ETHERNET DRIVE NETWORKING

Quick Summary: EtherNet/IP, promoted by the ODVA (Open DeviceNet Vendor Association), is much more sophisticated protocol than Modbus/TCP. EtherNet/IP classifies EtherNet/IP nodes as predefined device types with specific behaviors. The set of device types and the EIP application layer protocol is based on the Control and Information Protocol (CIP) layer used in both DeviceNet™ and ControlNet™. Building on these widely used protocol suites the CIP-based protocols provides a seamless integrated system from the sensor-actuator network to the controller and enterprise networks.

EtherNet/IP uses all the transport and control protocols used in traditional Ethernet including the Transport Control Protocol (TCP), the Internet Protocol (IP) and the media access and signaling technologies found in off-the-shelf Ethernet interface cards. Structuring EtherNet/IP on these standard PC technologies allows EtherNet/IP to work transparently with all the standard off-the-shelf Ethernet devices found in today’s marketplace. It also means that EIP can be easily supported on standard PCs and all their derivatives. Even more importantly, basing EIP on a standard technology platform ensures that EIP will move forward as the base technologies evolve in the future.

Advantages: EtherNet/IP devices are easily integrated into the Rockwell Automation Logix family architecture.

Disadvantages: EtherNet/IP is complex to implement.