Installing HSP for S7-1200 CPU 1217C in TIA Portal V13

Overview of the CPU 1217C and the HSP Requirement

The SIMATIC S7-1200 CPU 1217C is the flagship compact controller of the first-generation S7-1200 family. It is identified by the article number 6ES7217-1AG40-0XB0 and ships with firmware V4.x on the SIMATIC Memory Card. The CPU delivers the largest I/O count of any S7-1200 (14 integrated digital inputs, 10 integrated digital outputs, 2 analog inputs, and 2 analog outputs), 150 KB of work memory, 4 MB of load memory, and PROFINET interface support for distributed I/O.

Because the CPU 1217C was released after the original S7-1200 firmware V1/V2/V3 catalog had been frozen, the article is not present in the default hardware catalog of older TIA Portal installations. The CPU first became selectable in the device catalog when STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V13 was released, paired with a complementary Hardware Support Package (HSP) that adds the device descriptor (GSD-derived catalog data, port assignments, and OB/FB/FC system blocks) to the engineering framework.

An HSP is a Siemens-signed package, typically a .zip archive containing one or more .xml device descriptions plus catalog metadata, that is read by the TIA Portal Optional Package Installation mechanism. HSPs are used to:

• Add new CPUs, signal modules, or communication modules to the hardware catalog after the TIA Portal release.
• Update the firmware version information shown for existing modules.
• Provide support for new IO-Link masters, drive telegrams, or failsafe modules not contained in the base release.

For the CPU 1217C, the HSP is required whenever the TIA Portal version was installed before the CPU's general availability, or whenever a firmware update (V4.1, V4.2, V4.4, V4.5, V4.6, or V4.7) was released after the TIA Portal service pack level. The HSP does not contain the STEP 7 software itself; it only extends the device catalog.

Prerequisites

Before installing the HSP and configuring the CPU 1217C, verify that the engineering workstation meets the following requirements.

Determining the Required TIA Portal Version

Siemens releases CPUs and their matching HSPs in a coordinated sequence. The CPU 1217C was announced together with the V4.0 firmware generation of the S7-1200 family. The first TIA Portal release that contains the CPU 1217C in the base catalog is STEP 7 V13.0. If a service pack (SP) or update is applied, the catalog may include newer firmware revisions for the same article number.

When a CPU arrives with a firmware revision newer than the catalog's highest known revision, TIA Portal will still allow the project to compile and download, but it will display a warning similar to "The device differs from the configured device in the following properties: Firmware version". In that case, install a newer HSP or update TIA Portal to a service pack that includes the new firmware version. The latest firmware V4.7 for S7-1200 is documented in Siemens Support entry 109976907 — Firmware V4.7 for S7-1200 available.

The TIA Portal version-to-CPU mapping for the 1217C is summarized below.

Locating the Correct HSP File

Siemens publishes HSPs through three channels:

1. The Siemens Industry Online Support portal — search for the article number 6ES7217-1AG40-0XB0 and open the entry titled Hardware Support Package for CPU 1217C. The download is a .zip archive named S7_1200_HSP_Vxxxx.zip or a product-specific filename.
2. The Service Pack DVD shipped with each TIA Portal update. The DVD contains a folder Optional Packages with all HSPs and GSD files relevant to that release.
3. Inside the TIA Portal installer itself, on the Product overview page of the setup, by clicking Add/Remove next to the STEP 7 entry and selecting Optional Packages.

Always verify the digital signature of the HSP archive (right-click the file → Properties → Digital Signatures) before extracting. Only archives signed by Siemens AG should be installed; unsigned HSPs will be rejected by the installer with error 0x800B0100 (CERT_E_EXPIRED / CERT_E_UNTRUSTED).

Installing the HSP in TIA Portal

The procedure below is the field-proven method that registers the CPU 1217C device description in the TIA Portal hardware catalog. The same procedure applies when an HSP is required for any S7-1200 signal module (SM), communication module (CM), or board (CB/SB).

