CP5613 (PCI, master), CP5614 (PCI, master + slave), CP5412A2 (ISA) have an integral microprocessor on the card. CP5511 (PCMCIA), CP5611(PCI) do not have an integral microprocessor, so they use the CPU of the PC.

To be able to use those cards in Citect (S7NT driver) to talk to a S7-300/S7-400 you have to use the following Siemens software package:

CP5613 is used together with the S7-5613 software package

CP5614 is used together with the S7-5613 software package

CP5412A2 is used together with the S7-5412 software package

CP5511 is used together with the Softnet-S7 software package

CP5611 is used together with the Softnet-S7 software package

CP5412A2, CP5511 and CP5611 can also be used to connect to the MPI port, which is standard available on the CPU card of a S7300/S7400 PLC.

Overview of the Siemens cards for Industrial Ethernet:

CP1613 (PCI), CP1413 (ISA) have an integral microprocessor on the card.  CP1411 (ISA), CP1511 (PCMCIA) do not have an integral microprocessor on the card, so they use the CPU of the PC.  These cards are equivalent to a normal Ethernet card, only difference is that they have an AUI connector.  You can also use a standard Ethernet card (for example a 3COM card) to talk to a s7300/s7400 via Ethernet.

To be able to use those cards in Citect (S7NT driver) to talk to a S7-300/S7-400 you have to use the following Siemens software package:

CP1613 is used together with the S7-1613 software package

CP1614 is used together with the S7-1413 software package

CP1411 is used together with the Softnet-S7 software package

CP1511 is used together with the Softnet-S7 software package

Standard Ethernet card is used together with the Softnet-S7 software package.

The term Softnet only refers to the fact that the CPU of the PC is used (i.e. the PC-card does not have an integral microprocessor).  The term Hardnet refers to the fact that you are using a PC-card with integral microprocessor.

For all options you have the same Siemens interface to setup the communications.  In the COML S7 software you define to which PLCs you communicate via either Profibus or Ethernet.  You save this setup in a binary database file.  Then in the Siemens PG/PC settings you define a so called access point of the application, where you map the communication database to the PC card that you are using. (See also Q2684)

Softnet-S7 can be used in demo mode.  You can obtain from Siemens a Simatic Net CD, this contains all documentation and software.  If you run Softnet in demo mode, you will get a popup window once in a while telling you that you are running in demo mode.  This means you can test the Ethernet connection to a S7 PLC without having to invest in Siemens PC cards or PC software, just use your standard Ethernet card and the Softnet-S7 package.  Of course in the PLC you need an Ethernet card (S7-343 / S7-443).