Industrial Automation Softing PROFINET Diagnostic Tools Written by Dave Tomlin, Automation Specialist, Hitex (UK) Ltd Softing is one of the leading manufacturers of PROFINET diagnosis tools. Their tools help to avoid failures before they stop your production and sort out failures quickly if your network needs maintenance. The tools we offer can be used by people with a range of knowledge. Many of them have a high level indicator of the status of the network so that a person with only a basic understanding can test and then escalate to more experienced technical staff when required. There are two ways of tackling PROFINET diagnostics: a pure software route which runs on a PC or hardware and software which allows you to have dedicated hardware in the cabinet that requires no further maintenance in the field. As this is not something that can always be said about a Windows PC, this can give extra peace of mind when needed. It is also necessary to consider the testing and possible certification of the cabling in the network. As well as these permanently placed options, Softing also offers a range of hand held tools, which are also described in this document. Software only As mentioned above, the first (but least popular) option in tackling PROFINET diagnostics is software only with TH LINK PC with TH SCOPE. This approach is ideal for trouble shooting multiple networks in different locations, but is not very suitable for permanent monitoring as it requires a PC local to the network concerned. What is TH LINK PC? The TH LINK PC industrial Ethernet software product provides powerful industrial network diagnostics for plant operators and maintenance engineers. The diagnostic data is collected in networks comprising up to 254 nodes and made available to users through the TH SCOPE software application. TH LINK PC Industrial Ethernet is designed for temporary and continuous operation and supports the PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP protocols. Further details on the TH SCOPE software suite can be found later in this document. Software and hardware together The second (and more popular) method is using the TH LINK PROFINET and TH SCOPE together, which involves dedicated hardware installed within the cabinet.
What is TH LINK PROFINET? The TH LINK PROFINET diagnostics tool makes use of a controller-independent access to monitor PROFINET networks. The diagnostic data is collected in networks comprising up to 254 nodes, and made available to users through the TH SCOPE software application. TH LINK PROFINET is easy to use and can be integrated without interfering with the operation of existing installations. Some of the features and benefits of the TH LINK PROFINET are: Access the network without the need for mirror ports or taps Separate the industrial network from the administration or IT network for security Act as a PROFINET supervisor in PROFINET networks Analyse network loading Produce acceptance testing reports Greatly assist in fault identification with english fault reports Seamlessly integrate with TH SCOPE What is the TH SCOPE? TH SCOPE is a software product for industrial network management and network diagnostics. Geared to plant operators and maintenance personnel, TH SCOPE is a comprehensive, easy-to-use solution for permanent monitoring, predictive maintenance, acceptance testing and troubleshooting.
Combined with TH LINK components, the product supports PROFIBUS, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP protocols. See the benefits for yourself... We are always happy to visit your site to give a demonstration of these products. However, as this can sometimes take a little planning, we do also have a demo network running in Germany which can be accessed via the link here (bit.ly/2b34fk9) where you can see the tools in action, and indeed have an experiment with them yourself. Hand-held diagnostics tools for PROFINET networks Softing also has a range of hand-held tools to compliment the permanent and software monitoring solutions described previously in this document. These handy tools give your teams the information they need to keep things running smoothly and on time in their pockets and at their fingertips. Industrial Ethernet Tester BC-200-ETH The Industrial Ethernet Tester BC-200-ETH is an industrial-strength troubleshooting instrument for cable testing, network and data analysis, and bandwidth assessment of Ethernet networks. It is an ideal tool for commissioning staff, system integrators and maintenance engineers. Easy-to-use tester Colour touchscreen Intuitive and easy-to-use menu facilitating quick tests Clear and easy-to-read display of test results Expert mode for additional details and useful troubleshooting tips Integrated help system Economical multifunctional tool Cable tester functionality addressing networks checks for short circuits, continuity and incorrect wiring, including location of existing cabling problems Protocol analyser functionality monitoring the network data communication Configurable data filters for quick identification and correction of complex problems Internal storage of up to 10,000 data packets for further analysis on PC Test of installation robustness by injecting different levels of traffic load
Bandwidth check for robust operation Network performance check Identification of missing bandwidth for performing real-time data exchange Results sorted by protocols and network nodes Performance of standardised stress test according RFC2455 Possible inclusion of results in installation certificates Active functionality for troubleshooting Testing the reachability of defined IP addresses (Ping) Diagnosing route and time of packets to destination (Traceroute) Searching for active network components (Discovery) WireXpert WireXpert can certify the highest performance cabling systems in enterprise networks and data centres. Cable installers make significant gains in productivity with WireXpert s fast auto-tests and ease of use. With certification testing up to Class FA and CAT8 copper cabling, as well as MPO, SM and MM fibre optic cabling, WireXpert is ready for 40G and beyond. In fact, major cable vendors are using WireXpert in their labs for qualifying CAT8 cabling systems under development. NetXpert 1400 IE NetXpert 1400 IE provides a complete solution for cable testing, performance analysis and troubleshooting of Industrial Ethernet networks, enabling rapid, simple verification and documentation of the capability of cabling links with RJ45 and M12 connectors. Reduction of machine downtime Quick and easy detection of cable faults Defined and documented network status before machine startup Identification of logical network problems through test of active network components Qualification of passive network components Support of 4 wire industrial network cables Full colour wiremap Cable length and distance to cable faults including pair length Data transmission test with 10 Mbit/s, 100 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s
Test of active network components Link test Ping and Traceroute Switch port identification LLDP and VLAN discovery Documentation and reporting of measurements Measurement data stored in internal memory SD card for additional memory USB connection for alternative transfer of measurement data to PC Find out more... To learn more about these products and solutions, or to discuss any other queries you may have, please contact Dave Tomlin on 024 7669 2066.