1. Close all running TIA Portal instances, including the WinCC runtime and the PLCSIM instances.
2. Open the Windows Start menu and navigate to Siemens Automation > TIA Portal V13 > Optional Packages. The Optional Package Manager launches.
3. Insert the Service Pack DVD if you are installing from physical media. Otherwise, click Open archive and browse to the downloaded .zip file.
4. The manager parses the archive and lists every HSP/GSD contained in it. Locate the entry SIMATIC S7-1200 > CPU 1217C and tick its checkbox. Multiple entries can be selected.
5. Click Install. The progress dialog shows a percentage. Typical install time is 30–90 seconds for a single CPU HSP on an SSD workstation.
6. When the dialog reports Installation completed successfully, click Close. The catalog is updated in memory; no Windows restart is required.
7. Restart TIA Portal if it was already running. The CPU 1217C will now be visible under Add new device > Controllers > SIMATIC S7-1200 > CPU.

If the installation fails, the most common causes are:

• The TIA Portal version of the workstation is not the version the HSP was built for. For example, an HSP compiled for V16 cannot be downgraded to V13.
• An old Optional Packages instance is locking the catalog database. Close it from the Windows task tray before retrying.
• The workstation's Trusted Publishers store is missing the Siemens root certificate, which produces a 0x800B0109 error.

Reference: Siemens TIA Portal Cloud Documentation — Installing the Hardware Support Package (HSP) describes the same workflow for the ET 200eco PN F-DI/DQ modules and is the canonical reference for the procedure.

Adding the CPU 1217C to a TIA Portal Project

After the HSP is installed, create or open a TIA Portal project and insert the CPU.

1. From the project tree, double-click Add new device.
2. In the device catalog, navigate to Controllers > SIMATIC S7-1200 > CPU.
3. Expand the CPU 1217C folder. The first sub-entry (no firmware suffix) represents the oldest supported firmware. Each subsequent entry (for example CPU 1217C DC/DC/DC with firmware V4.4) represents a specific firmware revision.
4. Select the variant that matches the order code suffix of the physical CPU:
   • 6ES7217-1AG40-0XB0 — DC/DC/DC (24 V supply, 24 V digital inputs, 24 V digital outputs, transistor)
   • 6ES7217-1AG40-0XB0 with firmware as labeled on the front door
5. Confirm with OK. The CPU is added to the project tree with its default configuration: PROFINET interface X1 set to IP 0.0.0.0 and PROFINET device name undefined.

Configure the PROFINET interface before any online operation:

1. Open Device view > CPU > PROFINET interface [X1] > Ethernet addresses.
2. Set IP protocol to Set IP address in the project.
3. Enter the desired IP address (default: 192.168.0.1), subnet mask (default: 255.255.255.0), and PROFINET device name (for example plc1217c).
4. Compile the device configuration (Compile > Hardware (rebuild all)) to generate the system data blocks.

CPU 1217C Hardware Configuration Parameters

The CPU 1217C exposes several configuration parameters that are commonly set during commissioning. They are summarized below.

Firmware Update Strategy for the CPU 1217C

Field experience shows that a CPU ordered today may arrive with firmware V4.4, V4.5, V4.6, or V4.7 depending on the production batch. The current highest release is V4.7, which is documented in Siemens Support entry 109976907. To update firmware:

1. Download the firmware file (for example CPU_1217C_V4.7.upd) and the matching .txt release notes from Siemens Support.
2. Insert a SIMATIC Memory Card (SMC) of at least 4 MB into the card reader of the engineering PC. Format the card if it is new.
3. Copy the firmware file to the root directory of the SMC. Do not put it in a subfolder.
4. Insert the SMC into the CPU with the CPU powered OFF.
5. Power the CPU ON. The MAINT LED flashes while the firmware is being copied to internal flash (typically 20–60 seconds).
6. The CPU automatically performs a restart. The RUN LED comes on solid green when the update is complete. The MAINT LED stays solid for the first 10 seconds after restart if the update was successful.

The matching TIA Portal version for a V4.7 CPU is STEP 7 V16 or later. Older portals will still allow the project to compile but will display the firmware mismatch warning described above.

Verification: Confirming the Installation

After installing the HSP and adding the CPU to a project, perform the following checks to confirm that the engineering environment is fully functional.

