Many years of real-world use have yielded the following main use cases for SIMATIC PDM:

• Single Point Station
  • For handling a single field device
  • Direct connection to the device
• Local service and parameter assignment station
  • For handling multiple field devices on the fieldbus segment or remote I/O station
  • Connection to the local bus segment
• Central service and parameter assignment station
  • For centralized handling of field devices or a production plant
  • Connection on the plant bus
  • Access to field devices via the SIMATIC automation systems;
  • Can be used multiple times within an automation project, e.g. as service and parameter assignment stations for various plant units
  • Information on the fieldbuses and connected field devices can be transferred from the engineering station.
• HART service and parameter assignment station
  • For processing HART field devices
  • Connection to the local HART multiplexer networks or the Ethernet networks of the "Wireless HART Gateways"
• Field device configuration on the SIMATIC PCS 7 engineering station
  • For handling field devices in the hardware configurator of the PCS 7 engineering station or locally at the field device via a mobile SIMATIC PDM client
  • Data storage on the PCS 7 engineering station
  • Using the communication paths of the engineering station
• Field device configuration and servicing on the SIMATIC PCS 7 maintenance station
  • For field device management during the operating phase of the automation plant
  • Field device handling via the operator stations of the PCS 7 maintenance station or via a mobile SIMATIC PDM client locally on the field device
  • SIMATIC PDM supplies the PCS 7 maintenance station with information on the field device type, parameter assignment and diagnostics.

SIMATIC PDM product structure

? Product component is part of the product package

o Optional product component for the product package; order additive

– Product component is not relevant for the product package or not available

¹⁾ For TAG definition, see "Design" section under "SIMATIC PDM TAGs"

²⁾ In combination with SIMATIC PDM Integration in STEP 7/PCS 7

³⁾ In combination with SIMATIC PDM Server

Customer-oriented product structure

The customer-oriented product structure of SIMATIC PDM provides optimal support for the named main use cases and enables you to adapt the scope of functions and performance to your individual requirements. The product range is organized as follows:

SIMATIC PDM Stand alone product packages

• SIMATIC PDM Single Point, a minimum configuration for single device handling
• SIMATIC PDM Basic for local service and parameter assignment stations as well as basic configuration for individual product package with optional product components
• SIMATIC PDM Service for local service and parameter assignment stations
• SIMATIC PDM Stand alone Server for central service and parameter assignment stations, e.g. for various plant units

SIMATIC PDM system-integrated product packages

• SIMATIC PDM S7 for local SIMATIC S7 engineering and service stations
• Various configurations for central SIMATIC PCS 7 engineering and service stations:
  • SIMATIC PDM PCS 7
  • SIMATIC PDM PCS 7 Server (enables device parameter assignment and diagnostics on clients of the PCS 7 engineering station and PCS 7 Maintenance Station)
  • SIMATIC PDM PCS 7?FF (supports the FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1)

In some circumstances, the product packages can be expanded with optional product components (for details, see the Design section).

Selection criteria

In addition to considering the environment of use and the functional and performance features when selecting the product (see table in "Design" section), also observe the system requirements (see "Technical specifications" section).