The PROFINET (Process Field Network) is a modern, high-performance Industrial Ethernet standard for automation technology. It is the Ethernet-based successor to the older PROFIBUS fieldbus and is developed and managed by the same organization, PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI).
PROFINET uses standard Ethernet hardware and protocols (TCP/IP) for non-time-critical tasks like configuration, diagnostics, and parameterization. This allows it to coexist on the same network as other standard IT traffic. However, for demanding, real-time control tasks, PROFINET uses a dedicated, direct communication channel that bypasses the standard TCP/IP stack to achieve the high speed and determinism required for machine control. This real-time communication is scalable, with different performance classes to suit various applications, from standard I/O to high-performance, synchronized motion control. A key feature of PROFINET is its modular and flexible architecture, allowing for various network topologies (line, star, ring) and easy integration of devices from different manufacturers.
For a programmable power supply, a PROFINET interface enables it to become a fully integrated component in a state-of-the-art automation system, allowing a PLC to control and monitor it with high speed and precision as part of a complex, synchronized manufacturing or testing process.
Official website of the PROFIBUS/PROFINET Association (https://www.profibus.com/)