Resolving Missing ET 200SP IO-Link Master in TIA Portal V13 SP1

Overview

The Siemens IO-Link master module 6ES7137-6BD00-0BA0 (ET 200SP CM 4x IO-Link ST) is a distributed I/O communication module, not a standalone controller. Engineers who upgrade or install TIA Portal V13 SP1 Update 9 frequently report that the module does not appear under the typical I/O or "Distributed I/O" folder of the hardware catalog, even after installing the relevant Hardware Support Package (HSP). The root cause is a classification mismatch: the device is registered in the TIA Portal device tree as an ET 200SP communication module, and must be added through the Devices & Networks editor under the ET 200SP station's Communications modules slot, not under generic I/O modules.

This article documents the exact catalog path, the HSP/HW identifier combinations that successfully expose the module on TIA Portal V13 SP1 Update 9, and the verification steps required to confirm the master is reachable from the PLC. It also documents the parameter set of the module so engineers can move directly from "module not found" to a working IO-Link port assignment.

Problem Details

Symptom reported on TIA Portal V13 SP1 Update 9:

• HSP 0136 installed (or attempted).
• Search of the hardware catalog for 6ES7 137-6BD00-0BA0, IO-Link, or ET 200SP CM returns no match in the expected I/O section.
• The device does not appear when the ET 200SP interface module (e.g., IM 155-6 PN ST) is opened and the user navigates the slot list.
• Other ET 200SP modules (DI, DQ, AI, AQ) appear normally.

The engineer expects to find a "plug-and-play" tile in the right-hand hardware catalog pane, but the module is missing. The configuration appears broken even though the ET 200SP station is created correctly.

Root Cause Analysis

The IO-Link master 6ES7137-6BD00-0BA0 is functionally an I/O module, but in the TIA Portal device database (HSP 0136) it is registered as a communication module of the ET 200SP station. This distinction is intentional: the master operates as a gateway that exchanges cyclic process data with the higher-level PROFINET controller and simultaneously manages acyclic IO-Link traffic (port parameter read/write, ISDU requests, diagnostics) on the four downstream ports.

Because the module is classified as a CM, it is filtered out of the I/O catalog search and only appears in the slot list of the ET 200SP station when the station is opened in the Devices & Networks editor. The catalog path that TIA Portal V13 SP1 Update 9 uses for this device is:

1. Open the project and switch to Devices & Networks.
2. Select the configured ET 200SP station (PROFINET device view).
3. Open the Hardware catalog pane on the right.
4. Navigate: Distributed I/O > ET 200SP > Communications modules > ET 200SP CM IO-Link
5. Drag the CM 4x IO-Link ST entry (MLFB 6ES7137-6BD00-0BA0) into an empty slot of the ET 200SP station (slot 1 through slot 32, leaving the IM in slot 0).

If the engineer searches only the I/O sub-tree, the module is invisible by design. The original TIA Portal V13 SP1 catalog organizes distributed I/O devices into "I/O modules," "Communications modules," and "Technology modules"; the IO-Link master is in the second group.

Prerequisites

Before adding the module, confirm the following items are in place. Missing prerequisites are the most common secondary cause of "module not found" after the catalog-path issue is corrected.

Verifying HSP 0136 Installation

1. Open TIA Portal V13 SP1 Update 9.
2. Select Options > Support Packages > Installed support packages.
3. Confirm that HSP 0136 is listed and not flagged with a yellow warning icon.
4. If missing or marked "available but not installed," repeat the install using Options > Support Packages > Install support packages and select the HSP file downloaded from the Siemens support portal.

Step-by-Step Solution

Use the following procedure to add the 6ES7137-6BD00-0BA0 IO-Link master to an existing ET 200SP station on TIA Portal V13 SP1 Update 9.

1. Open the Devices & Networks Editor

Double-click Devices & Networks in the project tree. The network view shows all PROFINET/ PROFIBUS devices in the project. The IO-Link master cannot be inserted directly from the network view; it must be added as a slot of an existing ET 200SP station.

2. Select the ET 200SP Station

Click the IM 155-6 PN interface module of the target ET 200SP station. TIA Portal switches to the device view, showing the slot rack (slot 0 = IM, slot 1 onward = free slots for I/O, CM, or TM).

