SINAMICS G120 GSD File Installation in STEP 7 HWConfig

Overview

The SINAMICS G120 modular drive family (Control Units CU230P-2, CU240B-2, CU240E-2, CU250S-2) requires a PROFIBUS GSD file (for DP slaves) or a PROFINET GSDML file (for IO devices) before the inverter appears in the STEP 7 hardware catalog. After the file is loaded, the drive is reachable only by drilling into a specific catalog path that varies by STEP 7 version and by the bus protocol. Engineers who only look at the top-level SINAMICS folder will not find the G120 and conclude the installation failed, when in fact the device is simply located under Additional Field Devices > Drives > SINAMICS on PROFIBUS or under Drives > SINAMICS on PROFINET.

This reference covers the full sequence: identifying the correct file revision, installing it in STEP 7 V5.4 through V5.6 and in TIA Portal V13 through V17, navigating to the G120 in the hardware catalog, configuring the standard telegram, and verifying the configuration with STARTER or Startdrive. It also documents the fallback method of copying GSD data from the Control Unit's CompactFlash (CF) card at \SIEMENS\SINAMICS\DATA\CFG\ when the offline installer is unavailable.

Prerequisites

Before installing the GSD or GSDML file, confirm the following:

• STEP 7 V5.4 SPx or later for PROFIBUS GSD, or STEP 7 V5.5 SP2 and the matching GSDML Hotfix (HF-HSP) for PROFINET GSDML Rev. 2 devices.
• TIA Portal V13 SP1 minimum for current SINAMICS G120 PROFINET integration; TIA Portal V15, V16, or V17 with the latest Hardware Support Package (HSP) is recommended for firmware V4.7 SP6 and later. The current SINAMICS G120 HSP for TIA Portal V17 is available through the TIA Updater (article ID 72341852).
• Administrative rights on the engineering station so that the GSD/GSDML copy utility can write to %ProgramFiles%\Siemens\Automation\S7\...\S7GSDAX\ and the hardware catalog database.
• The Control Unit's article number (e.g. 6SL3244-0BB00-1BA1 for a CU240B-2 DP) and firmware version (read with the IOP, BOP-2, or the inverter's r0018 parameter) to select a matching GSD/GSDML revision.
• STARTER V5.1 SP1 minimum (for STEP 7 V5.4) or Startdrive V13 SP1 minimum (for TIA Portal) for offline parameterization and online commissioning.

GSD versus GSDML: File Types and Selection

The naming convention differs by bus protocol and by the file generator version. The following table summarizes the file families and where they are used.

Siemens publishes GSDML files for the G120 in two parallel streams: the PROFIsafe-capable PROFINET profile (filename contains SinamicsG120PN) and the legacy PROFIdrive-only profile (filename contains SinamicsG120PROF). The PROFIsafe variant is required when the CU240E-2 F or CU250S-2 F is wired for STO/SS1 via PROFIsafe slot 30.

Downloading the Correct GSD/GSDML File

Always source the device description from the official Siemens Industry Online Support. Two article IDs cover the full G120 device family:

• PROFIBUS GSD files for SINAMICS G120: Support entry 23450835
• PROFINET GSDML files for SINAMICS G120: Support entry 26641490

Both entries are continuously updated, so the article header shows the latest published build (for example, "G120 GSD V4.7.13, 2024-05-22"). For the older PROFINET profile, the public mirror at gsdml-v2.0-siemens-sinamicsg120prof-20080514.xml is sometimes the only remaining copy of legacy V2.0 descriptions when used for archive or migration projects. The Siemens-published file should still be preferred for new installations.

Inside the download ZIP, the directory layout is standardized:

G120_GSD_V4.7.13/
  |- SI0280B6.GSD       (PROFIBUS, G120 CU240B-2)
  |- SI0280E6.GSD       (PROFIBUS, G120 CU240E-2)
  |- SI0380B6.GSD       (PROFIBUS, G120 CU250S-2)
  |- GSDML-V2.32-Siemens-SinamicsG120PN-20240315.xml
  |- GSDML-V2.32-Siemens-SinamicsG120PN-20240315.bmp
  |- Readme.txt

Installing the GSD in STEP 7 V5.x HWConfig

1. Extract the ZIP to a local folder, e.g. D:\Siemens\G120_GSD\. The file extension determines which installer to use: *.GSD for PROFIBUS, *.GSDML for PROFINET.
2. Open SIMATIC Manager and load the STEP 7 project containing (or destined to contain) the SINAMICS G120 station.
3. Open HW Config for the station. Confirm the catalog on the right side shows the standard folder structure.
4. Choose Options > Install GSD File for a PROFIBUS GSD, or Options > Install GSDML File for a PROFINET GSDML.
5. Browse to the folder from step 1, select the file, and click Install. The tool copies the file to the STEP 7 catalog path and registers it in S7GSDLDX.DLL / S7GSDAX.DLL.
6. Close and re-open HW Config. The catalog is rebuilt from disk on the next launch.

Installing the GSDML in TIA Portal

1. Extract the GSDML to a local folder. Confirm the file name matches the project hardware; e.g. GSDML-V2.32-Siemens-SinamicsG120PN-20240315.xml.
2. Open the TIA Portal project and switch to the Device View or Network View.
3. Choose Options > Manage general station description files (GSD).
4. Browse to the folder, select the GSDML, and click Install. TIA Portal parses the XML and registers the device in the Devices & Networks hardware catalog.
5. Close the dialog. The SINAMICS G120 appears under Other field devices > Drives > SINAMICS.

