Siemens 6GK1561-2AA00 Communication Processor – CP 5612 A2

Siemens 6GK1561-2AA00 CP 5612 A2 — PCIe PROFIBUS DP / MPI Host Adapter for Industrial PC Integration

The Siemens 6GK1561-2AA00, marketed under the CP 5612 A2 designation, is a single-lane PCIe (x1) communication processor that bridges a Windows-based industrial PC or server directly into a PROFIBUS DP or MPI network segment. Unlike USB-to-PROFIBUS adapters that rely on host-side USB interrupt scheduling, the CP 5612 A2 offloads the complete PROFIBUS protocol stack — including token-ring management, DP cycle timing, and FDL frame handling — onto an on-board ASIC. This architecture decouples fieldbus determinism from the non-real-time behavior of the host operating system, a critical requirement in any control loop where jitter above 1 ms is unacceptable.

The card operates at all standard PROFIBUS baud rates from 9.6 kbit/s up to 12 Mbit/s, with automatic baud-rate detection during network scan. At 12 Mbit/s, the minimum DP cycle time for a 32-slave network is approximately 1.5 ms, a figure that remains stable regardless of host CPU load because the ASIC handles token rotation autonomously. The physical layer is RS-485 via a 9-pin Sub-D female connector, compatible with all standard PROFIBUS cables and bus connectors per IEC 61158-2.

In MPI mode, the same physical connector provides access to the SIMATIC S7 MPI bus, enabling STEP 7 and TIA Portal to perform online monitoring, program upload/download, and variable forcing on S7-300 and S7-400 CPUs without a separate PG/PC adapter. This dual-protocol capability on a single card reduces slot consumption in compact industrial PCs where PCIe slots are a constrained resource.

The card ships with both a standard full-height bracket and a low-profile bracket, making it compatible with 1U rack-mount servers and compact embedded PCs such as the Siemens IPC427E and IPC547G series. Power draw is rated at ≤ 3.5 W from the PCIe slot, well within the 10 W PCIe x1 slot budget, so no auxiliary power connector is required.

Driver support covers Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit) as well as Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022. The SIMATIC NET CP 5612 driver package integrates with TIA Portal V15 through V19 and with STEP 7 V5.x, providing a unified configuration interface through the SIMATIC NET PC Station. S7 OPC UA and S7 OPC DA server functionality is available when the appropriate SIMATIC NET license is applied, enabling historian and SCADA systems to consume PROFIBUS data through standard OPC interfaces without custom middleware.

Hardware revision A5E39492452-AA is the current production revision. Specifying the hardware revision in procurement documentation is recommended for lifecycle-managed installations where spare-part interchangeability must be guaranteed across multi-year maintenance windows.

Real-time Stock & RFQ: [email protected] | WhatsApp: +86 18359268345

Technical Parameters

Hardware Logical Analysis

The CP 5612 A2 implements the PROFIBUS protocol stack in dedicated silicon rather than in host-side firmware. The on-board ASIC manages the token-passing bus access protocol (FDL layer), DP cycle scheduling, and RS-485 line driver control independently of the PCIe bus transaction layer. Communication between the ASIC and the host driver occurs through a shared memory window mapped into the PCIe BAR0 address space; the host writes DP output data and reads DP input data from this dual-port RAM region, while the ASIC handles all time-critical bus operations autonomously.

This split-plane architecture has two direct engineering consequences. First, PROFIBUS cycle timing is not subject to Windows interrupt latency or PCIe transaction scheduling delays, because the ASIC never waits for a host acknowledgment to complete a DP cycle. Second, the host driver interrupt load is proportional to the DP cycle count rather than to individual byte transfers, which reduces CPU utilization compared to software-only PROFIBUS implementations.

The RS-485 transceiver on the card incorporates galvanic isolation between the PCIe ground plane and the PROFIBUS cable shield reference. This isolation barrier — typically rated at 500 V DC — prevents ground loop currents from coupling noise into the PCIe bus, a common failure mode in installations where the PC chassis and the field device cabinet share a common earth through the cable shield but have different ground potentials due to long cable runs or separate power feeds. The isolation also provides a degree of protection against transient overvoltages induced by nearby switching equipment or lightning events on the cable run.

