What is the difference between MODBUS and PROFIBUS?

I think they are communication

protocols but what is the basic difference.

They are two different communications protocols. If you want a rough analogy, it's like two different
languages. Profibus is speaking German and Modbus is speaking English. Both languages work, but
the two speakers can't communicate.

Profibus has certain protocol features that let certain versions of it operate in multi-master mode on
RS-485, while Modbus could be only single master. However, Modbus can operate on Ethernet
(including multiple masters) while Profibus can't (Profinet can, but Profinet is not the same as
Profibus).
Profibus is supported by Siemens
In short, Profibus was good in its day, but its specialised features tied it closely to RS-485, which has
resulted in it becoming obsolete (although there's lots of it still around).

Modbus is still going strong because its simplicity let it evolve to adapt to Ethernet without significant
change. It's now one of the major Ethernet protocols used in automation. The older serial (RS-232 and
RS-485) versions are still around as well.

What is the difference between HART and Fieldbus?

That is like answering "what is the difference between a bicycle tire and a car?" HART is only meant for
communication protocol, whereas Fieldbus is actually a system architecture including control strategy etc.

Not merely better, but radically different. Indeed, mistaking Fieldbus for a "digital 4-20 mA" or a better DCS is like
mistaking the computer for a better typewriter. It cannot even be compared to "smart" transmitter protocols. Imagine
for a moment: A system that renders obsolete all separate signal conditioners, isolation amplifiers, input cards, output
cards, CPU cards, I/P converters, and their web of interconnecting wires, almost an entire DCS. A system completely
self-contained; expressed simply as field devices and a man-machine interface (MMI) like an operator console. A
system where all controls, alarms, computation, selection, Totalization and much more - performed by the field
devices' microprocessors. A system so powerful it may overcome a process’ controls problems with a few clicks of a
mouse.

Fieldbus is the ultimate. The signal transmission has evolved to completely digital, system architecture has evolved to
completely distributed to the field. I.e. Fieldbus not only replaces 4-20 mA, but also the by now hopelessly outdated
DCS architecture of the seventies.

03 - What are the benefits of Fieldbus?

 The benefits of Fieldbus are many and some were already described;

 Lower cost of purchase and ownership;

 Productivity and quality increase;

 Higher integrity and accuracy;

 Access to more information and diagnosis;

 Easier installation and start-up;

 Freedom of component choice;

 Easier to configure;

 Easy for having single consistent database;

 What is modbus and profibus?

