PROFINET源于以太网，而高于以太网。PROFINET协议包含多种通信协议，还定义了诸多协议机（Protocol Machine），也就是一种状态机。
| 简称 | 英文全称 | 术语 |
|---|---|---|
| CM | Context Management | 上下文管理 |
| CMCTL | Context Management Protocol Machine Controller | IO控制器上下文管理协议机 |
| CMDEV | Context Management Protocol Machine Device | IO设备上下文管理协议机 |
| CMDMC | Context Management Discovery Multicast Communication Protocol Machine | 上下文管理发现多播通信协议机 |
| CMINA | Context Management IP and Name Assignment Protocol Machine | 上下文管理IP和名称分配协议机 |
| CMIO | Context Management Input Output Protocol Machine Device | 上下文管理输入输出协议机 |
| CMPBE | Context Management Prm Begin End | 上下文管理参数化开始终止 |
| CMDEV | Protocol Machine Device | 设备协议机 |
| CMRDR | Context Management Read Record Responder Protocol Machine | 上下文管理读记录响应方协议机 |
| CMRPC | Context Management RPC Device Protocol Machine | 上下文管理RPC设备协议机 |
| CMSM | Context Management Surveillance | 上下文管理监视协议机 |
| CMSU | Context Management Startup Protocol Machine | 上下文管理启动协议机 |
| CMWRR | Context Management Write Record Responder Protocol Machine | 上下文管理写记录响应方协议机 |
| DCP | Discovery and basic Configuration Protocol | 发现和基本配置协议 |
| DCPHMCS | DCP Hello Multicast Sender Protocol Machine | DCP Hello 多播发送方协议机 |
| DCPHMRC | DCP Hello Multicast Receiver Protocol Machine | DCP Hello 多播接收方协议机 |
| DCPMCR | DCP Multicast Receiver Protocol Machine | DCP 多播接收方协议机 |
| DCPMCS | DCP Multicast Sender Protocol Machine | DCP 多播发送方协议机 |
| DCPUCR | DCP Unicast Receiver Protocol Machine | DCP 单播接收方协议机 |
| DCPUCS | DCP Unicast Sender Protocol Machine | DCP 单播发送方协议机 |
| DMPM | DLL Mapping Protocol Machine | DLL映射协议机 |
| FAL | Fieldbus Application Layer | 现场总线应用层 |
| FSPM | FAL Service Protocol Machines | FAL服务协议机 |
| FSPMCTL | FSPM Controller | 控制器FSPM |
| FSPMDEV | FSPM Device | 设备FSPM |
| LLDP | Link Layer Discovery Protocol | 链路层发现协议 |
| LMPM | Data Link Layer Mapping Protocol Machine | 链路层映射协议机 |