PROFIBUS uses a system of master and slave processors to enable cyclic network traffic at speeds up to 12 MB/sec. A single master facilitates communication between itself and assigned slaves while slaves cannot directly talk to one another. More than one master may be present on a single network. There are several functional layers in the PROFIBUS protocol suite that provides various levels of functionality including the ability for a slave to respond to a master's request for alarm and diagnostic information. PROFIBUS-compatible devices often use a data map, or GSD file, to describe their networking capabilities. Design Pad G4 provides the tools for configuring Fairmount Automation products as masters or slaves and the messaging between them.