 Modbus is a industrial communications protocol designed by Modicon in 1979 widely used in
industry, while Profibus is a field bus standard developed by various companies (among the...
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_modbus_and_profi...
 What is profibus communicatio protocol?
 Profibus is a field bus standard that contains a set of protocols (located in three levels of the OSI
model) that make possible communication between PLCs and distributed I/O modul...
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_profibus_communi...
 What is PROFIBUS protocol?
 PROFIBUS (Process Fieldbus) is an open, standards-based industrial automation protocol.
PROFIBUS is now one of the most successful and widely adopted fieldbus protocols; it is one ...
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1980917...
 What does PROFIBUS stand for?
 Process Field Bus
http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Profibus...
 What is the different between foundation fieldbus and Profibus?
 Both Profibus(PA) and FF H1 started off in the same working group and have much in common:
the physical medium on which both operates is in accordance to IEC 1152-2 intrinsically s...
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_Fieldbus_works...
 What is the profibus and fieldbus in instrument?
 These are digital communications systems linking factory-floor controls and instrumentation with
computers. Both are of the family of "buses", and there are others such as Ethernet...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200702...
 What is profibus, RS 485, Ethernet?
 RS-485 is a standard defining the electrical characteristics of drivers and receivers for use in
balanced digital multipoint systems Ethernet is a protocol for defining frame-based...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201011...
 What is the differents between profibus and DCS?
 PROFIBUS- PROcess FIeld BUS. It is a protocol for communication between Programmable
Logic Controller (or it can be any micro-controller) and I.E.D (Intelligent Electronic Device- ...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200712...
 Profibus termination, what did this mean?
 Introduction The Profibus DP expansion board provides communications so ASDs (adjustable
speed drives) can be linked together to form a network. Using a central PLC (Programmable L...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200710...
 What's the difference between profibus and ethernet?
 Profibus is meant for production environments like factories, ethernet is better suitable for office
environments. Apart from that, ethernet can go up to 10 Gb now, whereas Profibu...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200702...
 What does PROFIBUS-FMS stand for?
 Process Field Bus - Fieldbus Message Specification
http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/PROFIBUS-FMS...
 What does PROFIBUS-DP stand for?
 Process Field Bus - Decentral Peripherals
http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Process+Fiel...
 How is profibus faster than field bus?
 How is PROFIBUS faster than fieldbus? If only there was an easy answer. If you mean how is
PROFIBUS PA faster than Foundation Fieldbus, it isn’t. They are built on the same communi...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201102...
 what is MODBUS,PROFIBUS,FIELD BUS & I/O Bus?
 PLC for "Programmable Logic Controller". Historically a PLC forte was in discrete control of
manufacturing processes. Most of the inputs and outputs for discrete control are binary...
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Plant-Automation-Contro...
 What is the difference between single channel and double
channelprofibus.?
 Get your 42" Plasma TV right now. Source(s): THIS IS SIMPLY TOO GOOD TO MISS-
http://tune.in/lb
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200707...
 What are difference between various communications used in
instrumentation and automation like profibus, modbus, serial interface,
fieldbus?
 Wow, way too broad a topic to answer here without some sort of clarification about what you are
trying to accomplish. The differences between those that you list include the physic...
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Plant-Automation-Contro...
 What's the similarities and differences between modbus,profibus, rs-232
and rs-485(SCADA)?
 You are talking "Apples vs oranges and pears" here. Modbus and Profibus are both protocols,
ways of encoding information for messages. It is like a language for computers to speak ...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200705...
 How to Connect Profibus Cable to Socket?
 Passive Components for RS-485 Networks Figure 4-13 Fitting the LAN Cables in the
FastConnect Bus Connector 6ES7972-0B.50-0XA0 Figure 4-14 Fitting the LAN Cables in the
FastConnect ...
http://www.scribd.com/doc/14037555/How-to-Connect-...
 What is PROFIBUS ?
 PROFIBUS is an international fieldbus communications standard for linking process control and
plant automation modules. Instead of running individual cables from a main controller ...
http://www.hiport.co.uk/Images/What%20is%20Profibu...(1).htm
 What is PROFIBUS PA?
 Profibus PA is system solution for connecting automation systems with field instruments. Profibus
PA is based on Profibus DP acc. to EN 50170. The Profibus PA profile defines the b...
http://www.vega.com/en/7177_7212.htm...
 WHERE DOES PROFIBUS FIT IN?
 PROFIBUS® is a worldwide standard for transmission of process data between field level devices
and programmable controllers. How can I/O data and other information travel between P...
http://www.rtaautomation.com/profinetcba/...
 What is PROFIBUS-DP?
 This is the performance optimized version of PROFIBUS, specifically dedicated to time-critical
communication between automation systems and distributed peripherals. It is suitable ...
http://www.profibus.com/technology/profibus/faq/...
 What are the roots of PROFIBUS?
  There was also minor sponsorship from the German government. The result of the project was
the first draft of DIN 19245, the PROFIBUS standard, Parts 1 and 2.
http://www.profibus.com/technology/profibus/faq/...
 How to start PROFIBUS configuration?
 slave address and a name) have to be entered in the second page of the PROFIBUS
Configuration dialog. The list may contain the information about all slaves in the segment. The
PROF...
http://iom.invensys.com/EN/ProductDownloads1/PC20_...
 How to troubleshoot this Profibus Fault?
 Once the system is up and running its easy. If I remember right you had in the master, QB2 and
IB2, and in the slave QB3 and IB3. In the master's program anything written to QB2 wi...
http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?t=3941...
 What Is A Profibus Network?
 A PROFIBUS connects field devices such as distributed I/O station or drives to automation
systems. PROFIBUS networks are use for the following applications. Electrical transmission...
http://uk.ask.com/question/what-is-a-profibus-netw...
 What is the Hamming Distance in Profibus networks?
 The Hamming Distance is a measure of how secure a protocol is against misinterpretation of a
packet with errors as a different legal packet. The 'packet' in this context refers to ...
http://www.mtl-inst.com/support/faq_bim...
 What is a Profile within PROFIBUS PA?
 Modern PA devices are intelligent and can execute part of the information processing in
automation systems. This was previously done by the PLCs or DCS systems. The PA profile is
d...
http://www.procentec.com/faq/profibus/index.php...
 Which GSD files are there for the Profibus DP operator panels?
 If you have installed ProTool or WinCC flexible on your configuration computer, then the GSD files
of the operator panels that can be configured are already installed on the config...
http://support.automation.siemens.com/WW/llisapi.d...
 How is Profibus PA different from Foundation Fieldbus?
 Both Profibus PA and Foundation Fieldbus share the same Physical layer definitions. Therefore
the connection and power equipment that Relcom makes will work identically for both ty...
http://www.relcominc.com/fieldbus/faq.htm...
Tutorial – Introduction to Fieldbus
Traditionally wired systems

The sensors and actuators that are connected to the inputs and outputs (IO) of a Programmable Controller or PLC
(Programmable Logic Controller) are normally mounted in the plant or factory. Therefore the IO connections of a
traditional control system often involve long runs of cable from the control room to the plant. To attempt to reduce
cabling effort, multi-core cables can be used, but these require junction boxes and/or marshalling racks to route the
signals to the correct location. Consequently each IO channel can involve many connections as the signal passes
from cable to cable. Such wiring is expensive to install, complex to maintain and fault-finding can be difficult.
 Traditional point to point wiring
Fieldbus

Fieldbus is an industrial network that is specifically designed for communication between PLCs or industrial
controllers and the field-mounted sensors and actuators. Fieldbus is designed to replace the point-to-point wiring that
connects each sensor and actuator to the controller IO.

