Industrial Engineer · phase 5 of 16
GSD / GSDML File
Device-description file used to configure a PROFIBUS or PROFINET device in an engineering system.
The Explain card
- Plain English
- A GSD file describes a PROFIBUS device, and a GSDML file describes a PROFINET one. They tell the engineering tool what modules the device has, what data it exchanges and what can be configured.
- Example
- A third party valve terminal ships with a GSDML file. Import it into the Siemens project and the terminal appears in the catalog with its slots ready to configure.
- Why it matters
- The file version has to match the device's firmware closely enough, or the station configures and then refuses to go online. When a device will not appear in the hardware catalog, the missing file is the first suspect.
- Hook
- The Siemens side's version of the EDS file.
Where it sits in the deck
Phase 5: PLC Industrial Communications
The protocols that let controllers, drives and operator panels talk, plus the addressing and description files that make them agree on what was said.
