7
PROFIBUS-DP Network configuration
Section 1-2
1-2
PROFIBUS-DP Network configuration
In order to operate a PROFIBUS network, each master in the network needs
to be configured. This process of PROFIBUS master configuration involves:
• setting up the network topology, i.e. assigning the slave devices with
which the master will be exchanging data,
• defining the parameterization data, which the master will send to each of
the slave devices, before process data exchange can commence
• defining the configuration data, i.e. defining the process data, which will
be exchanged,
• setting up the bus parameters, which define the baud rate and the bus
timing parameters.
• downloading the configuration setup to the master device.
Configuration Technology
The configuration process is usually facilitated by a special Computer based
program, often referred to as a Configurator. The Configurator requires spe-
cial configuration files, defining the configuration options for each device,
which is to participate in data exchange. The files must be provided by the
manufacturer of the device.
Two types of configuration technology exist:
• Configuration technology based on FDT/DTM technology
• Configuration technology based on GSD-files
FDT/DTM Concept
The FDT/DTM concept specifies the interfaces between the engineering sys-
tems called Field Device Tools (FDT), and the device-specific software com-
ponents called Device Type Managers (DTM).
The FDT/DTM concept separates the device dependent functionality (which is
in the DTM) from the application. It provides separate interfaces for device
configuration, monitoring and maintenance solutions, which before largely
depended on the manufacturer of the application. Because of this concept,
FDT/DTM technology is not limited to PROFIBUS applications. In concept,
any type of network can be configured and accessed, provided the appropri-
ate DTM’s are available.
CX-Profibus is an example of a FDT container application. It is described in
detail in the following sections.
GSD file Technology
The older and most commonly used configuration technology is the based on
GSD files (General Slave Data file). A GSD file is a text file, containing the
characteristic features and configuration options of a device. The device data
base file of each device is loaded in the configurator and downloaded to the
master device.
GSD files are usually supplied with a unit, or can be downloaded from the
Internet, either from the manufacturer's site, or from the GSD library of the
PROFIBUS Nutzer Organisation at http://www.profibus.com.
GSD File Language
The language used in the GSD file is indicated by the last letter of the file
extension, *.GS?:
Default
= GSD
English
= GSE
German
= GSG
Italian
= GSI
Portuguese
= GSP
Spanish
= GSS
The GSD files are prepared individually by the vendor for each type of device,
according to a fixed format. Some parameters are mandatory, some have a
