Assigning PROFINET Device Name to TP700 Comfort HMI in TIA Portal

1. Problem Overview

When commissioning a Siemens SIMATIC S7-1200 CPU 1214C AC/DC/DC with a TP700 Comfort Panel over a SCALANCE XB005 unmanaged switch, the user typically reaches the point in TIA Portal where the HMI device is reachable on the subnet (the PROFINET LED on the panel turns green and the topology is correctly mapped) but the entry Online & Diagnostics for the TP700 reports an error such as:

• "The device is not assigned to a PROFINET device name."
• "The PROFINET device name of the device differs from the configured PROFINET device name."
• "The device cannot be reached as the configured PROFINET device name."
• "The partner is not reachable. Check the cabling and the PROFINET device name."

The reason these messages appear is that the TP700 Comfort, like every PROFINET device, must be uniquely named on the PROFINET network before it can be addressed by name. The PLC and the HMI are physically reachable (Layer 1/2 OK), but the PROFINET naming layer is still empty. This article walks through the three valid resolution paths in TIA Portal V13 to V18, the restrictions imposed by the Comfort Panel firmware, and the field-proven diagnostic sequence to clear the fault without a service call.

2. Network Topology Reference

The reference topology assumed throughout this article is the configuration from the support case:

Component reference data:

The SCALANCE XB005 is a layer-2 unmanaged switch without LLDP forwarding configuration options and without DCP relay manipulation. It is PROFINET-conformant (IEEE 802.1Q, no store-and-forward blocking of LLDP frames), so it does not block DCP discovery and naming telegrams. See the SCALANCE XB-000 product manual for the conformant switch confirmation.

3. PROFINET Device Name Fundamentals

The PROFINET device name is a unique identifier inside the PROFINET naming layer (DCP, Discovery and Configuration Protocol, per IEC 61784-2). It is not the IP address and it is not the MAC address. Every PROFINET device has a factory default name (typically empty) and must be assigned a project-specific name before the IO controller can use it.

3.1 Naming rules (per PROFINET specification)

3.2 Why the error appears at all

During project compilation, TIA Portal assigns a configured PROFINET device name to the TP700 in the offline project (visible under Device view > Properties > PROFINET interface > PROFINET device name). At runtime, the IO controller uses the DCP Identify and NameOfStation services to check whether the physically connected station answers with the configured name. If the panel still has the empty factory name (or a name from a previous project), the controller raises the diagnostic interrupt listed above. The panel itself does not go into an error state because the TP700 only acts as a PROFINET device when IO mode is enabled, otherwise it is a pure Ethernet subscriber.

4. Prerequisites

Before touching the device name, verify the following preconditions. Skipping any of these typically causes the assignment to silently fail.

1. TIA Portal project is open and the HMI device is configured in the project tree.
2. The engineering PC has a PROFINET-capable network adapter connected to the same physical subnet as the panel (directly or via the SCALANCE XB005).
3. Windows firewall on the engineering PC allows UDP port 34964 (DCP) inbound and outbound. TIA Portal installs a firewall rule automatically; if it was disabled, the assignment dialog reports "No PROFINET devices found".
4. The panel's PROFINET interface is set to obtain an IP address from the project. If it was previously configured with a static IP outside the project's subnet, assign a temporary IP first via Control Panel > Network and Dial-up Connections on the panel.
5. User rights on the engineering PC: administrator rights are required to open raw PROFINET DCP sockets.
6. If you intend to use the SIMATIC Automation Tool or PRONETA as an alternative, install the latest version (PRONETA 3.x supports TP700 Comfort from firmware V14.0.1.0).

5. Root-Cause Decision Tree

Before selecting a fix, determine why a PROFINET device name is being requested. The decision is short and saves time:

Open the device configuration in TIA Portal and check the checkbox PROFINET IO under the PROFINET interface of the TP700. If it is unchecked, the panel behaves as a plain Ethernet device and the device name dialog in TIA Portal is informational only. In that case the error message in Online & Diagnostics is misleading - it is a generic PROFINET diagnostic message that appears for every HMI; it is not blocking the HMI connection. The HMI connects via TCP/UDP to the PLC IP address as configured in the HMI connection.

6. Resolution Method 1 - Remote Assignment via TIA Portal Online Access

This is the fastest path when the panel is on the same physical subnet and the firewall is open. It does not require physical access to the panel.

6.1 Procedure

1. In the TIA Portal project tree expand Online access.
2. Select the network adapter that is physically connected to the SCALANCE XB005 subnet (e.g. Intel(R) Ethernet Connection I219-V).
3. Double-click Update accessible devices. After a few seconds, the TP700 should appear with its MAC address and IP address (or "IP address not available").
4. Right-click the TP700 entry and select Assign PROFINET device name.
5. In the dialog, the PROFINET device name field shows the name currently stored in the project. Confirm or change the name. The PROFINET device number is informational.
6. Click Assign name. TIA Portal sends a DCP Set telegram to the MAC address. A green checkmark confirms success within 2-5 seconds.
7. Repeat Update accessible devices. The TP700 now reports the assigned name in the list.

6.2 Verification

Open the TIA Portal Online & Diagnostics view of the TP700. The status line should change from "Not assigned a PROFINET device name" to "The PROFINET device name matches the configured name." The PROFINET LED on the front of the TP700 remains green, and no SF (System Fault) LED is lit.

7. Resolution Method 2 - Physical Assignment via the Panel's Control Center

Use this path when the remote assignment is rejected, when the panel has a different device name from a previous project, or when the engineering PC cannot open the DCP socket (firewall / VPN issue).

