Profibus-DP GSD Files

Profibus-DP networks offer several advantages. They are proven, fast (up to 12Mbps withoutfiber optic cable), deterministic, and ideal for transmitting analog or discrete data. I/O devices are also easy to install and maintain. More than 1000 organizations worldwide, plus the ProfibusTrade Organization (PTO), help nurture a growing user base, introduce new products, and provide technical support for this network technology.

Network devices, including Acromag’s 900PB I/O modules, are easily installed and configured using network management software typically provided by the supplier of the host or master controller.

The GSD file is an electronic device data sheet or device data base file that identifies the ProfiBus device.  All ProfiBus devices (class 1 masters and slaves) have their own GSD files.  The GSD file is the fundamental building block for the master parameter record.  Use of the GSD file by a ProfiBus configuration tool permits plug & play interoperability among different devices from different manufacturers.  This file does not reside within the device itself, but usually on a separate disk/drive.  It is an ASCII text file that contains device-specific data, such as, vendor identification information, supported baud rates, supported message length, number of input/output data, meaning of diagnostic messages, timing information, plus options and features supported, data formats, and available I/O signals.  For modular ProfiBus systems, a GSD file may contain several configurations (one for each I/O module), one of which will be found valid during startup.

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