EtherNet/IP stands for
"Ethernet Industrial Protocol" and defines an open industrial standard that
extends the classic Ethernet with an industrial protocol. This standard was jointly
developed by ControlNet International (CI) and the Open DeviceNet Vendor Association
(ODVA) with the assistance of the Industrial Ethernet Association (IEA) and presented in
March 2000.
EtherNet/IP is based on the TCP/IP-protocol family and thus adopts the lower 4 layers of
the OSI layer model in unaltered form. All standard Ethernet-communication modules such as
PC interface cards, cables, connectors, hubs and switches can also be used with
EtherNet/IP.
Above the transport layer there is the Encapsulation Protocol with which
the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) is mapped on TCP/IP and UDP/IP. CIP, as a largely
network-independent standard, has already been used for many years with ControlNet and
DeviceNet. ControlNet, DeviceNet and EtherNet/IP thus have the same application protocol
and can therefore use common device profiles and object libraries. These objects make
plug-and-play interoperability possible between complex devices of different
manufacturers.
EtherNet/IP is intended for use in networked real-time control applications. With the
integration of Ethernet down to the device level by means of CIP, the user has a number of
advantages. Universal configuration, collecting and controlling data across several
network levels, and thanks to TCP/IP connection to the worldwide Internet or in-company
Intranets make a continuous information flow possible at all work levels. |
