ProSoft Technology MVI46-PDPMV1 - Manual (Page 123)

MVI46-PDPMV1 ♦ SLC Platform Reference
PROFIBUS DPV1 Master User Manual
ProSoft Technology, Inc. Page 123 of 160
March 25, 2011
6.3.2 Introduction to PROFIBUS comDTM
Why Use PROFIBUS comDTM?
Customers from around the world have different machines, fieldbusses, and
other end-user equipment. Each is equipped with the field bus requested by their
end-user. Since there are so many variations, the automation solution in their
standard machine ends up being different from case to case.
This means that service engineers need to have different configuration tools for
every fieldbus. Or maybe even one for every device. You want one, but the
reality is you have many. This is where PROFIBUS comDTM can help with
configuring and communicating with different networks, products and suppliers.
What is FDT?
FDT (Field Device Tool) is the specification for software interfaces for the
integration of field devices, drives, and controls in engineering and configuration
tools. FDT is manufacturer-independent and allows for trouble-free
parameterization and configuration of the user's specific processing system.
FDT technology standardizes the communication interface between field devices
and systems. The key feature is its independence from the communication
protocol and the software environment of either the device or the host system.
FDT allows any device to be accessed from any host through any protocol.
The FDT container implements the FDT specification. It serves as an interface
between FDT and a superior application. It uses the DTMs to gain access to the
devices. FDT frame application is an engineering or configuration tool which has
an FDT container.
FDT technology comprises three key components: the Frame Application, Device
DTMs, and Communication DTMs.

The DTM (Device Type Manager) is used for the configuration and
maintenance of field devices, drives and so on. It is only functional with an
FDT container.

The FDT container implements the FDT specification. It serves as interface
between FDT and a superior application. It uses the DTMs to gain access to
devices.

FDT frame application is an engineering or configuration tool that has an FDT
container. The user interface of the DTMs is displayed here.
To better understand the functionality of these components, consider the analogy
of the Internet - a standard web browser allows users to view countless web
pages created by many content providers. The host system supplier typically
creates the Frame Application, just as Microsoft supplies the Internet Explorer
web browser. Just as a web browser opens a web page that contains code from
the company that makes the web page, an FDT frame opens the Device DTM,
which is the plug-in software from the device vendor.