Siemens SIMATIC NET PC Software Edition 2008 + SP2 CD

Siemens SIMATIC NET Networking for Industry PC Software Edition 2008 + SP2 CD

Siemens SIMATIC NET Networking for Industry PC Software Edition 2008 + SP2 provides industrial-grade communication drivers, protocol stacks, and OPC server interfaces designed to interface Siemens SIMATIC S7 controllers, PG/OP devices, and field instrumentation directly with IPCs (Industrial PCs) and SCADA systems (such as WinCC, STEP 7, and third-party OPC clients).

Engineered for harsh industrial and marine automation environments, Edition 2008 Service Pack 2 expands operating system support to Microsoft Windows XP Professional (SP2/SP3), Windows Server 2003 (SP2), Windows Server 2008 (32-bit), and Windows Vista Business/Enterprise/Ultimate (SP1). It supports both software-based network protocol drivers (SOFTNET via standard NICs) and hardware-accelerated Communications Processors (CP 1613 A2, CP 1623, CP 5613 A2, CP 5603, CP 5611 A2) to ensure deterministic data exchange over Industrial Ethernet, PROFINET, and PROFIBUS DP/FMS networks.

Model Details

• Core Suite / Product Name: SIMATIC NET PC Software Edition 2008 + Service Pack 2 (SP2)
• Siemens Master Order Number (Standard Software Package): 6GK1704-1CW71-3AA0 (SOFTNET-S7 for Industrial Ethernet)
• Associated Variant MPNs:
  • SOFTNET-S7 Lean Edition 2008: 6GK1704-1LW71-3AA0 (Max 8 S7 connections via standard Ethernet card)
  • SOFTNET-DP Edition 2008: 6GK1704-5DW71-3AA0 (PROFIBUS DP Master driver for PC interfaces)
  • S7-REDCONNECT Edition 2008: 6GK1716-0HB71-3AA0 (Fault-tolerant, redundant S7 communication via CP 1613/CP 1623)
  • S7-1613 Edition 2008: 6GK1716-1CB71-3AA0 (High-performance S7 protocol driver for CP 1613 A2 / CP 1623)
  • SOFTNET-PG Edition 2008: 6GK1704-1PW71-3AA0 (Programming device interface software)
• Delivery Media: DVD-ROM containing installation packages, NCM PC configuration utility, electronic documentation, plus USB License Key (Automation License Manager – ALM Class A single license).

Key Features

1. Dual-Protocol OPC Server Integration: Ships with embedded OPC Data Access (OPC DA v3.0/v2.05a), OPC Alarm & Events (OPC A&E v1.1), and OPC XML-DA interfaces for seamless SCADA and MES database integration.
2. Hardware-Offloaded Communications: Full stack execution support for hardware CPs (e.g., CP 1613 A2 / CP 5613 A2 with onboard RISC processors) reducing host IPC CPU usage to under 2% during heavy polling cycles.
3. Redundant S7 Path Management: Integrates S7-REDCONNECT functionality for bumpless media and path redundancy using dual-homed Industrial Ethernet rings (MRP / HSR) linked to S7-400H / S7-400PN/DP systems.
4. Deterministic Fieldbus Support: Provides 12 Mbps PROFIBUS DP-V0/DP-V1 master/slave communication and ISO-on-TCP (RFC 1006) / TCP/IP / UDP communication over 10/100/1000 Mbps Industrial Ethernet.
5. Integrated NCM PC Diagnostics: Built-in Network Configuration Manager (NCM PC) software tool allows complete STEP 7-consistent hardware configuration, diagnostic buffer reads, and live protocol trace analysis.

Applications

• Marine Automation Systems (MAS): Real-time monitoring and control interface between engine room alarms, power management systems (PMS), and bridge SCADA stations running on marine-certified IPCs.
• Offshore Oil & Gas Drilling Rigs: Redundant S7-400H control communication over fiber-optic Industrial Ethernet rings in hazardous vessel compartments.
• Power Plant DCS Systems: Multi-node telemetry collection from S7-300, S7-400, and S5 PLCs via OPC DA servers to centralized supervisory control units.
• Manufacturing & Process Automation: Assembly line tracking, high-speed OPC tag acquisition, and remote PG/OP engineering station interconnectivity.

Marine Engineering Installation & Setup Guidelines

• When deploying SIMATIC NET Edition 2008 + SP2 on marine vessel computers (e.g., MOXA, Siemens Microbox, or Hatteland marine PCs), operating system stability and driver layering are critical to preventing communication dropouts at sea:
• Disable Network Card Power Management: On standard Ethernet adapters running SOFTNET-S7 or SOFTNET-S7 Lean, open Windows Device Manager, select the NIC properties, and uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” Dynamic power states cause transient S7 connection resets.
• Prioritize ISO-on-TCP (RFC 1006) over Raw S7: For vessel network architectures spanning multiple switch subnets, configure connections using ISO-on-TCP over port 102. It provides superior packet retries and diagnostic reporting compared to legacy ISO transport mechanisms.
• Dedicated Communication Hardware for Redundant Networks: In high-availability propulsion and steering control systems, avoid software-only SOFTNET setups. Utilize physical CPs like the CP 1613 A2 or CP 1623 with onboard processors running S7-REDCONNECT. This ensures hardware-level keep-alives independent of Windows kernel thread delays.
• License Management on Marine Drive Array: Always transfer the floating license from the USB dongle to the local primary C: drive using Siemens Automation License Manager (ALM v4.0 SP2+). Keep a physical backup of the USB license key in the control room safe alongside the vessel’s original software recovery media.

Compatibility

Processor & Hardware Platform

• Supported Siemens Controllers: S7-200 (via CP), S7-300, S7-400, S7-400H redundant, S5 (via S5-compatible communication), and C7 control systems.
• Compatible Communications Processors (CPs):
  • Ethernet: CP 1613, CP 1613 A2, CP 1623 (PCI Express), CP 1612, Standard Intel/Realtek 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet controllers.
  • PROFIBUS: CP 5613, CP 5613 A2, CP 5614 A2, CP 5603 (PCIe/104), CP 5611 A2 (PCI), CP 5512 (PCMCIA).
• SCADA / HMI Integration: Siemens WinCC v6.2 SP2 / v7.0, Wonderware InTouch, GE iFIX, Kepware, and any OPC DA / OPC XML compliant client software.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between SOFTNET-S7 and SOFTNET-S7 Lean Edition 2008?

SOFTNET-S7 Lean (6GK1704-1LW71-3AA0) is limited to a maximum of 8 active S7 communication connections over standard Ethernet network cards. Standard SOFTNET-S7 (6GK1704-1CW71-3AA0) supports up to 64 concurrent S7 connections, making it suitable for larger SCADA and HMI server applications.

Can SIMATIC NET PC Software Edition 2008 + SP2 run on Windows 10 or 64-bit operating systems?

No, Edition 2008 + SP2 was specifically engineered for 32-bit legacy operating systems including Windows XP Professional (SP2/SP3), Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008 (32-bit). For 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows Server systems, newer SIMATIC NET DVD versions (such as V14, V16, or V17) are required.

Is SIMATIC NET Edition 2008 + SP2 compatible with high-availability S7-400H redundant PLCs?

Yes, when used in conjunction with the S7-REDCONNECT license (6GK1716-0HB71-3AA0) and hardware CPs like the CP 1613 A2 or CP 1623, the software supports redundant S7 paths, providing automatic, line-redundant switching for S7-400H systems without dropping active OPC client sessions.