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Security Classes for PROFINET (coming soon!)
Read: Security Classes for PROFINET (coming soon!)As digitalization spreads to all levels and applications in manufacturing, IT security gains more importance. Previous security concepts relied primarily on isolating production plants from external users and networks. But in the nowadays connected environment, security strategies must take another approach. PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI) is working towards implementing a state of the art…
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PROFINET Media Redundancy
Read: PROFINET Media RedundancyRing topologies establish media redundancy. If a wire breaks in one section of the ring, there is a secondary connection to the network. The image below shows an example of a ring topology within a network with multiple topologies. Generally, Ethernet should not be connected in a ring without performing some sort of management. Without…
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PROFINET iPar Server – Overview and Description
Read: PROFINET iPar Server – Overview and DescriptionAside from the mandatory characteristics in each PROFINET device, PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI) defines a list of optional features. These features are not required in all PROFINET devices; nonetheless, they can provide tremendous added value. This post describes one of those PROFINET optional features: the iPar Server. Since this feature is optional, users must…
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PROFINET Conformance Classes
Read: PROFINET Conformance ClassesAll PROFINET products are developed according to international standards and certified by PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI). Every PROFINET device has a defined set of features that are mandatory based on its conformance class. There are three PROFINET conformance classes: A, B, and C. Conformance Class A (CC-A) is the most basic, while C (CC-C)…
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PROFINET Optional Features – Q&A Block
Read: PROFINET Optional Features – Q&A BlockDid you miss the PROFINET Optional Features webinar? We got you covered. You can watch the whole webinar recording and go over the slide set here. This webinar explains several PROFINET optional features, such as Device Redundancy, Shared Device, Dynamic Reconfiguration, Fast Startup, iPar Server, and Time Stamping. During the live session, we got several…
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Dynamic Reconfiguration
Read: Dynamic ReconfigurationThe process industries have many challenging production requirements. For example, in some applications, systems must run continuously without interruptions; not even emergency stops are possible. For those scenarios, PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI) specified a PROFINET feature to ensure continuous processes. Such feature is Dynamic Reconfiguration (DR). DR allows users to reconfigure, insert, remove, or…
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PROFIsafe over Wireless
Read: PROFIsafe over WirelessNowadays, functional safety can be implemented over the bus shifting from safety in hard-wired relays to safety performed in logic. PROFIsafe is an additional software layer that provides functional safety over the bus in PROFINET networks. PROFIsafe ensures the integrity of failsafe signals transmitted between safety devices and a safety controller meeting the relevant safety…
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PROFINET I-Device
Read: PROFINET I-DeviceI-Device is an optional PROFINET feature, which operates on the controller level. This feature allows a controller to be both a device and controller simultaneously, allowing for controller to controller (some might say peer to peer) communications with PROFINET. I-Device functionality brings many benefits. For example, it enables the setup of communications between IO controllers…
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PI Technologies Everywhere
Read: PI Technologies Everywhere2019 Application Stories This year, PROFINEWS featured several application stories that highlighted the role of PROFINET, PROFIBUS, or IO-Link in a current automation project. The list below includes all of those application stories. Click on any title below to read the full article. Also, don’t forget, PI North America is always looking for exciting new…
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PROFIsafe Key Frequently Asked Questions
Read: PROFIsafe Key Frequently Asked QuestionsSafety systems protect equipment, people, and the environment. Traditionally, safety systems rely on separately wired circuits that are expensive to build, commission, and maintain. Nowadays, functional safety can be done over the bus shifting from safety in hard relays to safety in logic. With over 11 million installed nodes worldwide as of 2018, PROFIsafe is…
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Wi-Fi or Bluetooth? It is your Choice.
Read: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth? It is your Choice.Do you need to establish a wireless connection? PROFINET offers you the option to connect wirelessly through two well-know IEEE standards: WLAN and Bluetooth. Which one should you choose? With PROFINET it is completely your choice! PROFINET supports WLAN and Bluetooth connections without restrictions. Real-time data can be transmitted wirelessly, as well as safety messages.…
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PROFINET & Advanced Physical Layer [APL]
Read: PROFINET & Advanced Physical Layer [APL]“What is the Advanced Physical Layer / APL?” … is a question getting a lot of attention. As of today you cannot land a standard PROFINET cable directly on an instrument that is located in a hazardous environment, where a spark might cause an explosion. (Well, technically, you can do it once. Just once… Kaboom!)…
