Resolving SCALANCE XC208 Firmware V4.1 Compatibility in TIA Portal V16
Industrial Ethernet switches in the SCALANCE XC-2x family (such as the SCALANCE XC208, article number 6GK5208-0BA00-2AC2) ship with increasingly newer firmware revisions as Siemens releases functional and security updates. When a deployed device runs firmware that is newer than the version embedded in the device catalog of the engineering tool, the controller surfaces a maintenance demanded alarm in the diagnostics view, even though the switch continues to operate correctly on the network. The classic symptom observed in the field is a red wrench symbol on the device icon in the TIA Portal device view and a matching PROFINET diagnostic entry on the connected S7-1500/S7-1200 CPU.
This reference describes the exact procedure to clear the SCALANCE XC208 firmware V4.1 mismatch alarm when using TIA Portal V16 (including V16 Update 1 through V16 Update 9) where the integrated HSP catalog only knows up to firmware V4.0. The procedure relies on the on-device GSDML file served by the integrated webserver and is the same path documented in the official Siemens configuration manual SCALANCE XC-2x Web Based Management / Configuration Manual, entry ID 109757352, chapter 7.1.4.
1. Problem Overview and Symptoms
The reported symptom chain on a typical commissioning site is reproducible and easily identified:
- The SCALANCE XC208 was commissioned with firmware V4.1 (the device's Web Based Management / WBM shows this under System > Information).
- The TIA Portal V16 hardware catalog (under Network components > SCALANCE XC-2x > XC208) only contains the GSDML for firmware V4.0.
- After the project is compiled and downloaded, the connected CPU displays the SCALANCE with a maintenance symbol in Online & Diagnostics > PROFINET diagnostics.
- The diagnostic buffer records entries of type Maintenance demanded with channel diagnosis bytes indicating an Identification mismatch (0x8000 family of PROFINET channel error codes, see PROFINET specification on profinet.com).
From a functional standpoint, the network operates correctly. From a documentation, audit, and acceptance standpoint, the red symbol causes a customer-side rejection during the factory acceptance test (FAT) or site acceptance test (SAT) because it is interpreted as a non-conformity against the bill of materials. The engineer must therefore resolve the alarm without downgrading the device.
2. Prerequisites
Perform the following checks before starting the corrective procedure:
- Confirm the SCALANCE XC208 is reachable on the engineering subnet. Default IP after first boot is 192.168.1.1, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, no password (or the configured admin password if security was previously enabled).
- Confirm the engineering station has read access to the WBM. Use a current browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) - Internet Explorer is not required but the WBM also supports it as a fallback.
- Confirm the TIA Portal project (.ap16) is closed. GSDML installation in TIA Portal V16 does not require the project to be open, but having it closed avoids file locks on the catalog database during the import.
- Confirm write permissions to the TIA Portal installation directory. The GSDML is copied into
%ProgramData%\Siemens\Automation\Portal V16\GSD(or the equivalent user-specific path used by your installation). - Identify the firmware version of the XC208 by reading System > Information > Version in the WBM. The value is reported in the form
V4.1.x.yy(for example V4.1.0 or V4.1.1) plus a build number. - Capture the current TIA Portal version and update level (Help > About). The procedure below is verified against TIA Portal V16 SP1 and V16 Update 1 through Update 9.
3. Understanding the GSDML Mechanism
GSDML (Generic Station Description Markup Language) is the XML-based device description for PROFINET IO devices, defined in the PROFINET specification and maintained by PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International). For a SCALANCE managed switch, the GSDML describes the device's module structure, port properties, diagnostic mappings, and supported firmware versions. TIA Portal reads the GSDML at project compile time to validate the configuration against the device.