7.1 Procedure on the TP700 Comfort

1. Open the loader (start screen of the HMI runtime) and tap Control Panel.
   Default path: Start > Settings > Control Panel
2. Open PN-X1 (or PROFINET on older firmware).
3. Set the IP address, subnet mask, and router to match the project (e.g. 192.168.0.20 / 255.255.255.0).
4. Tap PROFINET tab. The dialog shows the PROFINET device name field, currently empty or showing the old name.
5. Tap the field and enter the exact name from the TIA Portal project. Confirm with Apply.
6. Cycle the PROFINET interface off and on (or reboot the panel) to activate the new name.

7.2 Name length caveat

The on-screen keyboard of the Comfort Panel is the Windows CE / Windows Embedded Standard 7 input panel. It supports the full character set, but the PROFINET stack inside the panel will reject names containing characters other than [a-z0-9-]. The runtime will appear to accept the input and then silently drop the assignment on the next DCP request from the controller. Always mirror the TIA Portal name character-for-character.

8. Resolution Method 3 - I-Device Configuration

This is the recommended long-term solution when the TP700 must exchange PROFINET process data with the S7-1200 (for example, sending a control word to a Sinamics drive via the panel, or implementing a peer-to-peer link between two Comfort Panels). The I-Device mode promotes the panel from a plain Ethernet subscriber to a full PROFINET device with its own name and slot configuration.

8.1 Project configuration

1. In the TIA Portal device view of the TP700, open Properties > PROFINET interface [X1] > Operating mode.
2. Check the box IO device.
3. In the Assigned IO controller drop-down, select the S7-1200 CPU.
4. Configure the Transfer areas: each area maps a bit-memory range (e.g. DB1.DBX0.0..15) from the panel to the controller's input/output image.
   Sample area: Panel DB1 word 0..15 -> Controller Input image IB100..IB131.
5. Compile the project. TIA Portal writes the PROFINET device name into the panel's device configuration automatically during download.

8.2 Download order

When I-Device mode is activated, the panel must be downloaded with the new configuration before the controller is downloaded. Otherwise the controller cannot find the device. Use this order:

1. Right-click TP700 > Download to device > Software (all).
2. Confirm the dialog asking whether the PROFINET device name should be assigned. Tick Assign PROFINET device name.
3. After the panel download completes, right-click the S7-1200 CPU > Download to device > Hardware and software (all).

8.3 Verification of the I-Device link

In the controller's Online & Diagnostics > PROFINET IO > Topology, the TP700 should appear with the I-Device icon and a green status. Double-clicking the panel shows the configured transfer areas with the latest process values.

9. SCALANCE XB005 Specific Considerations

The XB005 is a strictly unmanaged switch. It has no Web UI, no DCP filter, no port disable, no IGMP snooping. From a PROFINET perspective this is an advantage for the naming use case:

• DCP telegrams (multicast MAC 01:0E:CF:00:00:00) are flooded on all ports, identical to LLDP.
• The 100 Mbit/s ports auto-negotiate to the panel and the S7-1200 1214C (both support 10/100 Mbit full duplex).
• There is no MAC address aging timer to shorten, so DCP discovery always finds the panel.

However, the XB005 has no prioritization queue. Real-time PROFINET IRT frames will be treated best-effort. For HMI panels that only run standard PROFINET (RTC class 1, cycle 1 ms or higher) this is acceptable. If the user later migrates to PROFINET IRT, the switch must be replaced with a managed SCALANCE XC-200 or XR-500 series. Reference: SCALANCE XB-000 operating instructions.

10. Field-Proven Diagnostic Sequence

Use this ordered checklist whenever the symptom recurs after a panel replacement, firmware update, or SD card swap.

1. Verify physical layer. Link LED on every device green, no flickering, cable length < 100 m (Cat 5e minimum).
2. Verify IP layer. From the engineering PC, ping <panel IP> must succeed. If it fails, fix IP first.
3. Verify PROFINET layer. In TIA Portal, Online access > Update accessible devices must show the TP700 with its MAC.
4. Compare names. Right-click the TP700 in the project tree > Online & Diagnostics > PROFINET > Device name. The "Configured PROFINET device name" and "Used PROFINET device name" must be identical.
5. Check firmware. TP700 Comfort firmware must be >= V14.0.0.0 for PROFINET IO I-Device mode. Older firmware versions only support pure HMI communication.
6. Reset and reassign. If the names differ, use Reset to factory settings on the panel's PROFINET page, then redo Method 1 or Method 2 above.
7. Capture and analyze. If the issue persists, capture a Wireshark trace on the engineering PC with the filter pn_dcp and inspect the DCP Set response. A DCP error 0x0A (Resource not available) indicates a duplicate name on the network.

11. Troubleshooting Matrix

12. Security and Operational Notes

Assigning a PROFINET device name is a write operation to non-volatile memory of the panel. In production environments, treat the name as a security boundary. Recommendations:

• Disable the PROFINET IO checkbox for HMIs that do not require it; the panel will then reject remote name assignment, which is the desired behavior in OT networks.
• Use the SCALANCE XB005's DCP forwarding behavior to your advantage, but segment the panel network from the office network at the router level.
• Avoid reusing names from decommissioned devices; the controller's project may still reference them and lead to misaddressing.
• Document the assigned name in the TIA project comment so that the maintenance team can verify it via the panel's Control Center on a site visit.

For additional background, refer to the PROFINET commissioning with TIA Portal function manual, the SCALANCE XB-000 operating instructions, and the SIMATIC S7-1200 system manual.