ifeatures – special industrial functions for wireless applications8...industrial parallel...

Industrial Wireless Communication

siemens.com/iwlan

iFeatures – special industrial functions for wireless applicationsIndustrial Wireless LAN

BrochureEdition03/2019

© Siemens AG 2019

www.siemens.com/iwlan

Requirements on industrial networks are constantly in-creasing in the course of digitalization. Wireless commu-nication via Industrial Wireless LAN (IWLAN) is already used in countless solutions, e.g. by mobile network parti-cipants in automatic guided vehicles (AGV) or in crane applications. Not only the hardware, but also the software of the net-work components must meet special requirements for use in the industry. The SCALANCE W portfolio is perfectly suited for this purpose. Siemens has developed special iFeatures for use in indus-trial environments which are enabled by KEY-PLUGs or CLPs inserted into the devices. These smart additional functions can be easily activated as software – also subse-quently – on various IWLAN Access Points and Client Mod-ules.

iFeatures for special demands

Advantages of iFeatures at a glance

◾ Reliable real-time communication with SCALANCE W-700(even with PROFIsafe)

◾ High availability thanks to seamless redundancy ◾ Secure IWLAN communication

Real-time communication

Industrial Point Coordination Function (iPCF) and industri-al Point Coordination Function Management Channel (iPCF-MC) for required deterministics and fast roaming in PROFINET and EtherNet/IP applicationsIn the PROFINET environment, controllers and I/O cannot communicate reliably with each other via the regular IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard because real-time communication and deterministics are lacking. In addition, the roaming times between two radio cells need to be as quick as possible. Our solution enabling use of PROFINET and EtherNet/IP via WLAN for wireless communication with SCALANCE W-700 is the iPCF iFeature for guided applications or iPCF-MC for freely moving network devices.

iPCF for linear applications This supplementary feature is especially relevant for overhead monorails. In such linear structured applications, the use of RCoax radiating cables instead of conventional antennas ensures a reliable and continuous signal quality.

The iPCF iFeature enables the entire data flow of a radio cell to be sorted – making the communication deterministic. This is managed by the Access Point which cyclically polls all the radio cell Clients. iPCF also facilitates fast and reliable switch-ing between two radio cells. Here can be ensured constant roaming times of significantly less than 50 ms.

iPCF-MC for applications with free-moving ClientsiPCF-MC is particularly suitable for applications involving mobile Clients which move freely in the field and which communicate with the controller via PROFINET (and even PROFIsafe) or EtherNet/IP. iPCF-MC provides the necessary deterministics and real-time communication. Although rarely required, applications with RCoax and directional antennas are also possible.

As with iPCF, the Clients are cyclically polled (deterministics). With the iPCF-MC iFeature, the Client scans its environment continuously for alternative Access Points. Should the radio quality deteriorate, a change to another Access Point can be implemented planned and very quickly. This is possible by using two wireless interfaces of the Access Point simulta-neously in different ways: While one interface transmits a cyclic signal (beacon), the other is used for data transfer.

KEY-PLUG (for W-700) or CLP (for W-1700)

iFeatures ForAccess Points

ForClient Modules(or Access Points in Client mode)

KEY-PLUG W780 iFeatures

iPCFiPCF-MCiPRPiREF*Inter AP-Blocking*

● ●

KEY-PLUG W740 iFeatures

iPCFiPCF-MCiPRP

●

KEY-PLUG W700 Security

Inter AP-Blocking ●

SCALANCE CLP 2GB W1780 iFeatures

iPRP● ●

SCALANCE CLP 2GB W1740 iFeatures

iPRP●

* iREF and inter AP-Blocking in Access Point mode only

© Siemens AG 2019

iPCF-MC for applications with free-moving Clients

iPCF for linear applications

AntennaANT793-4MN

Han

ger 1

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ger 2

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RCoax Cable

SCALANCE W734

SCALANCE W778

Radio cell 1 Radio cell 2

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV)

Client Module SCALANCEW748 with ANT795-6MN



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SIMATIC S7-1500

SIMATIC HMI

Access PointSCALANCEW788

Access PointSCALANCEW788

SCALANCE XC-200

SCALANCE XC-200

PROFIsafe Industrial Ethernet

SCALANCE XC-200

© Siemens AG 2019

Industrial Parallel Redundancy Protocol (iPRP) for redundant, reliable IWLAN communicationSpatial barriers, poor wireless coverage or interferences often lead to disturbances. Also the duration of a roaming process cannot generally be predicted. All these factors can often lead to a breakdown in communications.

