3 Network Analysis Task

PRONETA’s Network Analysis gives you a quick overview about which devices are installed in your PROFINET network, and how they are connected with each other. The Network Analysis also lets you view and change various network parameters of the devices, like IP addresses, device names etc.

Different networks can be compared with each other, and the devices can be configured automatically or manually.

3.3 Comparison Mode

Comparison mode serves to compare two networks with each other – usually one will be the physical network as found during the current network scans, and the other one will be a reference network. The reference network in turn can be a saved topology file of a network scan, a network as configured in a STEP 7 project, or AML data.

The main screen is separated into:

A Topologies List (1) of “Topologies for Comparison”

One major (top) and two smaller (bottom) Graphical Views (2)

Two Device Tables (3) with the devices stored in the selected topologies

A pane border (4) allows for the opening and closing of the bottom Graphical Views and for changing the relative sizes

Function Bar

The following functions are available in the Function Bar:

Icon

Name

Function

 

On the far right of the Function Bar, there are the Device Search and the Scanner Status Indicator.

Set Comparison Criteria

The comparison criteria determine which device parameters are used in establishing differences between topologies or devices, respectively. Two devices are considered “counterparts” to each other only if they have the same values for all the parameters checked in this dialog, and if they fall within the IP address range chosen, if one is defined.

Topology List

In this window the current online topology and a list of stored network topologies for comparison is displayed. Add more topologies through the commands in the function bar.

To remove an entry, right-click in the list, and apply the “Remove File” command.

To compare two of the topologies from the list with each other, select both balance icons to the right of the respective topology names. The top entry of the pair will be displayed in the Graphical View and compared to the bottom entry.

The list of topologies displayed here is retained between PRONETA sessions.

Graphical View

The Graphical View is a graphical display of the PROFINET network. For details on its operation, see Graphical View in the Online mode.

Display of Devices without a Counterpart

For devices with a red border, no equivalent counterpart was found in the other topology. Equivalency is determined by the parameters configured through Set Comparison Criteria.

Graphical Views “Overview” and “Details”

The larger view shows an overview of the top network chosen in the topologies list.

Below the Overview are two topology Detail Views which highlight any device selected in the overview or the Device Table; the left detail view showing the device in the first topology, the right one showing the corresponding topology configuration in the second one (if there is any).

A red border around a device symbol indicates that differences between the devices in the first and the second network exist. Hovering over such a symbol in either of the detail views brings up a tooltip with more details about the differences.

Differences may be the network configuration, module status etc., as configured through Set Comparison Criteria.

Tool Bar

In the top section of the view, there is a tool bar with a variety of function icons:

Icon

Name

Function

Device Context Menu

By right-clicking on any device in a Graphical View or in the corresponding Device Table, you can bring up a context menu with various functions.

Not all menu entries are available for all devices with the actual entries depending on the state of the device and the device type.

Icon

Name

Function

Device Tables

On the right side of the Comparison mode window there are two side-by-side device tables. The left table lists the devices found in the first network, while the right table lists the devices of the second network.

Clicking on an entry in either table will focus the corresponding network in the Graphical Views on this device.