Can PROFINET Projects Employ Cat 5, 5e, Cat 6, 6a, or Cat 7 cables?
The most commonly used PROFINET copper cable is the 4-wire shielded, green-colored cable, which supports 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet at a distance of 100 meters. You can achieve Full-Duplex transmission: meaning data can be transmitted in both directions through one cable simultaneously.
PROFINET Switch vs Ethernet Switch
PROFINET does not require specialized switches. PROFINET projects can employ standard Ethernet switches that satisfy the minimum requirements of 100 Mbit/s IEEE 802.3 and full-duplex transmission. Nowadays, most off-the-shelf Ethernet switches fulfill both requirements and therefore are suitable for PROFINET. Three terms you might encounter when choosing a switch for a PROFINET project are managed…
PROFINET Cable vs Ethernet Cable
Manufacturing environments, where PROFINET is most commonly used, are characterized by having challenging environmental conditions. In that environment, standard Ethernet cables, like those you find in your office or home, might break or damage easily. Extreme temperatures, moisture, vibrations, electro magnetic interference, and many other factors contribute to the deterioration of cables. Due to the…
PROFINET Controller vs Device
PROFINET is a communication protocol to exchange data between controllers and devices. PROFINET components employ the consumer provider model for data exchange. With this model, controllers and IO devices can both assume consumer and provider roles, leveraging the full-duplex nature of Ethernet. Now, let’s explore three component roles you can observe in a PROFINET installation:…
Is PROFINET deterministic?
PROFINET network installations typically operate in demanding industrial environments. PROFINET exchanges IO data with the appropriate speed and determinism required by manufacturing plants. To ensure suitable performance, PROFINET delivers data through the following communication channels: TCP/IP or UDP/IP for non-time-critical tasks, PROFINET Real-Time (RT) for time-critical cyclic data exchange PROFINET Isochronous Real-Time (IRT) for time-critical…
Can PROFINET Use Ethernet Cables? – Cabling Consideration
When designing a PROFINET network, you should employ the appropriate network components. For example, many people are uncertain about installing standard Ethernet cables in PROFINET networks. Can PROFINET networks use standard Ethernet cables? You can employ standard Ethernet cables to build a PROFINET network. There is no need for specialized hardware or vendor-specific products. You…
Is PROFINET Proprietary? (a clear answer for engineers)
The statement that PROFINET is proprietary is a myth that we will debunk. A proprietary standard is owned by a company or organization. Such an entity exercises sole discretion as to who may use their technology and under what terms. An open standard is publicly available and has various rights to use associated with it….
A Complete Comparison: PROFINET RT vs IRT
In the PROFINET world, PROFINET Real Time (RT) and PROFINET Isochronous Real Time (IRT) are common terms. PROFINET RT and IRT can be employed to deliver data within a PROFINET network. PROFINET RT is equipped in all PROFINET components and fulfills the majority of industrial automation timing requirements. PROFINET IRT is optional as it is…
Can PROFINET and Ethernet Employ the Same Switch?
Switches are crucial components in industrial networks. They are commonly implemented in PROFINET configurations to deploy various topology options (i.e., tree, star, line, ring). But are those switches able to handle PROFINET telegrams and other Ethernet traffic? PROFINET can coexist with other Ethernet-based protocols in the same network and share network infrastructure, such as switches…
PROFINET Network Overview
When building an industrial network with PROFINET, you will employ three major pieces of hardware: controllers, devices, and general infrastructure. Controllers can be PLCs, DCSs, or PACs. Devices can be I/O blocks, RFID readers, drives, process instruments, proxies, or even other controllers. And cables, connectors, switches, and other components make up the network infrastructure. You…