The requirements of manufacturing applications demand that users choose network infrastructures appropriate for their application. The scope of issues at hand, from both a technical and business perspective, has increased with the rapid adoption of Ethernet and internet technologies in manufacturing companies. With this in mind, ODVA has published a network infrastructure guide for EtherNet/IP, an industrial Ethernet network.
‘Network Infrastructure for EtherNet/IP: Introduction and Considerations’ provides an introduction to the network infrastructure used in EtherNet/IP networks, and gives users a framework for identifying the considerations that are most critical to their specific applications. It represents the combined knowledge of experts from companies that are leading the industry in the application of Ethernet on the factory floor.
Advances in Ethernet technology and reduced component costs are fuelling the growth of Ethernet in plant floor networks. EtherNet/IP provides users with the tools to deploy standard Ethernet technology for manufacturing applications while enabling Internet and enterprise connectivity.
ODVA executive director Katherine Voss comments: “The application of Ethernet and Internet technologies is permeating every aspect of manufacturing automation today - control, safety, configuration and diagnostics, synchronisation and motion, and information. To realise the benefits of these technologies, the network infrastructure is critical and represents a long-term investment for users that requires thorough analysis of application requirements along with technology choices and trends. This new guide from ODVA should prove an invaluable resource for engineers looking to build networks on EtherNet/IP.”
A PDF copy of the guide can be freely downloaded from the ODVA website at www.odva.org.