When the fieldbus is integrated into the sensor or actuator the devices often provide additional capability such as
remote device configuration and/or testing over the bus. Integrated devices can also provide diagnostic information
back to the control room to help diagnose and locate device faults. Thus devices with integrated fieldbus are often
more capable or “intelligent” than traditional actuators or sensors.

Remote IO stations can also be used with fieldbus wiring. Here the digital or analogue IO modules are mounted in the
field, close to the sensors and actuators and the data is communicated to the remote IO module via the fieldbus
cable. However, when using remote IO the field devices cannot use the bus to communicate additional data such as
parameters or diagnostics. Here, we must use traditional (non-intelligent) actuators and sensors.

Fieldbus wiring significantly reduces cables and connections

Fieldbus has many advantages over conventional point-to-point wiring:

  A significant reduction in installation costs (typically 20% to 40% savings). This saving comes from reduced
wiring, connections, junction boxes, marshalling cabinets, cable trays and supports etc.
 System expansion and modification is simpler and less expensive since only the additional cable run from
the existing network to the new device must be installed.
 Two-way communication means that additional information such as calibration and configuration data,
diagnostic and test information, device documentation such as device tag numbers; serial numbers service
history etc. can be communicated over the network. Equipment maintenance and servicing become more
centralised.
 Since communication is digital, accuracy is not affected by noise, interference or electrical loading effects
etc. This is a particular advantage in transmitting analogue values.
 Open standards mean that multi-vendor systems can be constructed. Product certification ensures that
communication will work between devices from different manufacturers.
Types of fieldbus

There are many different fieldbus types available, most of which are defined by international standards and are
supported by many different manufacturers. Specific fieldbus types are often designed for particular application areas
or industries. For example, the requirements for the process industry are often quire different from those of part
manufacturing or materials handling. What is suitable and cost effective for one application area is often not
appropriate for another. Sometimes we need a simple low-cost fieldbus; other times we need extensive or flexible
data capability. Some fieldbus systems need to be able to operate in potentially explosive atmospheres; others
require extremely high reliability for safety-critical applications. Some fieldbus systems are designed to carry power to
the field devices over the bus cable (power over the bus). This is often done using just two cable cores to carry power
and data.

The different types of fieldbus are generally not compatible with each other. This means that devices on a network
must all use the same type of fieldbus. However, this does not mean that different fieldbusses cannot be used
together in an application. Gateways can be used to connect one type of network or fieldbus to another. These
provide conversion from one technology to another and allow data to be passed between networks. Quite often an
application will involve several different types of network arranged in a hierarchical manner.

Many people ask why we can’t just have one type of network for all applications and levels. The answer is that there
are many different requirements for communications in separate areas of the plant and at different levels in the
hierarchy. Many different considerations must be taken into account: The required communication speed; data size
and structure; environmental factors like explosion risk, wet or dirty conditions, ambient temperature variations,
existence of electrical interference etc. Some networking solutions are suitable only for clean and dry environments;
others can be used in exposed locations. Cost, capability and robustness often vary greatly from one fieldbus to
another.

By far the most common fieldbus is PROFIBUS, with well over 20 million devices installed around the world.
PROFIBUS has solutions available for a wide range of applications including factory automation, process plant
including explosive environments, high-speed motion control, high-integrity functional safety systems.

Another popular bus technology is Actuator-Sensor Interface (AS-i), which is widely used in factory automation
systems. AS-i is often used in conjunction with PROFIBUS for connecting simple binary (on-off) sensors and
actuators to the PROFIBUS network using a gateway.

Ethernet and wireless networking is normally used at the office and plant level for plant management and
organisational information across the whole company. Fieldbus and industrial Ethernet are used at the mid levels for
control of plant units or cells for supervisory control and monitoring. Different fieldbus technologies are used at the
lower sensor/actuator levels. The gateways provide an interface between the different network technologies and
allow control and monitoring signals to pass up and down from one network to another.
 The overall control system can contain Ethernet and wireless integrated with fieldbus.
Problems with fieldbus

All the above is really good news for the plant management, system designer, equipment installer, plant engineer and
plant operator. Unfortunately there is a disadvantage when using high-speed digital communications:

Fieldbus is much more sensitive to layout and wiring problems than traditional systems

System designers must be aware of the rules for design, layout and the many simple but expensive to correct pitfalls.
It is essential that installers and maintenance technicians have a basic level of training covering the correct wiring
techniques and basics for device and system testing. Commissioning and maintenance engineers need to be able to
use network test tools such as a modern protocol analyser and high-speed oscilloscope to fault-find and health check
the fieldbus network.

Introductory, but essential training for anybody involved with PROFIBUS technology is provided by our one-
day Certified PROFIBUS Installer course. Use of an analyser and oscilloscope and techniques for commissioning,
fault-finding and health-checking are provided on our one-dayPROFIBUS Commissioning and Maintenance
course and also on our Certified PROFIBUS Engineer course.