If you have PROFIBUS networks already installed, or if you’ve got PROFIBUS skills available in your plant then migrating from PROFIBUS to PROFINET will be quick and simple. That’s because the Working Groups which developed PROFINET drew heavily on the experience of PROFIBUS. For example, if you’re familiar with GSD files for engineering you’ll be familiar with the GSDML files used by PROFINET. Likewise, the diagnostic functions. Also, many of the PROFIBUS profiles – for example, PROFIsafe and PROFIdrive – will also be familiar.
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The migration process to PROFINET was made simple not only for PROFIBUS but also from many other existing protocols. PROFINET achieves this through the use of the unique ‘proxy’ concept, which is covered in detail in this section. Proxies are part of the PROFINET specification and perform consistently across all protocols. PROFINET proxies are defined for the following protocols:
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Some PROFINET proxy examples
CC-Link
- PROFIBUS DP
- PROFIBUS PA
- HART
- INTERBUS
- DEVICENET
- Foundation Fieldbus
- CANopen
- Modbus
- IO-Link
- AS-i
PROFINET is alone in being able to integrate many popular fieldbuses, making it the ideal way to move to Industrial Ethernet architectures.
Special Note: In addition to the proxy migration option, a wide range of gateway devices exists for connecting legacy protocols to PROFINET from various vendors.
Read more on PROFIBUS to PROFINET migration:
PROFIBUS vs PROFINET: Comparison and Migration Strategies
