maintenance costs to a
minimum.
One cable for everything
PROFINET permits simultaneous fieldbus communication with
isochronous mode and standard IT communication (TCP/IP) on
one cable. This real-time communication for the transmission of
the user/process data and diagnostic data takes place on a
single cable. Specific profile communication (PROFIsafe,
PROFIdrive and PROFIenergy) can be integrated without any
additional cabling. This solution offers a wide scope of functions
at a low level of complexity.
Device and network diagnostics
By retaining the tried and tested PROFIBUS device model, the
same diagnostics information is available with PROFINET. In ad-
dition, module- and channel-specific data can also be read out
from the devices during device diagnosis, enabling faults to be
located quickly and easily. Apart from the availability of device
information, the reliability of the network operation has top prior-
ity in the network management.
In existing networks the Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP) has established itself as the de facto standard for the
maintenance and monitoring of the network components and
their functions. PROFINET uses this standard and gives users
the opportunity to maintain their networks with tools that are
familiar to them, such as the SINEMA Server network
management software.
For easier maintenance of PROFINET devices, both on-site and
remotely via a secure VPN connection, application-specific web-
sites can be set up on the integrated web server of the field
devices using the familiar HTML standard.
Energy efficiency
En route to the green factory: PROFIenergy is a profile that
provides functions and mechanisms for PROFINET field devices
that support energy-efficient production.
The profile, which is defined by the PNO and is independent of
any manufacturers or devices, enables the energy demand and
costs to be significantly reduced: Using PROFIenergy, any spe-
cific loads that are not currently being used can be switched off.
This achieves a noticeable reduction in energy costs during
breaks in production. PROFIenergy permits the simple, auto-
mated activation and deactivation of technologically related
plant components. It is coordinated centrally by means of a
higher-level controller and is networked via PROFINET. This
ensures that as much energy as possible is saved during longer
breaks. Temporarily switching off plant components contributes
to the even distribution and most efficient use of energy.
The use of PROFIenergy is made easy for the machine builder
by its integration into familiar series of products. In addition,
PROFIenergy is defined in such a way that the necessary
function blocks can easily be integrated into existing automation
systems at a later stage.
Simple wiring
Particularly stringent demands are made on the installation of
cabling in the industrial environment. In addition, there is a
requirement to set up industry-standard networks in the shortest
possible time without any special knowledge.
With FastConnect, Siemens is offering a high-speed installation
system that meets all of these requirements. FastConnect is the
standard-compliant, industrial cabling system consisting of
cables, connectors and assembly tools for PROFINET networks.
The time required for connecting terminals is minimized by the
simple installation method using just a single tool, while installa-
tion errors are prevented by the practical color-coding. Both
copper cables and glass fiber optic cables can be easily
assembled on site.
Fast device replacement
PROFINET devices are identified by means of a name assigned
during configuration. On replacing a defective device, a new
device can be recognized from its topology information by the
IO controller and a new name can be assigned to it automati-
cally. This means that no engineering tool is necessary for the
replacement of equipment.
This mechanism can even be used for the initial commissioning
of a complete system. This speeds up commissioning,
particularly in the case of series machines.
Ruggedness
An automation network must be robustly protected against
external sources of interference. The use of Switched Ethernet
prevents faults in one part of the network from affecting the entire
plant network. For areas that are particularly prone to radio
frequency interference (RFI), PROFINET allows the use of fiber
optic cables.
© Siemens AG 2017