Updating STEP 7 V5.1 Hardware Catalog for CP 343-1 (6GK7

Overview

The Siemens SIMATIC CP 343-1 communications processor (order number 6GK7 343-1EX11-0XE0) is an S7-300 Ethernet module that ships in the SIMATIC NET catalog tree, not the standard PROFIBUS DP-slave catalog. Users who attempt to add the module to a STEP 7 V5.1 hardware configuration via GSD file import will find no compatible GSD exists, because GSD files describe DP-slave properties only — not PN/IE-capable CP modules that are configured as native S7-300 slots. The supported resolution path depends on the STEP 7 version installed:

• STEP 7 V5.1 (all Service Packs below SP6): Install Service Pack 6 to refresh the bundled hardware catalog.
• STEP 7 V5.2 and later: Use Options > Install HW Updates in HW Config to pull catalog updates from the local repository or the Internet.
• STEP 7 V5.1 with SP6: Catalog is refreshed offline only; no online update path exists in V5.1.

This reference covers the diagnostic logic for why a GSD file cannot resolve the CP 343-1, the precise procedure for each update path, and the verification checks that confirm the module is selectable from HW Config.

Problem Context: CP 343-1 Not in Default Catalog

A user running STEP 7 V5.1 + SP1 cannot locate the CP 343-1 (6GK7 343-1EX11-0XE0) when opening HW Config > Catalog > SIMATIC 300 > CP-300 > Industrial Ethernet. The default catalog installed by V5.1 + SP1 does not include the EX11 hardware revision of the CP 343-1. Symptoms include:

• CP 343-1 entries show older firmware revisions only (e.g., EX10, EX00).
• Searching the catalog by order number returns no match for 6GK7 343-1EX11-0XE0.
• Attempting to use Options > Install GSD File with any supplied *.GSD fails because Siemens does not publish a GSD for SIMATIC NET CPs.

The root cause is a stale hwkat.bin catalog index shipped with the original V5.1 DVD and early service packs. The catalog index is regenerated only when a newer Service Pack is installed or when HW Config writes back changes after a hardware update.

Why GSD Files Do Not Apply to the CP 343-1

A GSD file (Generic Station Description) is the device database format defined in IEC 61784-1 / EN 50170 for PROFIBUS DP-slaves. The file describes slave identity, modular structure, diagnostics, and parameterization for cyclic PROFIBUS communication. Because the CP 343-1 is not a DP-slave — it is a SIMATIC NET communications processor plugged into the S7-300 backplane and configured via HW Config slots — Siemens does not provide a GSD file for it. The catalog entry is stored inside the STEP 7 hardware catalog database (hwkat.bin and its supporting XML structure) rather than as an external *.GSD document.

The same rule applies to:

• CP 343-1 Lean (6GK7 343-1CX00 / 6GK7 343-1CX10)
• CP 343-1 Advanced (6GK7 343-1GX00 / 6GK7 343-1GX10 / 6GK7 343-1GX20)
• CP 343-1 ERPC (6GK7 343-1HX00)
• CP 443-1 / CP 443-1 Advanced for S7-400

All of these are configured exclusively through the STEP 7 HW Config tree. To bring a new hardware revision into scope, the catalog database itself must be refreshed, which requires a Service Pack upgrade or an explicit HW Update installation.

Prerequisites

Before applying any of the procedures below, verify the following on the engineering station:

1. STEP 7 version and Service Pack level: Open SIMATIC Manager > Help > About. Confirm the build string, e.g., STEP 7 V5.1 + SP6 or STEP 7 V5.4 + SP5.
2. Administrator rights on Windows: Catalog updates require write access to %ProgramFiles%\Siemens\Automation\S7CAT and the hwkat.bin index files.
3. All SIMATIC applications closed: SIMATIC Manager, HW Config, NetPro, and S7-PCT must not be running during the update.
4. Free disk space: At least 500 MB on the system drive for temporary extraction of Service Pack files.
5. Target hardware revision identified: Confirm the order number printed on the module label (e.g., 6GK7 343-1EX11-0XE0, firmware V2.x).

Solution Path A: Install STEP 7 V5.1 Service Pack 6

For STEP 7 V5.1, the only catalog refresh path is through Service Pack 6 (SP6). Earlier service packs (SP1 through SP5) ship with the older catalog and will not include the EX11 hardware revision of the CP 343-1.

Step-by-step

1. Close all SIMATIC applications and stop the S7OM Helper and S7Trace services if running.
2. Download the SP6 package from the Siemens Industry Online Support portal: STEP 7 V5.1 Service Pack 6 (entry ID 12642848).
3. Extract the package to a local folder, e.g., D:\Temp\STEP7_V51_SP6\.
4. Run setup.exe as Administrator. The installer detects the existing V5.1 base installation and applies the patch in place.
5. Accept the license dialog. SP6 is a free update for licensed STEP 7 V5.1 users.
6. Restart Windows when prompted.
7. Launch SIMATIC Manager and verify the build string now reads STEP 7 V5.1 + SP6.
8. Open the target project, navigate to HW Config, and browse Catalog > SIMATIC 300 > CP-300 > Industrial Ethernet. The 6GK7 343-1EX11-0XE0 entry should now be visible.

