Gateway configuration manual
Profinet Slave/KNX TP – EK-BN1-TP
Revision 1.0.2 - Update: 10/12/2018
Configuration manual
© EKINEX S.p.A. – All rights reserved
Page 9
4 Profinet protocol general information
Profinet (Process Field Net) is a communication protocol based on Industrial Ethernet according to IEEE
802.xx directive.
4.1 Tecnology
There are three different protocol levels:
•
TCP/IP for Profinet CBA, with about 100ms of reaction time
•
RT (Real-time) protocol for applications based on Profinet IO and Profinet CBA, with up to 10ms
cycle time
•
IRT (Isochronous Real-time) for applications based on Profinet IO in systems with cycle time inferior
to 1ms.
4.2 Profinet CBA
A Profinet CBA (
Component Based Automation)
system consists of several automation components. The
components are described through a PCD file
(Profinet Component Description) written in XML language.
The basic idea of Profinet CBA is that an automation system can be divided into completely stand-alone
subsystems but with an identical or slightly different structure. Every component is usually controlled by a
specific number of inputs. Inside the component, a control program performs the component’s specific
function and generates he corresponding outputs, which are then sent to another controller.
4.3 Profinet IO
The peripheral interfacing is implemented by Profinet IO protocol.
Profinet IO defines the whole data exchange between master and slave devices, besides the parameter
settings and diagnostics. Profinet IO is a protocol designed to facilitate a fast data exchange between
Ethernet-based field devices and is ideal for applications with cycle time not greater than 10ms.
A Profinet IO based system consists of the following devices:
•
An IO controller, which controls the communication (master)
•
Field IO devices (slaves), monitored and controlled by the master
•
An IO supervisor, tipically a networked PC software, which manages the parameter settings and
slave diagnostics.
The characteristics of an IO device (slave) are described in a GSD file (General Station Description) written
in XML language, issued by the device manufacturer. The GSD file gives the supervisor the tools tools to
plan the configuration of the Profinet IO system.
4.4 Addressing
Each module in a Profinet network has three addresses:
•
A MAC address (physical address)
•
An IP address
•
A device name, e.g. a name which identifies the device at a logical level inside the system
configuration
MAC and IP are addresses typical of TCP/IP based devices. The MAC address changes only if the device is
replaced, while IP is a dynamic address. The device name is a static address.