For multi-firmware projects, install several GSDML revisions side by side. TIA Portal sorts them by version; the highest matching revision is offered by default when dragging a device. Use Options > Manage GSD files > Details to confirm which revision is bound to a specific instance.

Locating the SINAMICS G120 in the Hardware Catalog

This is the step that traps most first-time users. After installation, the SINAMICS G120 is not under the top-level SINAMICS folder in the catalog. The exact path depends on the bus type:

Within SINAMICS G120, the catalog is sub-divided by Control Unit. Each CU is its own GSD entry:

• SINAMICS G120 CU230P-2 DP / PN (article numbers 6SL3243-0BB30-..., -0BB31-...)
• SINAMICS G120 CU240B-2 DP / PN (6SL3244-0BB00-1BA1, 6SL3244-0BB10-1BA1)
• SINAMICS G120 CU240E-2 DP-F / PN-F (6SL3244-0BB12-1BA1, 6SL3244-0BB13-1BA1)
• SINAMICS G120 CU250S-2 DP / PN (6SL3246-0BA22-...)

Drag the correct CU to the PROFIBUS or PROFINET line. The address is assigned automatically or can be set in the device properties (typical DP address 3..6 for a single-drive cell).

Alternative: Extracting the GSD from the CF Card

When the engineering station has no internet access and the GSD ZIP is not available, the device description can be copied directly from the CompactFlash card shipped with the Control Unit. The SINAMICS G120 stores every supported GSD and GSDML under the standard Siemens directory:

\SIEMENS\SINAMICS\DATA\CFG\
  |- SI0280B6.GSD
  |- SI0280E6.GSD
  |- GSDML-V2.x-Siemens-SinamicsG120PN-YYYYMMDD.xml
  |- *.bmp

To use this method:

1. Power down the CU and remove the CF card.
2. Insert the card into a CF reader on the engineering station. Windows assigns a drive letter, for example E:\.
3. Browse to E:\SIEMENS\SINAMICS\DATA\CFG\.
4. Copy the file matching the connected CU to a local staging folder, e.g. D:\G120_GSD\.
5. Follow the standard install procedure from step 4 of the STEP 7 V5.x instructions above.

Configuring the Standard Telegram

Once the G120 is placed on the bus, open its slot configuration. For PROFIdrive integration the default slot 1 is the standard telegram; the available telegrams for the G120 are:

For a basic speed-controlled drive, leave the default telegram 1. For PCS 7 APL library blocks (FB 31, FB 32, FB 35) select telegram 352 or 353. After selecting, compile the station and download the HW Config. The PLC CPU configures the CU on next start-up, and the G120 boots into the chosen telegram within ~3 s.

Troubleshooting Matrix

Verification and Commissioning Checklist

Run the following checks after the GSD installation and project download:

1. In HW Config, the SINAMICS G120 icon shows a green check mark on the bus line and no red "x" on the device.
2. The slot configuration in HW Config matches the drive parameter p0922 (PROFIdrive telegram selection). Read r0922 online; it must equal the telegram number selected in HW Config (e.g. 1 for telegram 1, 352 for the PCS 7 standard).
3. STARTER/Startdrive goes online: Project > Online > Connect to target system. The diagnostic buffer is empty of F01910 and F08501 messages.
4. Perform an empty test run with the control word 0x047E (OFF1 enable + ramp-function generator enable + no setpoint). The drive replies with status word 0x0A31 ("ready to run, no fault, no OFF"). This confirms PZD data is being exchanged.
5. Write setpoint 0x0FA0 (400.0 hex = 4000 rpm) to control word 1, then issue 0x047F. The motor must run to 4000 rpm and report ZSW1 = 0x0A37 ("operation enabled, with setpoint reached").
6. Save the parameter set to the CF card: STARTER Drive > Copy RAM to ROM, or BOP-2 menu "Copy RAM to ROM". This protects the configuration against power loss.

Hardware Catalog Path Flowchart

Tips for Mixed and Legacy Projects

• STEP 7 V5.4 SP4 and earlier: The GSD for firmware V4.4 and later is not visible. Upgrade to SP5 minimum to gain support for the current G120 family.
• STEP 7 V5.6 with GSDML Rev. 2.32: The HF-HSP from Siemens article ID 105830207 is required; the base SP cannot parse GSDML with slots > 32.
• Cross-tool projects: TIA Portal and STEP 7 V5.x install their GSDs into different folders (...\S7GSDAX\ vs ...\HSP\). A GSD installed in one tool is invisible to the other.
• Multi-vendor catalog: If the G120 must sit next to a non-Siemens drive in the same project, use a generic PROFIdrive GSD; the Siemens-specific telegrams (352, 353) then become unavailable.
• CF card with encrypted project files: Since firmware V4.7 SP3, the \SIEMENS\SINAMICS\DATA\CFG\ directory is read-only when the CU is configured with the SINAMICS Security option. Copy the GSD before the option is activated, or boot the CU in service mode.

Quick Reference: Required Articles by STEP 7 Version

Frequently Asked Questions