Supplementary information 
  16.10 Communication via fault-tolerant S7 connections 
CPU 410-5H Process Automation/CPU 410 SMART 
System Manual, 10/2013, A5E32631667-AA 
251 
You decide during configuration if the additional CPs are used to increase resources or 
availability. This configuration is typically used to increase availability.  
 
Note 
Internal and external interface 
Communica
tion between fault-tolerant systems may only take place between internal 
interfaces or external interfaces (CP). 
Communication between internal interface and CP is 
 
With a duplex optic-fiber ring, only a double error within a fault-tolerant system, e.g., CPUa1 
and CPa2 in one system, leads to total failure of communication between the systems 
involved (see Figure 11-14). 
If a double error, e.g., CPUa1 and CPb2, occurs in the first case of a redundant electrical 
bus system (see Figure 11-15), this results in a total failure of communication between the 
systems involved. 
In the case of a redundant electrical bus system with CP redundancy (see Figure 11-16), 
only a double error within a fault-tolerant system, e.g., CPUa1 and CPa2, or a triple error, 
e.g., CPUa1, CPa22, and bus2, will result in a total failure of communication between the 
systems involved. 
Fault-tolerant S7 connections 
Any disruption of subconnections while communication jobs are active over fault-tolerant S7 
connections leads to extended delay times.  
 
Communication between fault-tolerant systems and a fault-tolerant CPU 
Availability 
Availability can be enhanced by using a redundant plant bus and by using a fault-tolerant 
CPU in a standard system. 
If the communication peer is a fault-tolerant CPU, redundant connections can also be 
configured, in contrast to systems with a standard CPU.