Anybus Mercury MKII – The Optimal Solution for PROFINET and PROFIBUS Network Diagnostics

Anybus Mercury MKII is a dedicated device developed by HMS Networks under the Anybus brand. It is a rugged industrial tablet designed to help engineers diagnose, monitor, and maintain industrial communication networks quickly and efficiently.

1. Anybus Mercury MKII – A Smart Tool for Industrial Network Diagnostics

Anybus Mercury MKII is a specialized industrial tablet built for automation engineers. It is strong, durable, and made for use in factory environments.

The device works as an all-in-one tool that helps detect network problems, check communication status, and keep industrial systems running smoothly. It makes troubleshooting faster and easier, helping reduce downtime in the plant.

1.1. Comparison with Other HMS Solutions: 

• With ProfiTrace (PC-based kit)

In the past, engineers had to carry a laptop (which is fragile and has limited battery life) together with extra hardware like ProfiCore Ultra to run ProfiTrace.

Mercury MKII replaces this bulky setup with one compact and rugged tablet. It is shock-resistant and protected against dust and water, making it much more suitable for harsh factory environments.

• With ComBricks (Fixed monitoring)

ComBricks is installed permanently on a DIN rail for 24/7 monitoring.

Mercury MKII, on the other hand, is a “quick response” tool. Engineers can move freely around the plant to perform spot-checks or troubleshoot urgent issues without depending on the control cabinet location.

• With ProfiShark (Packet analysis)

ProfiShark focuses on deep packet capture, similar to tools like Wireshark, where engineers analyze raw data.

Mercury MKII, using the Osiris software, focuses more on visual diagnostics. It shows network topology, gives a network health score (Q-Factor), and highlights physical faults. This makes it easier for maintenance engineers to make decisions without deep IT knowledge.

2. Key Features of Anybus Mercury MKII

2.1. Main Functions

• Network Diagnostics: Anybus Mercury MKII helps engineers quickly find the root cause of network problems such as cable breaks, signal noise, address conflicts, or voltage drops.
• Network Monitoring: It monitors network status in real time, allowing engineers to detect early warning signs and prevent failures before they happen.
• Multi-Protocol Support: The device works with many common industrial network standards:

Industrial Ethernet: PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus TCP.

Fieldbus: PROFIBUS DP và PA (Usually used together with ProfiCore Ultra accessory.)

2.2 Integrated Software

The biggest advantage of Anybus Mercury MKII is that it comes with professional diagnostic software pre-installed.

Osiris
A powerful industrial Ethernet diagnostic software. It provides:

• Clear network topology view

• Device list

• Network quality score (Q-Factor)

• Easy visualization of network stability

ProfiTrace (when used with PROFIBUS kit)
A gold-standard tool for PROFIBUS analysis. It also includes an oscilloscope function to measure and check physical signal quality.

3. Key Technical Specifications

Design: 10.1-inch rugged industrial tablet, touchscreen display, shock-resistant, dust and water protection (typically IP54 or IP65), suitable for harsh factory environments.

Operating System: Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, allowing installation of additional Windows applications if needed.

Connectivity: Built-in LAN (RJ45), USB, WiFi, and Bluetooth for flexible connection with systems.

Mobility: Equipped with a hand strap and large battery capacity, making it easy for engineers to carry around the plant for on-site troubleshooting.

Equipping the plant with Anybus Mercury MKII – a rugged industrial tablet for network diagnostics – brings real value to the maintenance team:

• All-in-one multi-protocol diagnostics: Instead of using many separate tools, the technical team at Amata now only needs one Mercury MKII to monitor the health of PROFIBUS, PROFINET, and Industrial Ethernet networks. This helps optimize the maintenance process and significantly reduces tool switching time during troubleshooting.

• Fast detection of physical and logical issues: With advanced analysis capabilities, Mercury MKII helps the plant quickly detect common problems in hot and humid environments, such as electromagnetic interference (EMC), signal loss due to aging cables, or IP address/configuration conflicts in PROFINET networks.

• High mobility and durability: The rugged, shock-resistant, and dust-protected design makes Mercury MKII suitable for harsh production environments. Engineers can easily move to each cabinet or machine area for direct on-site checks.

• Strong support for digital transformation: By providing a clear view of network topology and real-time status, the device helps maintain system stability, reduce unplanned downtime, and ensure continuous high-performance production.