ETHERNET DRIVE NETWORKING

Quick Summary: PROFInet is really three different networking technologies; PROFInet CBA, PROFInet IO and PROFInet IRT. PROFInet CBA is a component model version of PROFInet. In CBA, PROFInet devices are Microsoft COM (Component Object Model) servers that represent device data using COM objects. These COM objects use standard COM Coclass (COM Class) classes, Interface pointers and member functions. Data is transported between a COM client and server at 10msec intervals. The solid infrastructure of COM, its data abstraction mechanisms and the ability to easily build distributed applications are incorporated into PROFInet CBA.

PROFInet IO is the I/O version. It is much more like Profibus than like PROFInet CBA. Like Profibus, data is organized and transported over the network as I/O data. Data can be moved from server to client (PLC) at 1msec type speeds.

PROFInet IRT is the isochronous version of PROFInet. This version is for coordinating high-speed motion control and is capable of response times in the 250nsec range.

Advantages: PROFInet builds on the world-class and highly popular Profibus standard.

Disadvantages: PROFInet is not easily ported to other architectures.

Summary
The industrial market is rapidly moving to a point where every single drive will be networked and the network will be some version of Industrial Ethernet. Gradually, serial, CAN and other network implementations will give way to Ethernet. In 2005 end users will no longer tolerate drive islands. Connectivity to provide status, rapid reconfiguration, energy monitoring and exception reporting will be the norm. Drive manufacturers must move quickly in 2005 to position themselves with Ethernet and one or more of the more pervasive application layer protocols; PROFInet, EtherNet/IP and Modbus/TCP.