QUESTION:
How can I configure a communication connection between a panel and an S7 300/400 controller?

ANSWER:
Connecting a panel to a PROFIBUS/MPI network cannot be done via the STEP 7 hardware configuration as is the case with other bus users. The panel is configured in ProTool itself. Here, ProTool must be installed with the option "STEP 7 integrated" and the ProTool project must be created in the  SIMATIC Manager. 

Configuring in ProTool:

• In ProTool select "Controllers" (1.) and double-click "Steuerung_1" (2.).
  
  Fig. 1: ProTool controllers ( 18 KB )  
  
  
• Specify a Name (1.), select the "Driver" that your controller works with (e.g. SIMATIC S7-300/400 V6.0) (2.) and then click "Parameters…" (3.).

Fig. 2: Selecting the controller

• Connect the panel to the network connected (e.g. MPI) (1.).
• Define the OP parameters such as Address, Interface, ... (2.).
• Select the communication peer (CPU) with which the panel is to communicate (3.)

Fig. 3: Connecting the OP to the network

Important: 
Only the bus systems networked in the STEP 7 hardware configuration can be used for connecting the panel.

Settings in the hardware configuration of the CPU in STEP 7.

Fig. 4: STEP 7 hardware configuration

• Close the dialogs with "OK".

The configuration is now complete. You can use "NetPro" to check the connection of the panel to the network set.

Keywords:
Network configuration