M
I believe that some time ago I addressed this list about Ethernet - Profibus bridges, however times change, and I would like to see if anything
new is available.
I am working on a project where I will need to connect a series of PLCs which are already equipped with Siemens L2 (Profibus) ports (mainly S5-95U). I wish to connect them to a TCP/IP Ethernet network so that this Profibus network can communicate with a server which will collect production statistics. The application software requires an OPC connection.
The Ethernet network is a high speed system which already carries various general network traffic (it is not a dedicated control network). No control is contemplated, only monitoring. The reason for using the Ethernet
network is to allow flexibility in relocating lines within the plant.
To implement this, I believe that I need a Profibus to Ethernet bridge. However, I have not been able to find one. I don't want to develop
anything, I would like to buy a working one off the shelf. Each line would have its own bridge (or more than one for large lines). The bridge should be as small as possible (of course) so that it can normally be mounted inside an existing panel. I am currently at the stage in this project where I would like to finalise the bridge selection.
CRITERIA:
The criteria are:
- Profibus to Ethernet.
- off the shelf.
- small and reliable (and 24VDC powered if possible).
- easy to set up and configure.
- both Profibus L2 FDL and Profibus DP (with the PLCs as slaves) - this could require either two bridge versions, or a configurable bridge.
- has an OPC server (driver) available.
- reasonably priced.
QUESTIONS:
1) Is anyone aware of such a bridge as an actual existing product?
2) Is it true that the reason that such a bridge may not be available is because the Profibus committee is still arguing about how to do Profibus over Ethernet?
3) If so, does anyone know when a standard will be approved? When will products based on this standard be available? Is the situation hopeless?
I have looked on the Profibus web site without much success. I have found a product from SST (XLink) which will allow me to make the connection, provided I treat the Ethernet side as if it were a Modicon, GE, or AB system (the XLink will make the translation). However, this seems likely to be confusing to administer, so I would like a more direct system if possible.
I have looked at the following:
- The Hilscher PKV 40 does not seem to be a finished product (at least for the Profibus version).
- Siemens does not have a bridge.
- The ICT Profigate does not use OPC (which my application software requires).
- I cannot seem to get any information on the VCOM Profigate. I'm not sure if this product actually exists.
**********************
Michael Griffin
London, Ont. Canada
[email protected]
**********************
new is available.
I am working on a project where I will need to connect a series of PLCs which are already equipped with Siemens L2 (Profibus) ports (mainly S5-95U). I wish to connect them to a TCP/IP Ethernet network so that this Profibus network can communicate with a server which will collect production statistics. The application software requires an OPC connection.
The Ethernet network is a high speed system which already carries various general network traffic (it is not a dedicated control network). No control is contemplated, only monitoring. The reason for using the Ethernet
network is to allow flexibility in relocating lines within the plant.
To implement this, I believe that I need a Profibus to Ethernet bridge. However, I have not been able to find one. I don't want to develop
anything, I would like to buy a working one off the shelf. Each line would have its own bridge (or more than one for large lines). The bridge should be as small as possible (of course) so that it can normally be mounted inside an existing panel. I am currently at the stage in this project where I would like to finalise the bridge selection.
CRITERIA:
The criteria are:
- Profibus to Ethernet.
- off the shelf.
- small and reliable (and 24VDC powered if possible).
- easy to set up and configure.
- both Profibus L2 FDL and Profibus DP (with the PLCs as slaves) - this could require either two bridge versions, or a configurable bridge.
- has an OPC server (driver) available.
- reasonably priced.
QUESTIONS:
1) Is anyone aware of such a bridge as an actual existing product?
2) Is it true that the reason that such a bridge may not be available is because the Profibus committee is still arguing about how to do Profibus over Ethernet?
3) If so, does anyone know when a standard will be approved? When will products based on this standard be available? Is the situation hopeless?
I have looked on the Profibus web site without much success. I have found a product from SST (XLink) which will allow me to make the connection, provided I treat the Ethernet side as if it were a Modicon, GE, or AB system (the XLink will make the translation). However, this seems likely to be confusing to administer, so I would like a more direct system if possible.
I have looked at the following:
- The Hilscher PKV 40 does not seem to be a finished product (at least for the Profibus version).
- Siemens does not have a bridge.
- The ICT Profigate does not use OPC (which my application software requires).
- I cannot seem to get any information on the VCOM Profigate. I'm not sure if this product actually exists.
**********************
Michael Griffin
London, Ont. Canada
[email protected]
**********************