EMC performance is further supported by the card’s PCB layout, which routes the RS-485 differential pair with controlled impedance (120 Ω characteristic impedance matching the PROFIBUS cable specification) and places the line termination network at the connector end of the trace. The PCIe edge connector area uses a separate ground plane pour to minimize high-frequency noise coupling between the PCIe clock traces and the RS-485 signal path.

The card supports DP Master Class 2 (DPM2) functions, including acyclic read/write services (MSAC2) for parameter assignment and diagnostic data retrieval from intelligent field devices such as variable-speed drives and smart valve positioners. This capability is relevant in installations where the PC-based SCADA or historian system must read extended diagnostic data from DP slaves without interrupting the cyclic DP data exchange managed by a separate PLC acting as DPM1.

System Integration Benefits

• Deterministic DP Cycle Isolation: The on-board ASIC maintains PROFIBUS token rotation and DP cycle timing independently of host OS scheduling, delivering consistent cycle times even when the host PC is under peak CPU or I/O load from SCADA, historian, or antivirus processes.
• Zero-Middleware TIA Portal Connectivity: Native SIMATIC NET driver integration means TIA Portal and STEP 7 communicate with the card through the standard PC Station configuration interface, eliminating the integration risk and licensing overhead of third-party OPC bridges.
• Dual DP Master Class Support: Simultaneous DPM1 (cyclic I/O) and DPM2 (acyclic parameter/diagnostic) operation allows a single card to serve both real-time control data exchange and on-demand device parameterization without bus reconfiguration.
• MPI Programming Port Consolidation: The shared Sub-D connector supports MPI in addition to PROFIBUS DP, removing the need for a dedicated MPI programming adapter (e.g., PC Adapter USB) in installations where the PC must also serve as the programming device for S7-300/400 CPUs.
• OPC Server Readiness: With the appropriate SIMATIC NET license, the card exposes PROFIBUS DP data through S7 OPC DA and OPC UA server interfaces, enabling direct consumption by any OPC-compliant historian, MES, or analytics platform without custom driver development.
• Slot-Efficient Low-Profile Design: The PCIe x1 low-profile form factor occupies the minimum possible slot footprint in rack-mount industrial PCs, preserving remaining PCIe slots for GPU, additional network cards, or storage controllers in multi-function SCADA servers.
• Long OS Support Lifecycle: Validated driver support for Windows Server 2022 ensures the card remains deployable on current server OS releases, reducing the risk of forced hardware replacement driven by OS lifecycle transitions.
• Transparent Diagnostic Visibility: SIMATIC NET exposes per-slave DP diagnostic data (station status bytes, module status, extended diagnostics) to the host application through standard API calls, giving SCADA and historian applications direct access to field device health data without requiring a separate diagnostic master.

Quality Assurance & Global Logistics

Every 6GK1561-2AA00 unit dispatched from our Xiamen, China facility is sourced through verified industrial distribution channels and subjected to a structured pre-shipment inspection protocol. Each card is visually examined for physical damage, PCB delamination, and counterfeit indicators including label font consistency, hologram integrity, and connector plating quality. The hardware revision marking (A5E39492452-AA) is cross-referenced against Siemens factory documentation to confirm authenticity.

Units are packed in anti-static shielding bags with humidity indicator cards, placed in foam-lined cartons rated for air freight vibration profiles per ISTA 2A. Batch traceability records — including source documentation and inspection records — are retained for a minimum of three years and are available to customers on request for audit purposes.

Standard dispatch from Xiamen is within 1–3 business days for in-stock units. International shipment options include DHL Express (3–5 business days to Europe and North America), FedEx International Priority, and UPS Worldwide Express. All shipments include tracking and are covered by our 12-month warranty from the date of dispatch. Customs documentation — including commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin — is prepared to the importing country’s requirements to minimize clearance delays.

For project orders requiring multiple units or a complete BOM, consolidated shipment with a single customs entry is available on request, reducing per-unit landed cost and simplifying receiving logistics at the destination facility.

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +86 18359268345
Web: siemensplc.com
Location: Xiamen, China
© 2026 siemensplc.com. All rights reserved.