3. Open the Hardware Catalog Pane

If the hardware catalog is not visible, enable it via View > Catalog. Expand the following branch in order:

Hardware catalog
  > Distributed I/O
    > ET 200SP
      > Communications modules
        > ET 200SP CM IO-Link
          > CM 4x IO-Link ST (6ES7137-6BD00-0BA0)

4. Drag the Module into a Free Slot

Drag the CM 4x IO-Link ST entry onto the next free slot of the ET 200SP rack. TIA Portal assigns the slot number, generates the slot name, and updates the station's module list automatically.

5. Configure the IO-Link Ports

Select the new module in the device view and open Properties > IO-Link. For each of the four ports, the following parameters are available:

6. Assign IO-Link Devices Using the S7-PCT Tool

The IO-Link master is a transparent gateway. The connected IO-Link devices (sensors, valves, RFID heads) must be described by an IODD (IO Device Description) and projected using S7-PCT (Port Configuration Tool). From TIA Portal V13 SP1 onward, S7-PCT can be launched directly:

1. Right-click the IO-Link master in the device view.
2. Select Start the Port Configuration Tool.
3. In S7-PCT, install the relevant IODD file (download from the device manufacturer).
4. Drag the IODD onto the appropriate port.
5. Configure the device's process data length, ISDU index map, and identification parameters.
6. Save the configuration back to the TIA project.

7. Compile and Download

1. In the network view, right-click the ET 200SP station and select Compile > Hardware and software (rebuild all).
2. Select the PLC and choose Download to device > All.
3. Confirm that the IO-Link master appears in the topology with a green device icon and no diagnostic alarms.

Verification

After download, perform the following checks to confirm the IO-Link master is fully operational.

IO-Link Master Parameter Reference

The 6ES7137-6BD00-0BA0 exposes both PROFINET-side (acyclic via record / cyclic in PI) and IO-Link-side parameters. The table below lists the most relevant items for commissioning.

Troubleshooting Matrix

Edge Cases and Field Notes

Using a Newer TIA Portal Version

Engineers who upgrade from V13 SP1 to V14 or later will see the 6ES7137-6BD00-0BA0 in the same Communications modules branch. The catalog path is preserved across V13 SP1 through V17; only the HSP number changes (e.g., HSP for V16 is a different package but the same MLFB). If the project is opened on a newer TIA Portal version without the matching HSP, the IO-Link master falls back to an "unspecified" placeholder; a project upgrade is required.

Working Without TIA Portal

The CM 4x IO-Link ST can be commissioned stand-alone using S7-PCT and PROFINET configuration tools from third-party vendors. The PROFINET GSD file is the device's "offline" identity. When a PLC is not part of the network, the module behaves as a transparent IO-Link hub and can still be parametrized via the Siemens PRONETA or via the S7-PCT direct connection (USB / Ethernet).

Port Class A vs Port Class B

Class A ports use Pin 4 for IO-Link communication and the standard M12 pinout for power. Class B ports add an additional galvanically isolated supply on Pin 2 and Pin 5, used for actuators that require a separate high-current supply. The 6ES7137-6BD00-0BA0 supports both classes on each port, but the BaseUnit must be wired accordingly (BU type A0 supports Class A; BU type A1 supports Class A and Class B).

Process Image Layout

The cyclic input and output process data of the IO-Link master is determined by the connected devices, not by the master. TIA Portal computes the I/O address space at compile time. With four IO-Link V1.1 devices, the input range can be up to 32 bytes per station segment, and the output range similar. S7-PCT reports the exact length; do not hardcode offsets without referring to the S7-PCT report.

Safety Systems

The 6ES7137-6BD00-0BA0 is a standard variant and is not suitable for PROFIsafe. PROFIsafe IO-Link masters (e.g., 6ES7137-6SA00-0BA0) must be used for safety-related applications. The catalog branch remains the same (Communications modules), but the order number differs.

Standards and Reference Documentation

Verify the following standards against the relevant section of the project specification; this article does not claim a specific clause permits a specific overload or design choice unless the standard is directly referenced.

• IEC 61131-9 - Single-drop digital communication interface (IO-Link).
• IO-Link Consortium specification v1.1 - Port cycle, validation, data-storage, and ISDU behavior.
• PROFINET Installation Guide - Cabling, grounding, topology.

Frequently Asked Questions