1. Catalog presence check. Open Add new device and verify that the CPU 1217C entry is present. Click on it and confirm that the order code, firmware revision, and rack diagram match the physical CPU.
2. Compile check. Compile the hardware configuration (Compile > Hardware (rebuild all)). A successful compile produces the system data blocks SDB 1000 and SDB 1001 in the project tree without errors.
3. Online reachability check. Connect the CPU's PROFINET port to the engineering PC, configure the PC's Ethernet adapter to the same subnet, then in TIA Portal Online > Accessible devices. The CPU should appear with its configured IP and PROFINET name.
4. Download check. Perform a Download to device. The download dialog must complete without a firmware version warning. If a warning appears, install the matching HSP or update TIA Portal.
5. Run/stop check. Switch the CPU to RUN using the toggle button on the TIA Portal toolbar. The RUN LED must light solid green within 2 seconds.

Troubleshooting Matrix for HSP and CPU 1217C Issues

The table below consolidates the most common symptoms encountered when bringing the CPU 1217C into TIA Portal V13 and the corresponding corrective actions.

Memory, Performance, and I/O Reference

The following parameters apply to the 6ES7217-1AG40-0XB0 with the highest released firmware. Use them as the engineering baseline when sizing a project.

Integration with Signal Modules and Distributed I/O

The CPU 1217C supports the full S7-1200 signal module (SM) family in the left-side signal board and the right-side I/O rack:

• Signal boards (SB): plug directly onto the CPU front, occupy no slot. Variants include digital I/O, analog I/O, RS485, RS232, and battery boards.
• Communication modules (CM): plug onto the left side of the CPU, support RS232, RS422/485, AS-i Master, and IO-Link master (SM 1278).
• Signal modules (SM): plug onto the right side of the CPU, support 8/16/32-channel digital and analog I/O.

All SM/CM/SB articles that predate TIA Portal V13 are present in the base catalog. Articles released after V13 require their own HSP. Common candidates are SM 1231 thermocouple/RTD variants and the SM 1278 IO-Link Master 4-PORT.

Commissioning Workflow

The complete commissioning workflow for a project that includes the CPU 1217C is summarized below. Use it as a checklist when integrating the PLC into a machine.

1. Verify catalog. Confirm that the CPU 1217C appears in the device catalog of the installed TIA Portal version. If not, install the HSP.
2. Create the project. Create new project > Add new device > Controllers > SIMATIC S7-1200 > CPU > CPU 1217C.
3. Configure hardware. Add the required SB, CM, and SM modules. Set the IP, PROFINET name, cycle monitoring time, and clock memory.
4. Configure the PROFINET topology. Drag PROFINET IO devices from the catalog into the topology editor and assign PROFINET names. Compile the project.
5. Write the program. Create the OB, FB, FC, DB, and UDT structure. Use SCL for math-heavy code and LAD/FBD for logic.
6. Configure access protection. Set the access level, password, and Web server user accounts.
7. Compile all. Use Compile > Software (rebuild all) and Compile > Hardware (rebuild all). Resolve every warning and error.
8. Download. Connect the PC to the CPU, run Online > Download to device. Select Stop all and Reset to factory settings on the first download to clear any previous project.
9. Verify online. Use the Online > Go online toggle, open the watch tables, and confirm that the inputs, outputs, and tag values match the physical wiring.
10. Document. Print the program structure, the hardware configuration, and the diagnostic buffer. Archive the TIA Portal project to a versioned repository.

Edge Cases and Field-Proven Caveats

The following caveats are observed in real installations and should be considered before deploying the CPU 1217C.

• Memory card swaps during runtime. Removing the SIMATIC Memory Card while the CPU is in RUN halts the program with an I/O access error. Always power the CPU down or place it in STOP before swapping the card.
• Firmware downgrade. Downgrading from V4.7 to V4.0 is possible but loses the diagnostic buffer and any DBs created with new data types. Always back up the project before downgrading.
• OPC UA licensing. The OPC UA server of the CPU 1217C (firmware V4.4+) is not licensed by default. A separate OPC UA license is required for production use. Trial mode runs for 30 days.
• Web server user management. After firmware V4.2, the Web server requires HTTPS and a user account. The default admin account is disabled until a password is set during commissioning.
• Power supply dimensioning. The CPU 1217C draws up to 1.5 A at 24 V from the sensor supply. When designing the cabinet, ensure the 24 V power supply can deliver 1.5 A per CPU plus the load current of all connected sensors.
• EMC environment. The CPU is rated for industrial EMC environments (EN 61131-2). Route PROFINET cables away from VFD motor cables with at least 200 mm separation, or use shielded cables bonded at both ends.

Frequently Asked Questions