Difference between Modbus and Profibus

There are some different of Modbus and Profibus which are sometimes called
"Fieldbus". It is a common name used to tell any network industry that links the field
devices. As a generic explanation it was fashionable at one point, but looks to have
fallen
out
of
use
recently.
It is also occasionally applied as the simple form of a particular protocol called
Foundation Fieldbus. It is only another protocol such as Profibus or Modbus, but it has
attributes
which
are
planned
specifically
for
industrial
processes.
It was also used as the short form for a failed effort of IEC at standardizing the networks
industries. That standard is much forgotten now, it was said that the proprietary of
protocols
could
define
itself
as
standard.
There are 2 different communications protocols. Profibus has convinced protocol
characteristics that allow certain versions of it run in multi-master mode using RS-485,
while Modbus can be operate at only single master. Though, Modbus can run on
Ethernet, include the multiple masters. While Profibus can't operate on Ethernet, but for
Profinet it can operate on Ethernet, but Profinet is not same with Profibus.
Profibus is a real sensor or actor of the fieldbus. It can work at different speed of
transmission from 1.2 kbps - 12Mbps and is highly optimized for the speed. A fieldbus is
a term of technical for serial buses which is used for communication industry, such as
USB (Universal Serial Bus), but it is integrated industrial devices and not devices of
multimedia.
The fieldbus define as data communication for industry with serial bus systems is the
main of the I/O system and for every distributed control. The systems of serial bus
designed for real time communication data are defined as fieldbuses. Fieldbuses are
networks industries to determine real time communication data between masters of bus,
distributed sensors and actors. They are constructed for low transmission volumes and
low latency. The fieldbuses packet sizes are in common in the range of 1 until 200 to
300 bytes. The speed of transmission can be selected in a wide range from 12 Mbps
down to 1200 bps. This transmission speed flexibility is a great advantage against, for
example, Ethernet based networks. The useable length of segment depends on the
speed of transmission, media of transmission, and the individual fieldbus topology.
Normally, high speed of transmission reduces the segment length of bus oriented
fieldbuses to a 50 to 100meters; low speed of transmission lets a segment length in the
range of some kilometers. Fieldbuses with a ring topology such as EtherCAT or
INTERBUS are operating frequently with a physical expansion in the kilometers range
due to the signal refreshing is done by the I/O modules of fieldbus. The transmission
Medias of fiber optic allow in common extended segment lengths and increased
immunity
of
noise.

In other hand, Profibus was OK in its day, but its specialized characteristics tied it
directly to RS-485, which is going to obsolete even though there are still lots of used in
industries. The utilization of Profibus is still increasing, specialized sensor/actor fieldbus
such Profibus have their market in the automation industry now and future.
Modbus is still going grow because its simplicity allows it develops to adjust to the
Ethernet without major change. Modbus currently one of the main Ethernet protocols
applied in automation. The older versions of serial like RS-232 and RS-485 are still
around
as
well.
There is a group of fieldbus systems standardizes by the IEC 61158. Each of the group
is open specified, standardizes, and are not proprietary protocols. The process to get
the standard of IEC 61158 is not easy. There is no such simple look like.