Incorporated in Totally Integrated Automation, the unique basis offered by Siemens for uniform automation of all sectors in the production, process or hybrid industries, the SIMATIC NET portfolio ensures fast and reliable communication between the individual systems/applications of the SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system such as:

• Automation systems, distributed I/Os and field components
• Engineering system, operator system and Maintenance Station
• SIMATIC BATCH and SIMATIC Route Control
• Web clients and Web servers for operator control and monitoring via Internet/Intranet as well as IT applications

Industrial Ethernet plant bus

Industrial Ethernet is used as the plant bus as well as terminal bus for multi-user systems with client/server architecture. For small systems, the "Basic Communication Ethernet" (BCE) integrated in the SIMATIC PCS 7 Industrial Workstations permits operation of single stations and servers on the plant bus even without a CP 1623/CP 1628 communication module.

In medium and large plants with high requirements, SIMATIC PCS 7 applies modern FastEthernet and Gigabit technology that combines the high availability provided by redundant electrical and optical rings with the scalable performance provided by switching technology and high transmission rates of up to 10 Gbps.

PROFINET

PROFINET is based on the international standards IEC 61158 and IEC 61784 and combines the advantages of the open network standard, Ethernet, and the PROFIBUS fieldbus system. It stands for maximum transparency, open IT communication, network security and real-time communication down to the field level. This makes PROFINET the basis for uniform automation network in the plant, into which existing fieldbuses implemented with PROFIBUS can be easily integrated.

Example of PROFINET communication in the SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system

In the context of the SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system, PROFINET mainly focuses on communication between the automation systems (controllers) and the process I/O.

Fieldbus systems

PROFIBUS has become established as sturdy and reliable communications medium for connecting intelligent distributed I/O devices, transmitters and actuators to the controller level of the SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system. The universal, open fieldbus corresponds to the international standards IEC 61158 and IEC 61784.

Integration of PROFIBUS PA and FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1

PROFIBUS DP

PROFIBUS DP is both a system bus and an open communication system, and is designed for moderate transmission rates and short response times. It is therefore optimally suitable for the control of the following devices:

• Directly connected field devices, e.g. drives, motor starters, analyzers, process controllers, or panels
• Distributed I/O devices such as the SIMATIC ET 200M, SIMATIC ET 200iSP and SIMATIC ET 200pro remote I/O stations
• Transmitters and actuators on a seamlessly integrated PROFIBUS PA fieldbus or FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1

As it also supports the transmission of the HART protocol, HART field devices can also be integrated in a PROFIBUS DP communication network.

PROFIBUS PA and FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1

In addition to the direct connection of transmitters and actuators including power supply via the communication medium, the high information content of the communication as well as the diagnostics facilities are also of importance for the automation of industrial processes that frequently take place in corrosive, harmful, and hazardous environments.

Both the PROFIBUS PA fieldbus and the FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1 meet these requirements. Both are optimally suitable for directly integrating actuators and sensors in operating environments up to Ex zone 1/21 or 0/20 into the process system.

Their physical bus characteristics are based on the MBP transmission technology (Manchester Coded; Bus Powered) and are largely identical according to IEC 61158. Both fieldbuses can be integrated seamlessly in the SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system using PROFIBUS DP as link.

PROFIBUS PA and FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1 thus profit equally from the higher-level PROFIBUS architecture.