Profinet Operation Overview - GE IC695PNC001 User Manual

4

PROFINET Operation Overview

An RX3i PNC uses PROFINET communications for data exchange. The same network can also be
used for basic Ethernet communications, but use of a separate Ethernet LAN and RX3i Ethernet
interface is recommended for most applications.
A PROFINET network can include three types of devices:
PROFINET IO-
Controller
PROFINET IO-
Device
PROFINET IO-
Supervisor
PROFINET Communications
Communications on an RX3i PROFINET network use the standard PROFINET communications
described in this section.
Application Relationships
Before an RX3i PROFINET IO-Controller can exchange data with a PROFINET IO-Device, an
Application Relationship (connection) must be established between the devices. The RX3i
PROFINET IO-Controller automatically sets up the correct number and types of Application
Relationship and Communication Relationship channels (see below) based on its Proficy Machine
Edition configuration. Usually, only one Application Relationship is established per IO-Device.
PACSystems* RX3i PROFINET Controller Manual – December 2011
4-2
In an RX3i system, the RX3i PNC operates as an IO-Controller. It is a
controlling device that is associated with one or more IO-Devices.
A PROFINET IO-Device is a distributed I/O Device that is coupled to a
PROFINET IO-Controller via PROFINET.
An IO-Supervisor can be a programming device, a computer, or an HMI
device. The PROFINET IO-Supervisor is typically used for commissioning
or diagnostics.
GFK-2571A