PROFINET Security Class 1: Verifying GSDX Conformance

Daniel Price1 min read
Industrial NetworkingOther ManufacturerTechnical Reference
Licensed PE Working through this on a live machine? A Maine-licensed engineer can take it from here — included with IMD hardware, by the hour for everything else. Book an engineer

Security Class 1 GSDX requirement

Security Class 1 requires a digitally signed GSD package in GSDX format. Include the GSDX file in the PROFINET conformance-test deliverables; testing the device with only the unpackaged GSDML file does not eliminate this requirement.

Conformance-test submission sequence

  1. Complete all other certification tests using the GSD file required by the tester applications.
  2. Deliver the GSDX file to the PI test laboratory no later than the completion of those tests.
  3. Ensure the submitted GSDX contains exactly the same GSD file used during certification testing.

Laboratory evaluation and tester limitation

Item Confirmed handling
GSDX package Delivered to the PI test laboratory for evaluation after the other tests are finished.
Embedded GSD file The laboratory verifies that it matches the GSD file used for certification tests.
Tester applications They currently use the GSDML file because they cannot load GSDX files directly.

The evidence confirms the embedded-file comparison but does not define additional signature-validation checks. Confirm any further evaluation criteria directly with the selected PI test laboratory.

FAQ

Is a GSDX file mandatory for PROFINET Security Class 1?

Yes. Security Class 1 requires the digitally signed GSD package in GSDX format.

When do I submit the GSDX file for PROFINET conformance testing?

Deliver it to the PI test laboratory no later than the point when all other tests have been completed.

What does the PI test laboratory verify in the GSDX file?

The laboratory verifies that the GSDX contains the same GSD file used for the certification tests. Current tester applications still load the GSDML file directly because they cannot load GSDX packages.

Back to blog