Communication   
11.3 Communication via PROFINET IO 
  Drive functions 
818  Function Manual, 11/2017, 6SL3097-4AB00-0BP5 
The sum of all devices to be synchronized form a synchronization domain. The whole 
domain must be set to a single, specific RT class (real-time class) for synchronization. 
Different synchronization domains can communicate with one another via RT. 
For IRT, all IO devices and IO controllers must be synchronized with a common 
synchronization master. 
RT allows an IO controller to communicate with a drive unit outside a synchronization 
domain or "through" another synchronization domain. As of version 5.4 SP1, STEP 7 
supports multiple synchronization domains on a single Ethernet subnet. 
Example: 
●  Synchronization domain IRT: SIMOTION2 with SINAMICS 
●  SINAMICS drive that is assigned to the I/O system of SIMOTION1. This is arranged in the 
topology in such a way that its RT communication must be established through the IRT 
synchronization domain. 
 
Figure 11-30  RT communication across the limits of synchronization domains 
Update cycles and send cycles for RT classes  
Definition of the update time / send cycle: 
If we take a single IO device in the PROFINET IO system as an example, this device has 
been supplied with new data (outputs) by the IO controller and has transferred new data 
(inputs) to the IO controller within the update time. The send cycle is the shortest possible 
update cycle. 
All cyclic data is transferred within the send cycle. The actual send cycle that can be set 
depends on various factors: 
●  Bus load 
●  Type of devices used 
●  Computing capacity available in the IO controller 
●  Supported send clocks in the participating PROFINET devices of a synchronization 
domain. A typical send cycle is 1 ms.