A factor which is regarded as a unique feature of P-NET, is that it is also a Multi-Net protocol.
The advantageous implications of this attribute are that a plant or system can be easily divided up into autonomous cells. Each cell or net is able to inter-communicate through a dual (or n) port master, without any additional software overhead.
This feature also provides natural redundancy facilities, which have, for example, been found to be an absolute necessity in control systems installed on ships requiring Lloyd’s approval. The end result of such a distributed multi-master, multi-net fieldbus, is that a plant or control system becomes a cellularised but also a monolithic parallel processor.
Any number of P-NET fieldbusses can be networked using Controller Gateways (standard units) without further software expense.