Updates from PI in this issue include new documents, the ten best blog posts from 2014, and the top tweet. The guidelines for designing, installing, and commissioning PROFINET networks have received important updates. The PROFINET System Description has also received a significant overhaul.
New Documents
PROFINET Checklist for Acceptance Tests
For several years, PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) has been providing guidelines for planning, installation, and commissioning of PROFINET networks. These were used in day-to-day activities of many plant and machine builders as well as end users. Experts from end user groups, especially from the automotive industry, were actively involved in the development of these guideline documents right from the beginning. This had a very positive effect on the quality of the documents.
Now, these commissioning guidelines have been expanded on some points to include experiences gained through active collaboration with acceptance test service providers, as well. Accordingly, the new edition includes a detailed checklist that additionally specifies easy to use criteria for acceptance tests of PROFINET networks. These criteria can be easily verified with commonly used tools. Of course, support for such acceptance tests is provided for this by the PI Competence Centers, established worldwide, as well.
All in all, PI offers integrated and coherent communication solution packages from the basic specification to system maintenance. This is achieved through the active and continuous collaboration of its members.
The new guidelines are available in English and German and can be downloaded free of charge by all interested parties at:
http://www.profibus.com/nc/download/installation-guide/downloads/profinet-installation-guide/display/
PROFINET System Description
PROFINET is a modern concept for distributed automation standards; it is based on Ethernet and integrates existing fieldbus systems in particular PROFIBUS) simply and without change. This is an important aspect for meeting the demand for consistency from the corporate management level to the field level. Furthermore, it represents a key contribution to providing the user with security for his investment in that existing parts of a system can be incorporated in PROFINET without needing to be changed.
The PROFINET Technology and Application – System Description gives you a fast overview on the PROFINET Technology. It is the definitive source for beginners and experts alike. It is made freely available to the public here:
http://www.profibus.com/nc/download/technical-descriptions-books/downloads/profinet-technology-and-application-system-description/display/
Best Blog Posts of 2014
It’s a time to look back at 2014 and the ten most popular posts from last year. Here are the PROFIblog Top Ten:
10. Managed or Unmanaged Switch for PROFINET
9. PROFINET Uses TCP/IP?
8. Dueling Views of PROFINET’s Place in System Architecture
7. PROFINET can use a Best Buy Ethernet Switch, really?
6. Ethernet is not a protocol
5. PROFINET and IT Protocols
4. So Is Ethernet Deterministic or Not?
3. Is PROFINET routable? (Report from Vancouver)
2. What are the differences between PROFIBUS V0, V1, and V2?
1. How many devices on a PROFIBUS DP network in Grand Rapids?
This list is a summary of a PROFIblog post of the same name… (Does it get any more meta than that?)
Top Tweet
The most popular Tweet came more recently. It’s about an Application Story at Audi using Phoenix Contact, PROFINET, and PROFIsafe:
Phoenix Contact #Profinet/Profisafe system met Audi’s system needs: flexibility, performance, & diagnostics: http://t.co/eM98ZRdSF9
— PROFINET & PROFIBUS (@AllThingsPROFI) January 20, 2015