User`s guide

Industrial Protocols PROFINET I/O
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I/O Supervisor
This can be a programming device, personal computer (PC), or human machine interface (HMI) device for
commissioning or diagnostic purposes.
I/O Device
An I/O device is a distributed I/O field device that is connected to one or more I/O controllers via PROFINET
I/O. The I/O device is the provider of input data and the consumer of output data.
PROFINET I/O Devices
The MOXA switch is a PROFINET I/O device. A device model describes all field devices in terms of their
possible technical and functional features. It is specified by the DAP (Device Access Point) and the defined
modules for a particular device family. A DAP is the access point for communication with the Ethernet
interface and the processing program.
PROFINET Protocols
DCP
In PROFNET I/O, each field device has a symbolic name that uniquely identifies the field device within a
PROFINET I/O system. This name is used for assigning the IP address and the MAC address. The DCP
protocol (Dynamic Configuration Protocol) integrated in every I/O device is used for this purpose.
DHCP
Because DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is in widespread use internationally, PROFINET has
provided for optional address setting via DHCP or via manufacturer-specific mechanisms.
PROFINET Type LLDP
Automation systems can be configured flexibly in a line, star, or tree structure. To compare the specified
and actual topologies, to determine which field devices are connected to which switch port, and to identify
the respective port neighbor, LLDP according to IEEE 802.1AB was applied in PROFINET I/O.
PROFINET filed bus exchange existing addressing information with connected neighbour devices via each
switch port. The neighbor devices are thereby unambiguously identified and their physical location is
determined.
Device descriptions
GSD file
The GSD files (General Station Description) of the field devices to be configured are required for system
engineering. This XML-based GSD describes the properties and functions of the PROFINET I/O field devices. It
contains all data relevant for engineering as well as for data exchange with the device.
Find your field device GSD file in the CD or download the GSD file from the MOXA web site.