What SP6 changes

Service Pack 6 refreshes the hardware catalog database to include CP 343-1 hardware revisions that were released in 2003–2004, including EX11 firmware versions V2.0 and V2.1. It does not add modules released after 2004. If a later CP 343-1 hardware revision (e.g., EX20, EX30) is required, the catalog entry will still be absent even after SP6 — see Path B or upgrade to a current STEP 7 version.

Solution Path B: Upgrade to STEP 7 V5.2 or Later

From STEP 7 V5.2 onwards, Siemens introduced the Install HW Updates function, which downloads the latest catalog entries from the Siemens Internet repository and integrates them into the local hwkat.bin database. This path is preferred when the user must support newer hardware revisions that V5.1 SP6 does not cover.

Supported STEP 7 versions for online HW updates

Step-by-Step: Install HW Updates in STEP 7 V5.2 Onwards

1. Open the STEP 7 project that contains the S7-300 station.
2. Double-click Hardware to launch HW Config.
3. In HW Config, click Options > Install HW Updates.
4. In the Install HW Updates dialog, select the source:
   • Internet — pulls the current catalog directly from the Siemens update server. Requires the engineering station to have outbound HTTPS to support.industry.siemens.com.
   • Path/Medium — points to a local folder, DVD, or downloaded ZIP that contains the HW update package.
5. Click Execute. The installer downloads (or reads) the catalog delta and writes it to %ProgramFiles%\Siemens\Automation\S7CAT\hwkat.bin.
6. Confirm the dialog indicating that HW Config must be closed and reopened.
7. Close and reopen HW Config. The new catalog entries — including the target 6GK7 343-1EX11-0XE0 — are now selectable.

For the canonical Siemens procedure, see the official Knowledge Base entry: How do you update the STEP 7 hardware catalog in STEP 7 V5.2 onwards? (entry ID 17581199).

Solution Path C: Manual GSD Import for True DP-Slaves

If the missing device is actually a DP-slave (not a CP 343-1), GSD import remains the correct procedure in V5.1. The path is:

1. Obtain the *.GSD and any accompanying *.BMP icon files from the device manufacturer.
2. Close HW Config.
3. Launch Options > Install GSD File from HW Config (or the SIMATIC Manager menu if HW Config is closed).
4. Browse to the *.GSD file and accept the import dialog.
5. Restart HW Config. The DP-slave appears under PROFIBUS DP > Additional Field Devices in the catalog tree.

Remember that GSD import cannot be used to add SIMATIC NET CPs, ET 200S/ET 200M station IM modules, or any backplane-resident S7-300/400 module. Those entries live exclusively in the catalog database.

Verification

After applying any of the three solutions above, validate the catalog update with the following checklist:

1. Launch SIMATIC Manager and open the project.
2. Open the S7-300 station in HW Config.
3. Expand Catalog > SIMATIC 300 > CP-300 > Industrial Ethernet.
4. Confirm CP 343-1 is listed with the order number 6GK7 343-1EX11-0XE0.
5. Drag the module to slot 4 of the S7-300 rack (CP slot).
6. Open the module properties and verify the firmware version field matches the physical module (e.g., firmware V2.1).
7. Save and recompile the hardware (Station > Save and Compile). The system data (SDB) should regenerate without errors.

If the catalog entry still does not appear after SP6 installation, verify that the SIMATIC Manager is not loading a cached catalog from a user profile. Delete %AppData%\Siemens\S7CAT\*.bin if present and relaunch.

CP 343-1 Variants Reference

If the order number being commissioned is not listed above, consult the latest SIMATIC NET catalog from the Siemens Industry Online Support portal before deciding on the upgrade path.

Troubleshooting Matrix

Interaction with SIMATIC NET Software

The CP 343-1 hardware catalog entry is shipped with STEP 7. SIMATIC NET (e.g., V6.1 + SP1) provides the PC-side communication drivers (S7-OPC server, SOFTNET S7) but does not change the STEP 7 hardware catalog. A project that targets the CP 343-1 needs only the STEP 7 catalog update; SIMATIC NET is required only when the PC station is acting as the communication peer, not when commissioning the S7-300 station itself.

To open a STEP 7 V5.1 project in a SIMATIC NET-equipped engineering station running STEP 7 V5.5, simply launch SIMATIC Manager (V5.5) and open the *.s7p file. SIMATIC Manager performs an automatic project upgrade and preserves the hardware configuration, provided the catalog contains the modules referenced in the SDBs.

Standards and Reference Documentation

• Siemens KB 17581199 — Update STEP 7 hardware catalog V5.2 onwards
• Siemens KB 12642848 — STEP 7 V5.1 Service Pack 6
• IEC 61784-1 / EN 50170 — Industrial communication networks, profiles (GSD definition reference)
• SIMATIC NET CP 343-1 Operating Instructions (Siemens manual, A5E00302024)