Definition
PROFIBUS is an established serial fieldbus protocol for connecting industrial controllers, sensors, drives, and other field devices, predating the widespread shift to Ethernet-based industrial networking. It remains common in existing installations, particularly in Siemens-centric environments, alongside the newer Ethernet-based PROFINET.
Key facts
- A serial fieldbus protocol, distinct from Ethernet-based protocols like PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, or EtherCAT.
- Widely deployed in existing installations, particularly Siemens-centric plants, predating broader Ethernet adoption in industrial networking.
- PROFIBUS and PROFINET share naming and organizational lineage but are technically distinct: one serial, one Ethernet-based.
- Remains relevant for maintaining and troubleshooting existing installed base even as newer projects favor Ethernet-based alternatives.
How does PROFIBUS work in maintenance?
PROFIBUS connects field devices (sensors, drives, I/O modules) to a central controller over a serial bus, using a defined protocol for how devices take turns communicating on the shared line, established well before Ethernet-based industrial networking became the more common choice for new installations.
What does PROFIBUS require?
PROFIBUS is the earlier, serial-bus protocol; PROFINET is its Ethernet-based successor, sharing organizational lineage and naming but using fundamentally different underlying network technology. Existing PROFIBUS installations remain common and continue to require maintenance expertise even as new projects typically choose PROFINET or another Ethernet-based protocol.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What communication task does PROFIBUS perform?
PROFIBUS connects industrial controllers, sensors, and drives over a serial fieldbus, remaining common in existing installations predating the shift to its Ethernet-based successor, PROFINET.
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