• Password protection;
  a password concept protects the user program from unauthorized access.
• Block encryption;
  the functions (FCs) and function blocks (FBs) can be stored in the CPU in encrypted form by means of S7-Block Privacy to protect the know-how of the application.
• Diagnostics buffer;
  the last 500 error and interrupt events are stored in a buffer for diagnostic purposes, of which 100 are stored retentively.
• Maintenance-free data backup;
  the CPU automatically saves all data (up to 64 KB) in case of a power failure so that the data are available again unchanged when the power returns.

Parameterizable properties

The S7 configuration as well as the properties and response of the CPUs can be parameterized using STEP 7:

• General:
  Defining the name, higher level designation, and location designation
• MPI multi-point interface;
  determining station addresses
• Startup;
  definition of the startup characteristics of the CPU and the monitoring time
• Cycle/clock memory;
  specification of the maximum cycle time and load. Setting of the clock memory address.
• Retentivity;
  definition of the number of retentive bit memories, counters, timers and data blocks
• Time-of-day interrupts;
  setting of start date, start time and periodicity
• Cyclic interrupts;
  setting of periodicity
• System diagnostics;
  determining handling and scope of the diagnostic messages
• Clock;
  setting the type of synchronization in the AS or on the MPI
• Protection level;
  specifying the access rights to program and data
• Communication;
  reservation of connection resources
• PROFIBUS DP master/slave interface;
  user-oriented address allocation for distributed I/O. Parameterizing the operating mode and configuring the transfer areas in the case of PROFIBUS DP. Parameterizing the time synchronization
• Digital inputs/outputs;
  setting of addresses, input delay and process interrupt
• Analog inputs/outputs;
  setting of addresses, in the case of inputs: the temperature unit, the measurement type, the measuring range, and the interference frequency, in the case of outputs: the output type and output range
• Integrated function “counting”;
  setting the addresses, parameter assignment of the modes “continuous counting”, “single counting”, “periodic counting”, “frequency measurement” and “pulse width modulation”
• Integrated function “positioning”;
  setting of addresses, parameterizing of “positioning with digital outputs” and “positioning with analog outputs”
• Integrated “Rules” function

Display and information functions

• Status and error indications;
  LEDs indicate e.g. hardware, programming, time or I/O errors, as well as operating states such as RUN, STOP and start-up.
• Test functions;
  the PG is used to indicate signal status during program execution, to modify process variables independently of the user program and to output the contents of stack memories.
• Information functions;
  you can use the PG to obtain information about the storage capacity and operating mode of the CPU as well as the current loading of the main and load memories as well as current cycle times and diagnostic buffer contents in plain text.

Integrated communication functions

• PG/OP communication
• Global data communication
• S7 basic communication
• S7 communication (server only)
• Routing
• Data record routing