Planning, configuration and management of industrial communication networks using Internet technology

Industrial communication networks based on field-buses require specific software tools for planning, configuration and management. The integration of field-buses into intranet-based enterprise networks provides a platform for the introduction of a new quality of software tools for field-bus handling. The paper shows concepts, scenarios and requirements for the Web-integrated management of fieldbus systems. Exemplary solutions with P-NET and CAN are described. Strategies are shown for a mapping of the bus systems' management function blocks to Internet technology and Internet software components. Furthermore, problems, benefits and future trends of this integration are discussed from the users' and vendors' points of view.