These problems can occur in all mobile applications, such as in automatic guided vehicles (AGV), for example. Railway applications in which Client Modules in the moving train communicate with the Access Points on the trackside must also meet special requirements.

Redundancy

The iPRP iFeature facilitates the use of redundancy techno-logy for parallel utilization of two radio links in wireless networks. This supplementary function enables redundant communication over two IWLAN connections, even for moving applications. Disruptions to data transfer on one radio link are compensated by parallel transmission on a second link: Whenever the roaming process is delayed or interference occurs, communication continues running reliably via this second path.

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SCALANCEW778-1 M12

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© Siemens AG 2019

Secure communication

Inter AP-Blocking for secure IWLAN communicationInter AP-Blocking prevents cross-communication between WLAN Clients. By defining secure communication partners and gateways, the security risk in a network environment with unknown participants is reduced.

Normally, the Clients connected to an Access Point can com-municate with all the participants of the layer 2 network. This constitutes a potential security risk, because unknown and unsafe network participants can also access your devices. Communication to others in the network is therefore prohi-bited in security related applications in order to avoid data manipulation and theft or other failures.

With the Inter AP-Blocking iFeature, the communication of the Clients connected to the Access Point can be restricted. This additional security function ensures that Clients within the network infrastructure only connect with the pre-defined, secure Access Points. Only those devices whose IP addresses have been configured on the Access Point as allowed ad-dresses can be reached by the Clients. Communication with other network participants is prohibited and is blocked.

Radio cell 1 Radio cell 3Radio cell 2

Communication possibleCommunication not possible G

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SCALANCE W1788

SCALANCE W1788

SCALANCE W1788

Ethernet

© Siemens AG 2019

www.siemens.com/iwlan

Security informationSiemens provides products and solutions with industrial security functions that support the secure operation of plants, systems, machines and networks.

In order to protect plants, systems, machines and networks against cyber threats, it is necessary to implement – and continuously maintain – a holistic, state-of-the-art industrial security concept. Siemens’ products and solutions constitute one element of such a concept.

Customers are responsible for preventing unauthorized access to their plants, systems, machines and networks. Such systems, machines and components should only be connected to an enterprise network or the internet if and to the extent such a connection is necessary and only when appropriate security measures (e.g. firewalls and/or network segmentation) are in place.

For additional information on industrial security measures that may be implemented, please visit https://www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity.

Siemens’ products and solutions undergo continuous deve-lopment to make them more secure. Siemens strongly recommends that product updates are applied as soon as they are available and that the latest product versions are used. Use of product versions that are no longer supported, and failure to apply the latest updates may increase customer’s exposure to cyber threats.

To stay informed about product updates, subscribe to the Siemens Industrial Security RSS Feed under https://www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity.

Get more informationWireless approvals:www.siemens.com/wireless-approvals

PLUGs for network components:www.siemens.com/plugs

Services:www.siemens.com/industrial-networks-services

Siemens AGDigital IndustriesProcess AutomationÖstliche Rheinbrückenstr. 5076187 Karlsruhe, Germany

© Siemens AG 2019Subject to change without prior noticePDF (6ZB5530-0CX02-0BA1)BR 0319 6 EnProduced in Germany

The information provided in this catalog contains merely general descriptions or characteristics of performance which in case of actual use do not always apply as described or which may change as a result of further development of the products. An obligation to provide the respective characteristics shall only exist if expressly agreed in the terms of contract. Availability and technical specifications are subject to change without notice.

All product designations may be trademarks or product names of Siemens AG or supplier companies whose use by third parties for their own purposes could violate the rights of the owners

© Siemens AG 2019

http://www.siemens.com/iwlan

https://www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity

https://www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity

http://www.siemens.com/wireless-approvals

http://www.siemens.com/plugs

http://www.siemens.com/industrial-networks-services

ifeatures – special industrial functions for wireless applications8...industrial parallel...

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