Method for Operating a Redundant Automation System

A redundantly configured automation system comprising:

• a first subsystem;
• and
• a second subsystem;
• wherein one subsystem of the first and second subsystems is configured to operate as a master and another subsystem of the first and second subsystems is configured to operate as a slave which is configured such that, in an event that the master fails, assumes functionalities of the master;
• and
• wherein the first subsystem is configured to receive a data packet generated by an external data source and to forward the data packet only at a level of a physical layer and a data link layer to the second subsystem before processing of the data packet occurs in the first subsystem at a higher layer than the level of the physical layer and the data link layer.

A method for operating a redundantly configured automation system having a first subsystem and a second subsystem, the method comprising:

• operating one subsystem of first and second subsystems as a master;
• and
• operating another subsystem of the first and second subsystems operates as the slave which, in an event that the master fails, assumes functionalities of the master;
• wherein a data packet intended for an external recipient is transferred from the second subsystem to the first subsystem only at a level of a physical layer and a data link layer and the data packet is forwarded from the first subsystem to the external recipient before processing of the data packet occurs in the first subsystem at a higher layer than the level of the physical layer and the data link layer.

A redundantly configured automation system comprising:

• a first subsystem;
• and
• a second subsystem;
• wherein one subsystem the first and second subsystems is configured to operate as a master and another subsystem of the first and second subsystems is configured to operate as a slave which is configured such that in an event that the master fails the slave assumes functionalities of the master;
• wherein the second subsystem is configured to transfer a data packet intended for an external recipient from the second subsystem to the first subsystem only at a level of a physical layer and a data link layer and the first subsystem is configured to forward the data packet received from the second subsystem to the external recipient before processing of the data packet occurs in the first subsystem at a higher layer than the level of the physical layer and the data link layer.