Softing, the technological leader in providing ruggedized components for industrial automation, has expanded its PROFIBUS interface board offering with PCI Express type interface boards.

PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express - PCIe) is a computer expansion board standard designed to replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP standards. PCIe 2.0 is the latest standard for expansion boards that is available on mainstream personal computers. Conceptually, the PCIe bus can be thought of as a high-speed serial replacement of the older (parallel) PCI/PCI-X bus.

Softing has launched the following new PROFIBUS boards:

• PCI Express single channel – This board is software configurable to act as a PROFIBUS master or as a PROFIBUS slave.

• PCI Express single channel low profile – For industrial computer with limited space requirements.

• PCI Express dual channel – Each channel is software configurable to act as a PROFIBUS master of a PROFIBUS slave.

• PCI Express single channel DP Slave only – Low-cost board for applications that require a PROFIBUS slave interface

Softing’s PROFIBUS boards are globally used in a wide range of applications including compact slave solutions, solutions for mobile devices, operation and visualization terminals, real-time machine controls, and extended temperature-range applications.

Softing's protocol software is designed to support the following protocols:

• PROFIBUS DP-V0

• PROFIBUS DP-V1

• PROFIBUS DP-V2

• PROFIBUS FMS

• PROFIBUS FDL

• MPI

Drivers for a wide range of operating systems and real-time environments are available. This includes but is not limited to:

• Windows - including PROFIBUS Communication DTMs, PROFIBUS OPC servers, and S7/S5 OPC servers run on Softing's Windows-specific architecture.

• Windows CE

• Linux

• DOS

• RTX

• VxWorks

• CoDeSys SP RTE

About Softing

In industrial automation, Softing is a specialist for fieldbus technology and has established itself as a world-leading partner for networking automation systems and control solutions. Softing provides customers the key technology to connect devices, controls and systems with the leading communication technologies. In fieldbus technology, Softing is a world-class expert for FOUNDATION fieldbus, PROFIBUS, and CAN/CANopen/DeviceNet. The company’s wide range of expertise includes solutions for OPC, FDT, and Real-Time-Ethernet protocols such as, PROFINET IO, EtherNet/IP, or Modbus/TCP. Many of the products and services developed by Softing since the company was founded in 1979 have become reference standards throughout the world. In addition, Softing has established itself as a provider of sophisticated diagnostic tools for fieldbus systems.

For more information: www.softing.us or Tel: (978) 499-9650, Fax: (978) 499-9654, Email: ken.hoover@softing.com.