The hardware configuration includes the configuration of the devices, consisting of the hardware of the automation system, the field devices on the PROFINET bus system and the hardware for visualization. The configuration of the networks specifies the communication between the various hardware components. Individual hardware components are inserted in the hardware configuration from catalogs.
The hardware of SIMATIC S7-1200 automation systems comprises the controller (CPU), the signal modules for input and output signals (SMs), the communication modules (CMs) and other special-purpose modules.