Architecture PROFINET: exam questions with worked answers

Questions for the "Architecture" topic

1. Q01

   PROFINET defines three device roles: IO Controller (equivalent to the PLC master), IO Device (equivalent to a slave: sensor, actuator) and IO Supervisor (engineering PC used for diagnostics and configuration).

   TrueFalse

   1. Architecture· Device-Rollen-Modell· Easy

   ▸

   Correct answer

   True

   Learning tip

   The three standardised roles are: IO Controller, which runs the PLC program, reads inputs and writes outputs (Siemens S7, Rockwell ControlLogix, etc.); IO Device, the field equipment such as sensors, actuators, drives or remote IO modules; and IO Supervisor, the engineering PG/PC used for commissioning, debugging and diagnostics (TIA Portal, STEP 7, etc.). A single PROFINET network may host several IO Controllers using the shared device architecture.

   Source: PROFINET System Description, PI (public)

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2. Q02

   A GSDML file (Generic Station Description Markup Language) is provided by the manufacturer of a PROFINET IO Device and is imported into the engineering tool (e.g. TIA Portal) to integrate the device into the project.

   TrueFalse

   1. Architecture· GSDML· Medium

   ▸

   Correct answer

   True

   Learning tip

   GSDML is the PROFINET equivalent of the ".knxprod" file in KNX. It is a standardised XML format that describes the supported modules, submodules, parameters and diagnostic information of the device. It is imported once into a project or into the local library of the engineering station, and the rule of thumb is to always use the most recent GSDML version that is compatible with the device firmware.

   Source: PROFINET GSDML specification (PI)

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