PROFINET is gradually becoming the network of choice for the automation industry in the UK. Whilst easy to set up and configure, it is essential that some form of installation and operational qualification of the network takes place to ensure a long life of trouble-free operation. This presentation will discuss the issues, the tools available and the criteria that the networks must meet.

1. Peter Thomas – Control Specialists Ltd
Chairman PROFIBUS & PROFINET International Training Centre's
PROFINET
Commissioning & Testing

2. 2PI UK
PROFINET - Overview 2
PROFINET is a member of a family providing industrial
communications over Ethernet.
PROFINET is:
completely standard Ethernet (IEEE802.3).
High speed, operating at 100Mbit/s or faster over copper or fibre-optic
cables,
makes use of existing IT standards. But, is “real-time” and deterministic,
PROFINET is very well thought out to incorporate all the requirements of
automation and control systems.
PROFINET is totally compatible with PROFIBUS but is NOT PROFIBUS
over Ethernet.
September 2017

3. 3PI UK
PROFIBUS v PROFINET 3
Feature PROFIBUS DP PROFINET
Network size 126 devices max. Effectively unlimited
Data Rate Up to 12M bit/s 100 Mbit/s
Update rate and prioritisation
All devices have same
update rate and priority
Different update rates and priorities
Controlling Station Class 1 Master IO Controller
IO Equipment Slave IO Device
Diagnostic / Configuration Tool Class 2 Master IO Supervisor
Protocols DPV0, DPV1, DPV2
PROFINET RT, ARP, DCP,
SNMP, LLDP, TCP/IP, HTTP,
MRP
IT services Not possible Integrated in devices
Real-Time Yes Yes
September 2017

4. 4PI UK
PROFIBUS v PROFINET 4
Feature PROFIBUS DP PROFINET
Topology
Typically linear bus but tree and ring
possible
Linear, star, tree and ring
Redundancy Possible but manufacturer specific Simple and standardised
Engineering access
Changes possible but needs
network restart
Possible without disrupting
operation
Standard Diagnostics Yes Yes
Alarms Only on DPV1 Yes, with priority
Addressing By switch or over bus Over network
Network Devices Repeaters, Hubs, OLM’s Switches
Termination Switch-selectable Built into RJ45 connector
Cable 2 core shielded twisted pair 4 core shielded twisted pair
September 2017

5. 5PI UK
PROFINET – In operation 5
PROFINET
HTTP SNMP Socket
IP
TCP / UDP
Sensor system
PC
SNMP/OPC server
PROFINET
IRT Field devicesPC
Internet Explorer
Real-Time
RT IRT
Ethernet
PROFINET
RT Field devices
September 2017

6. 6PI UK
PROFINET – Topology 6
Line
Tree
Star
Ring
September 2017

7. 7PI UK
PROFINET – IO Devices 7
Ethernet
IO-Controller
 Configuration
 Control/monitoring
 Alarms
 Diagnosis
 Status/Control
 ParametersIO-Device
PROFINET Supervisor
E.g. PLC running application
program.
E.g. PC or laptop running
engineering tool application.
E.g. Field device with
inputs/outputs
(Compare with PROFIBUS Class-1
master)
(Compare with PROFIBUS Class-2
master)
(Compare with PROFIBUS Slave
device)
September 2017

8. 8PI UK
PROFINET – Commissioning Guideline 8
• This is one of several free-to-download guidelines
documents available to members.
• It provides guidance on how to verify the installation
aspects of the network as well as how to commission
the live system.
• These tests are additional to the application-specific,
System Acceptance Testing that would usually be
performed.
Failure to follow these guidelines puts you at risk of
having your application tests pass without a detailed
knowledge of the underlying performance of your
network !
September 2017

9. 9PI UK
PROFINET – Installation Acceptance 9
• Visual Checking of the cabling.
• Point-to-Point electrical testing of the cabling using a
simple line tester.
• Point-to-point acceptance testing of the cabling using an
Ethernet Function tester.
Installation Acceptance tests should ideally be performed by
individuals who have Certified PROFINET Installer
accreditation.
September 2017

