Why So Complicated?

As Industry 4.0 trends have taken shape over the last number of years, rapid advances in technology are now awaiting adoption by industry. But creating technology merely for technology’s sake serves the few rather than the many. Focusing instead on addressing use-cases has proven effective, but something more is needed for adoption to occur. And that is: ease-of-use. A renewed focus on usability is required for today’s technologies to become tomorrow’s solutions.

让我们所有人都在记忆之旅到达时代ProfibusDP。顺便说一句，这并没有消失，并且仍然是当今许多工厂中使用的一项伟大技术。如果我们回想一下安装这些串行网络的方式，那么肯定会有错误的机会。您有9针D-SUB连接器，用于设备寻址的旋转开关，带有中继器的分割，终端电阻等。它并不是过于复杂，但也不是愚蠢的。

结果是，Profibus网络上最常见的问题原因是接线或安装问题。随着工业以太网的所有这些改变。现在，我们使用以太网物理层，而不是RS-485物理层，消除了所有这些接线并发症。

This means that, if you need to extend the network, you simply install an Ethernet switch. Rotary switches for addressing and termination resistors are no longer needed. With the step from Profibus DP to Profinet, we’ve eliminated most causes for problems on an industrial network.

With Profinet, we’ve made addressing easy because the controller handles it. And with Profinet we use names—not numbers—to address devices. BOOTP or DHCP are not needed (although they are optional). Instead, you assign the names, and the controller assigns the IP addresses. And it gets even easier. If you program the network topology into the controller, it can auto-assign device names, making the process even easier.

But what if you need to replace a device? The same underlying technologies—DCP (discovery and configuration protocol) and LLDP (link layer discovery protocol)—that enable easy naming and addressing also make it possible to swap a failed device for a replacement. Simply remove the failed device and swap in a replacement. That’s it. No computer or configuration tools are required. Just plug and play. Profinet leverages these IT technologies to make it happen ‘automagically’.

TSN and APL
So how does the future look with TSN (time-sensitive networking) and Ethernet-APL (advanced physical layer)?

首先。您可能会问：多年来，我一直在听说TSN，在哪里？TSN花时间实现成果的原因是因为它的基本程度。而且，如果基本的网络方面无法通过上层协议透明地使用，那么整个建筑物就会崩溃。因此，尽管TSN的基础是几年前完成的，但现在正在完成的工作是为了使其易于管理。归根结底，TSN只是以太网。就像今天易于使用以太网一样，TSN也应该同样容易。

As for Ethernet-APL—an intrinsically safe version of Ethernet for explosive and hazardous environments— it is as fundamental as TSN, if not more so. Whereas TSN is an ISO/OSI layer 2 technology, APL is a layer 1 technology. But the same principles should apply regarding usability. Profibus PA already exists as an intrinsically safe way to network instruments directly in hazardous areas, so the concept is not new. Ethernet-APL now allows Profinet to do the same. And just like the step from Profibus DP to Profinet, usability is greatly enhanced moving from a serial physical layer to Ethernet. It is left to the protocol to implement the naming, addressing, device replacement, and other usability features. In other words: Ethernet-APL takes Profinet down to the instrument, with Profinet making it all easy to manage.

我们在PI的目标是使TSN和APL等技术进步易于使用。否则，采用将滞后。这些技术是基本的，但不是完整的故事。TSN将我们带到那里获得了强大的融合网络，但是由于它只是以太网，因此它的可用性应与今天的非确定性以太网相同。这就是现在努力的地方。APL将Profinet带入危险区域，但APL只是物理层。PROFINET协议是使可用性有所不同的原因。