When Siemens ships a new firmware, the GSDML is updated in parallel and stored in three places:
| Location | Purpose | Update path |
|---|---|---|
| Siemens Online Support entry for the SCALANCE XC-2x | Master source for offline installation | Manual download from support.industry.siemens.com |
| Device WBM (System > Save & Load HTTP > GSDML File) | GSDML that matches the firmware actually running on the device | Extracted per device via HTTP download |
| TIA Portal HSP (Hardware Support Package) | Bundled device catalog entries for a specific firmware range | Siemens releases new HSPs aligned with TIA Portal updates |
The TIA Portal V16 release line contains an HSP that supports SCALANCE XC-2x up to firmware V4.0. The next Siemens HSP that lifts the catalog to V4.1 may not be available as a stand-alone download until the corresponding TIA Portal V16 update or V17 release ships. Until that HSP is installed, the on-device GSDML on the WBM is the authoritative source for V4.1.
4. Step-by-Step: Extract the GSDML from the SCALANCE Webserver
The extraction follows the documented procedure in Siemens entry ID 109757352, chapter 7.1.4 ("Save GSDML file via HTTP"). Perform the following actions in the WBM:
- Open the WBM in a browser by entering
https://<IP-of-XC208>(orhttp://<IP-of-XC208>if HTTPS has not been enabled yet). Log in as admin with the configured password. - Navigate the left-hand menu to System > Save & Load HTTP. The page lists files that the device will serve via TFTP-style HTTP GET.
- Select the entry labeled GSDML File. The default filename shown is the GSDML XML that matches the running firmware, for example
GSDML-V2.31-Siemens-SCALANCE_XC208-20191011.xml(exact timestamp depends on the firmware build installed on the device). - Click Save GSDML. The browser downloads the XML to the local downloads folder.
- Verify the file size: a SCALANCE XC-2x GSDML for V4.x is typically between 90 kB and 140 kB. If the download is significantly smaller, the file may have been truncated by a proxy and must be re-fetched directly from the device IP.
- Rename the file to a descriptive form such as
SCALANCE_XC208_V4.1_GSDML.xmlto keep multiple revisions apart in the engineering archive.
.xml extension manually before importing into TIA Portal. If the import fails with File is not a valid GSDML, open the file in a text editor and verify the first non-whitespace characters are <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> followed by the <GSDML> root element.5. Step-by-Step: Install the GSDML into TIA Portal V16
After the GSDML is on the engineering station, install it into the TIA Portal device catalog:
- Start TIA Portal V16. Open the project that contains the SCALANCE XC208 (or open any project - the GSDML install is a global catalog action and applies to all projects).
- From the menu bar, select Options > Manage general station description files (GSD).
- In the dialog that opens, click Install... in the upper-right area.
- Browse to the directory containing the extracted XML and select the file. Confirm the import.
- Wait for the import to complete. A successful import reports the GSDML version (for example Release 4.1) and the source path. Click Close.
As an alternative for users with administrative rights on the engineering station, the GSDML can be copied directly into the TIA Portal catalog directory before launching TIA Portal:
- Close TIA Portal completely.
- Copy the GSDML XML file to
C:\ProgramData\Siemens\Automation\Portal V16\GSD(or the equivalent for the installed locale - the path is documented in Siemens application note 109783835 "Configuring SCALANCE devices in TIA Portal", section 4.2.1). - Re-launch TIA Portal V16. The new GSDML is detected at startup and merged into the hardware catalog under Network components > Further field devices > PROFINET IO > Switches > Siemens > SCALANCE XC-2x > XC208.
6. Step-by-Step: Replace the Device in the Project
Once the V4.1 GSDML is registered, the existing V4.0 device instance in the project must be swapped to the V4.1 variant:
- Open the project and switch to the network view (Project tree > Devices & Networks > Networks view).
- Click the SCALANCE XC208 in the network view. In the device's properties (Properties > General > Catalog Information or the Inspector window) confirm the currently assigned device entry shows the V4.0 catalog number.
- Open the hardware catalog on the right side. Search for SCALANCE XC208. Two entries may now appear: the bundled V4.0 from the original HSP and the newly imported V4.1.
- Drag-and-drop the V4.1 XC208 onto the existing device, or right-click the device and choose Replace device > SCALANCE XC208 (V4.1). TIA Portal will preserve the IP address, PROFINET device name, port assignments, SNMPv3 configuration, and any DCP-reserved names.
