What does PROFIBUS work with?

It works with Siemens S7-300, Siemens S7-400, KUKA KR C2, Distributed I/O modules.

What should I watch for with PROFIBUS?

Segment length and baud rate must match across the whole trunk. Termination resistors at both ends are required for reliable signal. New robot controllers increasingly drop native PROFIBUS support.

Fieldbus & networking

PROFIBUS

Older RS-485 based fieldbus still found on legacy Siemens cells, largely superseded by PROFINET but still active in many plants.

PROFIBUS DP uses a shielded twisted-pair trunk cable to link a PLC master with distributed I/O, drives, and robot controllers acting as slave devices. It was the standard choice on Siemens-based lines for roughly two decades before PROFINET took over for new designs.

Configuration relies on GSD files loaded into the engineering tool, similar in concept to PROFINET but over a serial rather than Ethernet physical layer. Segment length, baud rate, and termination all need to match across the trunk for reliable communication.

Plants with older Siemens S7-300 or S7-400 installations often keep PROFIBUS running for existing robot cells while using PROFINET for anything added afterward.

Related integrations

profinet siemens s7 1500 ethernet ip

Common questions

What does PROFIBUS do?: Older RS-485 based fieldbus still found on legacy Siemens cells, largely superseded by PROFINET but still active in many plants.
What does PROFIBUS work with?: It works with Siemens S7-300, Siemens S7-400, KUKA KR C2, Distributed I/O modules.
What should I watch for with PROFIBUS?: Segment length and baud rate must match across the whole trunk. Termination resistors at both ends are required for reliable signal. New robot controllers increasingly drop native PROFIBUS support.