Edge Device Based PROFINET Network Management Through HMI Panels Using DCP

Abstract

Managing PROFINET device parameters such as IP addresses and station names typically requires a separate engineering PC with specialized software, which can delay commissioning, device replacement, and on-site troubleshooting. This paper presents a lightweight network management module embedded in an industrial Human–Machine Interface (HMI) panel. The module uses the Discovery and Configuration Protocol (DCP) to discover PROFINET devices, visualize them on the panel, read and assign network parameters, and trigger factory reset operations without requiring an external PC, additional software licences, or specialized operator training. By relocating selected network-management functions to an HMI panel that is already deployed on the factory floor, the proposed approach reduces equipment dependency and simplifies field maintenance workflows while preserving standard PROFINET communication. Laboratory and pilot plant tests show that the panel-based implementation produces standard DCP traffic, achieves discovery and configuration latencies comparable to the PC-based reference tool PRONETA, consumes less than 3% CPU and 12 MB memory, and reduces the average device-replacement workflow from approximately eight minutes to under three minutes.