- Compile the project (Compile > Hardware and software (rebuild all)). The compile log should report zero errors. If the log shows a warning about Catalog revision mismatch, the compile still succeeds; the warning is informational only.
- Download the configuration to the CPU (Online > Download to device). The CPU will propagate the updated PROFINET AR (Application Relationship) to the SCALANCE.
7. Verification Procedure
After the device swap and download, verify the maintenance symbol is gone by performing all four checks below. A clean result on all four confirms the fix.
- WBM version check: In the WBM, navigate to System > Information. The firmware version should match what is reported by TIA Portal under Online > Accessible nodes.
- PROFINET diagnostics: In TIA Portal, open Online & Diagnostics on the SCALANCE. Under PROFINET diagnostics > Diagnostic status, the status must read OK (no Maintenance demanded, no Maintenance required).
- CPU diagnostic buffer: On the S7-1500 / S7-1200, open Online & Diagnostics > Diagnostic buffer. The most recent entry related to the SCALANCE should be an Identification OK or simply a normal AR establishment, with no further Maintenance demanded entries.
- HMI / Webserver view of the CPU: If the CPU has an integrated webserver or an HMI is connected, the SCALANCE icon should now display in its normal color (green) rather than red/yellow.
8. HSP Alternative and Long-Term Path
The on-device GSDML import is the fastest path and does not require waiting for Siemens to release a new HSP. For sites that prefer to keep the device catalog standardized, the alternative is to install a newer Siemens HSP that supports the SCALANCE XC-2x V4.1:
- From the TIA Portal menu, select Options > Support Packages.
- Click Check for updates. TIA Portal connects to the Siemens update server and lists any new HSPs compatible with the installed V16 version.
- Select the SCALANCE XC-2x HSP and click Install. A restart of TIA Portal is required for the new HSP to take effect.
For engineering teams maintaining parallel installations of TIA Portal V16 and TIA Portal V17 (or V18), the V17/V18 catalog already contains the V4.1 entry natively. Sites planning a TIA Portal migration should defer the GSDML manual import to the migration rather than performing it twice.
9. Firmware and Catalog Compatibility Matrix
The following matrix summarizes the SCALANCE XC208 firmware coverage in the TIA Portal V16 / V17 catalog as confirmed against the Siemens online support entry for the SCALANCE XC-2x family:
| TIA Portal version | Included SCALANCE XC208 firmware in catalog | HSP required for V4.1? | Manual GSDML import needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| V15.1 + HSP0280 | Up to V3.0 | HSP0280 | Yes for V3.x and V4.x |
| V16 base | Up to V4.0 | No | Yes for V4.1 and later |
| V16 Update 1 - Update 9 | Up to V4.0 | No stand-alone HSP released with V4.1 catalog | Yes for V4.1 and later |
| V17 base | Up to V4.1 | No | No for V4.1 |
| V18 base | Up to V4.1 (and selected V4.2 features) | No | No for V4.1 |
10. Troubleshooting Matrix
| Observed symptom | Likely cause | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
| WBM page Save GSDML returns HTTP 404 | Firmware V3.x or older - older firmware stored the GSDML under System > Load & Save > TFTP instead of the HTTP menu | Use the TFTP path, or upgrade device firmware to V4.0+ |
| WBM page is greyed out / Save button inactive | User logged in with read-only credentials, not admin | Log in as admin with the configured password |
| GSDML import fails: "File is not a valid GSDML" | Browser stripped the .xml extension, or file was truncated | Rename with explicit .xml, re-download directly from the device IP |
| GSDML import succeeds but device not visible in catalog | Wrong category path browsed; GSDML ended up under PROFINET IO > Switches > Further manufacturers instead of Siemens | Search for the article number 6GK5208-0BA00-2AC2 instead of browsing by tree |
| Replace device does not preserve IP address | Project uses a fixed IP that is encoded in the GSDML rather than in the project | Manually re-enter the IP under Properties > Ethernet addresses after the swap |
| Maintenance symbol persists after swap and download | CPU AR was not re-established; cached connection from previous download | Power-cycle the SCALANCE or pull-and-replug the PROFINET cable, then re-download |
| Compile error: "Device version not supported in target firmware" | The TIA Portal project targets a CPU firmware older than the SCALANCE GSDML supports | Update the CPU firmware in the project, or use a GSDML that matches the CPU's target firmware |
| Customer reports red light on the physical SCALANCE LED | Physical LED is driven by the link/activity status, not the diagnostic flag. A red LED almost always indicates a physical-layer issue | Check SFP transceivers, cable integrity, and the LINK LED status. The PROFINET diagnostic flag and the front-panel LED are independent |
11. Process Topology (Inline SVG)
Figure 1 - Flow of the on-device GSDML extraction, installation, and project replacement procedure.
