Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Protocol gateway
Also known as: Protocol converter, Communication gateway
German: Protokoll-Gateway
In industrial communication, a protocol gateway is a device or software component that connects networks or devices using different communication protocols and performs protocol conversion between them.
- System integration
In one sentence
A protocol gateway connects networks or devices that use different communication protocols and converts between them.
Example
A protocol gateway on a DIN rail links a PROFIBUS DP segment of an older machine to the plant's PROFINET network.
How it applies
- Engineering: Gateways exist as hardware modules, as functions in controllers or edge devices, and as software services. Select them for the required protocols, data volumes, cycle times and diagnostics.
- Commissioning: Configure and test the mapping for every value, including status and diagnostic information; check behavior when one side of the connection fails.
- Security: A gateway between an OT network and higher-level networks is a conduit in IEC 62443 terms. Restrict it to the required data and directions, and keep its firmware updated.
- Documentation: Document the gateway's configuration, mapping table, firmware version and replacement procedure. A missing gateway configuration backup is a common reason for long downtimes after a hardware failure.
Protocol gateway vs. system gateway
A protocol gateway translates protocols. A System gateway connects whole systems and may also transform data, enforce security policies and aggregate information. Many products do both; the distinction is in the role.