Profibus Listener Hardware

Hello qwemx;

There are few passive "listener" staions offered in the market for Profibus-DP, some process value displays acting as listeners on Profibus-PA are available, for examle these units from BEKA (note, no OPC connection):

https://www.beka.co.uk/pdfs/profibus_summary.pdf

The way Profibus-DP was designed makes it difficult to have listener nodes, since normally the slave nodes on the network must be connected to a master that holds a specific configuration for each one. And the use of a Class-2 master (HMI, SCADA station), even thugh it requires no configuration in the Class-1 master (the PLC)  still implies a node address for the HMI and changes in the Profibus token-passing.

The additional OPC server functionalities you desire for your Profibus-DP listener increases the difficulty in suggesting a model, but this hardware/software combination from Softing might fit your requirements (I have no idea of pricing, though, contact Softing): hardware "listener" station not requiring a Profibus address or configuration, softwre for collecting the data from the listener and able to connect through OPC UA to remote stations.

- Softing TH LINK Profibus (passive hardware Profibus station)

https://industrial.softing.com/uploads/softing_downloads/TH_LINK_PB_I_EN_01.pdf

- Softing TH Scope software (with OPC UA server functionalities)

https://industrial.softing.com/uploads/softing_downloads/TH_SCOPE_U_V3_70-1_EN.pdf

Hope this helps,

Daniel Chartier

Hello qwemx;

My original reply tried to answer your request for a Profibus-DP listener, with certain requirements that would allow you to be transparent to the Profibus network and allow you to connect the collected data to a higher-up MES system. Softing has also orovided a solution, based on IOT connectivity, that could provide most of the functionalities you need.

Before you go further in this project, I have to ask: since all the PKW and PZD in your Profibus-DP network drives are already connected to and collected in your PLC, why do you need a listener to communicate this data to a management system? Would it not be simpler and easier to connect your MES system to your PLC directly, using OPC UA or some flavour of classical OPC, OPC DA for example?

Would you mind giving us a glimpse of your network configuration as it stands, and your future needs? 

Hope this helps,

Daniel Chartier

Hi qwemx

I suggest you have a look at www.iba-ag.com as an ibaPDA system in combination with an ibaBM-DP will give you exactly the capability you want.

The BM-DP can be used as passive listener (or "Sniffer" as we call it, no node address required) on the PROFIBUS, read out any and all I/O data from it in real time and then push it up to the ibaPDA PC via fiber optic.

Better still, the ibaBM-DP also has bus monitoring capabilities that can be used to keep a watchful eye on the long term health of the PROFIBUS Network.

An OPC DA Server (as well as Client interface) is included in the PDA Server, an OPC UA Server or Client can be added via license addition if required. 

Should this interest you, get in touch with your local iba Office (see https://www.iba-ag.com/en/contact) and they'll look after you.