12. Safety and Operational Considerations
Two operational constraints must be respected when applying this procedure on a running plant network:
- Network availability: The GSDML download from the WBM is a read-only HTTP operation and does not interrupt PROFINET traffic. The TIA Portal compile and download, however, will momentarily tear down the PROFINET AR between the CPU and the SCALANCE. Schedule the download during a maintenance window of at least five minutes to allow the AR to re-establish and the diagnostic buffer to settle.
- Configuration drift: If the SCALANCE carries a customized configuration (VLAN, SNMPv3 users, port security, ACLs) that was loaded via TIA Portal and stored in the device, the replace-device operation can re-apply the project configuration and overwrite manual changes made via the WBM. Capture the running config (System > Backup > Configuration) before the swap, and compare it with the post-swap configuration (WBM > Information > Running config vs. Startup config) before signing off.
13. Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my TIA Portal V16 show a red maintenance symbol on a SCALANCE XC208 even though the network works?
The device runs firmware V4.1 while the V16 hardware catalog only knows V4.0. TIA Portal raises a Maintenance demanded PROFINET diagnostic when the configuration-side firmware revision does not match the device-side firmware revision. The switch is fully operational; the alarm is a configuration-alignment flag, not a functional fault.
Can I simply roll back the SCALANCE XC208 from V4.1 to V4.0 to make the alarm go away?
Technically yes - the firmware can be downgraded via the WBM (System > Load & Save > Firmware). In practice this is not recommended, because V4.1 contains security and stability patches that should remain in service. The supported Siemens approach is the on-device GSDML import described in this document, which aligns the project with the device without altering the device firmware.
Where exactly do I find the GSDML download in the WBM?
Navigate to System > Save & Load HTTP > GSDML File > Save GSDML. The browser saves the GSDML XML locally. The exact menu path is documented in chapter 7.1.4 of the SCALANCE XC-2x configuration manual, Siemens entry ID 109757352.
Will a stand-alone Siemens HSP that includes the V4.1 catalog ever be released for TIA Portal V16?
Siemens typically bundles new device catalog entries with TIA Portal major or minor updates rather than releasing stand-alone HSPs. For sites pinned to TIA Portal V16, the V4.1 catalog coverage is generally introduced with the V17 base release or later; until then, the manual GSDML import is the supported workaround.
Does the GSDML import affect other SCALANCE devices already configured in the same project?
No. The GSDML import is a catalog-level operation that registers the new device description globally. Only the device instance that is explicitly replaced (drag-and-drop or Replace device) is affected. All other SCALANCE instances (XC206, XC216, XC224, etc.) remain bound to their previously assigned GSDML revision unless they are also replaced.
What is the difference between the WBM-stored GSDML and the GSDML on Siemens Online Support?
The GSDML served by the WBM is always exactly aligned with the firmware that is currently running on that physical device. The GSDML on Siemens Online Support is the official master copy, but a given device on site may have been updated to a patch level for which the master copy has not yet been published. The WBM copy is therefore the most accurate source for resolving a version-mismatch alarm on a specific device.
After the swap, my SCALANCE shows as Maintenance required (yellow) instead of Maintenance demanded (red). What does this mean?
Yellow indicates a non-critical configuration discrepancy (for example, a parameter the GSDML considers optional is at a non-default value). Red is reserved for functional or identification mismatches. If the symbol has moved from red to yellow, the urgent alignment is complete; the remaining yellow can usually be cleared by aligning the parameter in the project to the value present in the device, then re-downloading.