What Is Ethernet IP?
EtherNet Industrial Protocol (EtherNet/IP) is a network protocol that allows interoperability of industrial automation devices and control equipment on the same network used for business applications and browsing the Internet. It's an open industrial standard that provides for real-time operations on a common Ethernet TCP/IP network.
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Function
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EtherNet/IP is a combination of several existing standards. It combines Ethernet and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/ Internet Protocol (IP) technologies with an open application layer protocol known as Control and Information Protocol (CIP). CIP is used in factories and other automated enterprises such as water treatment plants. In these environments, the network needs to get information from real-time devices rather than from files. The CIP application layer defines objects and device profiles that characterize common interfaces and behaviors. EtherNet/IP enables end-to-end communication between devices on different CIP networks as well as on Ethernet and TCP/IP.
Features
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EtherNet/IP provides Input/ Output (I/O) control by exchanging time-critical messages as well as a Human Machine Interface (HMI). With EtherNet/IP, a use can configure and program devices. Diagnostics of both devices and the network can be run. Since Ethernet is a widely used technology, a great deal of commercial off-the-shelf Ethernet communication chips and physical media are available. IP and CIP are published protocols, with numerous companies building products using these protocols. This reduces the need to rely on proprietary products and allows multi-vendor interoperability.
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Benefits
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An EtherNet/IP network is used to support time-critical operation, including safety and motion applications. It is also useful in industrial plant integration, as well as combining data collection and control on a high-speed network.
History
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Rockwell Automation developed Ethernet/IP in the late 1990s and introduced it in 2001. Rockwell Automation then turned over the protocol to the Open DeviceNet Vendor Association (ODVA). ODVA, an international organization created to support network technologies based on CIP (with members from the world's leading automation companies), now manages EtherNet/IP and assures interoperability. However, EtherNet/IP is still most commonly used with Rockwell Automation's control systems.
Considerations
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When setting up an EtherNet/IP network, a number of issues must be considered. These include the features needed for physical layer components such as controllers, connectors and cabling. For example, the controllers must be resistant to the temperature, humidity and vibrations found in an industrial environment. Desirable features and functionality of the TCP/IP Stack should be addressed. Selecting an operating system with the right capabilities and a sufficiently powerful processor are also important. Devices that perform control and scan functions require higher-level operating systems.
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