10. 10PI UK
PROFINET – Installation Acceptance – Visual Checks 10
The guideline lists 23 individual checks that should be
performed on each cable. Examples are
• Cable laid according to plan?
• Maximum length of 100m observed?
• Cable screen earthed at both ends to a previously
proven earthing system.
• Cable separation rules followed?
September 2017

11. 11PI UK
PROFINET – Installation Acceptance – Cable Testing 11
The main criteria for the simple electrical
testing of PROFINET cables are:
• There are no short-circuits between any
wires.
• There are no short-circuits between any
wire and the screen
• There are no wire breaks.
• The shield is connected at both ends.
• The wire pairing has been observed
correctly.
September 2017

12. 12PI UK
PROFINET – Installation Acceptance – Cable Certification 12
• Simple line testers are designed to test the
electrical aspects of the cable.
• The more advanced function and acceptance
testers establish the ability of that cable to
successfully transmit predefined data
packages as well as determine cable length,
attenuation and cross-talk.
September 2017

13. 13PI UK
PROFINET – Operational Qualification 13
• Checking that the addressing and naming of all IO devices
are in conformance with the design specification.
• Determining other device-related information such as MAC
addresses, Firmware versions etc.
• Establishing that the topology is in conformance with the
design specification.
• Establishing the absence of discarded and error telegrams.
• Establishing operational characteristics and absence of
telegram errors.
September 2017

14. 14PI UK
PROFINET – IO Device Identification 14
• Every PROFINET device has a world-wide unique MAC
address assigned by the manufacturer.
• The MAC address is unique to that particular device and
will change if the device is replaced with a spare.
• Before a device can take part in communications with an
IO Controller, it must have been configured with a
PROFINET Device Name.
• When the IO Controller initialises communication with the
IO Device, it will allocate an IP address to it.
• Note - All real-time communications takes place using MAC
addresses.
MAC Address: 00: 0E:CF:04:68:7A
Device Name: MySensorName123
IP Address: 192.168.1.23
HW Version: 1.0
FW Version: 1.24
September 2017

15. 15PI UK
PROFINET – Topology – Line Depth 15
• Line depth is the number of forwarding switches between an IO Controller and an IO
Device.
• The line depth will affect the cycle time that the device can be polled at.
September 2017

16. 16PI UK
Operational Quality Criteria 16
September 2017

17. 17PI UK
PROFINET – EMC Criteria 17
• EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and
Protective Earth (PE) issues are acknowledged
as being the cause of a significant number of
problems on Fieldbuses and Industrial
networks like PROFIBUS and PROFINET.
• This is because of the ever-increasing
frequencies that such systems operate at.
• Simply ensuring that the cable screen is
connected to earth at both ends serves no
purpose if the earth loop impedance at
“typical” frequencies is too high.
September 2017

18. 18PI UK
PROFINET – Monitoring Tools 18
TO PROFINET NETWORK
Internet Browser
This permanent monitoring solution
can be used during qualification and
on-going support.
It has no effect on the PROFINET
network which will continue to
operate even if power to the monitor
is removed.
24v
Volt-Free Contact to PLC
September 2017

19. 19PI UK
PROFINET – Acceptance Specification 19
• A document like this acts as a formal record of the
installation and operational qualification tests.
• It should clearly define roles and responsibilities.
• Define the type of tools required to perform the tests and
typical specifications.
• Each test should cross-reference back to the appropriate
section in the relevant design specification.
• Have clear descriptions of the tests and unambiguous
acceptance criteria.
• There should be space available for the tester to
sign/date each test and make notes.
September 2017

20. 20PI UK
Peter Thomas
(Control Specialists Ltd)
Chairman of the
PROFINET & PROFIBUS
International Training Centres
(PITC‘s)
Peter Thomas
Control Specialists Ltd
PROFINET – Questions?
September 2017

21. 21PI UK 21September 2017
Thankyou
Peter Thomas
Chairman of PI Training Centres
www.linkedin.com/in/petermthomas
Control Specialists Ltd
www.controlspecialists.co.uk
https://controlspecialists.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/16012_Indu_Sol_EMC_brochure_2017.pdf