Configuration examples
The figure below shows a simple S7-300 station equipped with a TIM 3V-IE. The S7-300 can be connected via the RS232 interface of the TIM to a conventional WAN (e.g. dedicated line or dialup network), and via the RJ45 interface to an IP-based network, e.g. GPRS. If the S7-300 were equipped with a TIM 3V-IE Advanced, the two interfaces could be used simultaneously for SINAUT communication.
S7-300 with TIM 3V-IE
In the case of an S7-400, both a TIM 4R and a TIM 4R-IE can be used for data communication. In both cases the TIM is used as an independent device, i.e. without S7-300 CPU. The TIM 4R is connected to the S7-400 via MPI, while the TIM 4R-IE is connected via one of the two Ethernet interfaces of this module. The figures below illustrate the two alternatives.
S7-400 with TIM 4R connected via MPI
S7-400 with TIM 4R-IE connected via Industrial Ethernet
In the case of the TIM 4R, two conventional WANs can be connected by means of the two combined RS232/RS485 interfaces. The TIM 4R-IE has an additional connection for an IP-based network.
As on an S7-400, the control center PC (e.g. SINAUT ST7cc or ST7sc) is interfaced with the SINAUT telecontrol network via one or more TIM 4 modules. The two figures below show the alternatives with TIM 4R or TIM 4R-IE.
SINAUT ST7cc/ST7sc with one or more TIM 4R's on the MPI bus
SINAUT ST7cc/ST7sc with one or more TIM 4R-IE's on the Industrial Ethernet
One of the TIM 4R modules could be a TIM 4RD with integral DCF77 radio clock receiver. This then synchronizes all TIMs connected to the MPI, as well as the control center PC (ST7cc or ST7sc). The synchronized TIMs then supply the date and time at regular intervals to their SINAUT stations connected via WAN. If no DCF77 time signal is available at the installation location of the TIM 4RD, a SINAUT GPS receiver can be connected to the TIM 4RD. The universally available global positioning system (GPS) is then used as a time source.
The synchronization of the TIM 4R-IE module clocks connected via Ethernet is performed by the control center PC (ST7cc or ST7sc). These TIMs then supply their SINAUT stations in turn.
If stations are connected by means of an IP-based network, the connection to the control center PC (ST7cc or ST7sc) may also be made directly, i.e. without any TIM 4R-IE on the PC. The figure below shows the example of a plant in which the stations are connected directly to the SINAUT control center by means of a fiber optic ring. The SINAUT stations in this directly connected IP-based network are synchronized via the control center PC.
SINAUT ST7cc/ST7sc connected directly to SINAUT terminals via an IP-based network
In the case of more complex IP-based networks, and above all when using a redundant control center, the use of a control center TIM 4R-IE is recommended, since this permits improved monitoring of network behavior and optimization of the connection resources of the PC.