Communication   
3.2 Communication services 
  CPU 31xC and CPU 31x, Technical Data 
3-6  Manual, 01/2006 Edition, A5E00105475-06 
3.2  3.2 Communication services 
3.2.1  Overview of communication services 
Selecting the communication service 
 
You need to decide on a communication service, based on functionality requirements. Your 
choice of communication service will have no effect on: 
•  the functionality available, 
•  whether an S7 connection is required or not, and 
•  the time of connecting. 
The user interface can vary considerably (SFC, SFB, ...), and is also determined by the 
hardware used (SIMATIC CPU, PC, ...). 
Overview of communication services 
The table below provides an overview of communication services offered by the CPUs. 
Table 3-2  Communication services of the CPUs 
Communication service  Functionality  Time at which the S7 
connection is established ... 
via MPI  via DP  via 
PtP 
via 
PN 
PG communication  Commissioning, test, 
diagnostics 
From the PG, starting when 
the service is being used 
X  X  –  X 
OP communication  Monitor and modify  via OP at POWER ON   X  X  –  X 
S7 basic communication  Data exchange  is programmed at the blocks 
(SFC parameters) 
X  –   –  – 
S7 communication  Data exchange in server 
and client mode: 
Configuration of 
communication required. 
via active partner at POWER 
ON. 
Only in 
server 
mode 
Only in 
server 
mode 
–  X 
Global data 
communication 
Cyclic data exchange (for 
example, flag bits) 
does not require an S7 
connection 
X  –   –  – 
Routing PG functions 
(only for CPUs with  
 DP or PN interface) 
for example testing, 
diagnostics on other 
networks also  
from the PG, starting when the 
service is being used 
X  X  –  X 
PtP communication  Data exchange via serial 
interface 
does not require an S7 
connection 
–  –  X  – 
PROFIBUS DP  Data exchange between 
master and slave 
does not require an S7 
connection 
–  X  –  – 
PROFINET CBA  Data exchange by means 
of component based 
communication 
does not require an S7 
connection 
–  –  –  X