Technical data

Topologies of SIMATIC NET PROFIBUS networks
2.3 Topologies of wireless networks
PROFIBUS Network Manual
System Manual, Edition 04/2009, C79000-G8976-C124-03
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2.3 Topologies of wireless networks
Overview
Siemens supports communication with a whole family of networks. The various networks
meet the widest possible range of performance and application requirements.
They can exchange data at various levels, between various parts of a plant or between
various automation stations. Since PROFIBUS itself does not provide any wireless
transmission technology, Industrial Wireless Communication with SCALANCE W in
conjunction with the IWLAN/PB Link PN IO takes on a special importance.
Industrial wireless communication stands for the industrial mobile communication products
for wireless communication. These are based on global wireless standards such as IEEE
802.11, GSM, GPRS or UMTS.
The wireless components are equipped with uniform system interfaces and are designed for
perfect interaction with each other. Supplementing the conventional wired solutions, wireless
communication is making greater inroads into industry. Siemens offers products for data
transmission over local networks, intranet, Internet or wireless networks.
SCALANCE W
The products of SCALANCE W offer the unique combination of reliability, ruggedness and
security in one product:
● For implementation at industrial and automation customer sites
● For outdoor environments with demanding climatic requirements
● For low-cost integration in the control cabinet or in devices
The Industrial Wireless LAN (IWLAN) technology provides an extension to the IEEE 802.11
standard that is particularly suited to demanding industrial applications with real-time and
redundancy requirements.
For the first time customers have a single wireless network both for data critical to the
process, for example alarm signaling, (IWLAN) as well as for non-critical communication
(WLAN), for example for service and diagnostics. Some of the main features of SCALANCE
W products are the reliability of the wireless channel and their rugged design with high
standards of mechanical durability for which SIMATIC is known. To protect against
unauthorized access, the products provide modern standard mechanisms for user
identification (authentication) and encryption of data, but can also be easily integrated into
existing security concepts.
Wireless integration of PROFIBUS lines
An existing Ethernet network can be expanded by a mobile network without increased
overheads.
An existing PROFIBUS network can, for example, be connected using an access point and
the IWLAN/PB Link PN IO (see schematic below).
The wireless connection is established to the mobile stations by connecting a SCALANCE W
access point to the Ethernet network. The mobile stations are connected over wireless with a
client module, for example the SCALANCE W746-1PRO client module to which the mobile
station is connected by a cable.