EtherNet/IP

Ethernet/IP, short for Industrial Protocol, is an industrial network protocol that extends the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) to standard Ethernet. Managed by ODVA, Inc., EtherNet/IP is a leading industrial protocol in the United States and is widely utilized across various industries, including factory, hybrid, and process industries. It leverages the Internet Protocol suite and IEEE 802.3 standards for its transport, network, data link, and physical layers, performing at levels 5, 6, and 7 of the OSI model. The protocol adapts key elements of Ethernet’s standard capabilities, such as the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), to transport I/O messages, providing a comprehensive and certifiable standard suitable for a variety of automation devices.

In the context of IIoT and IO-Link Wireless, Ethernet/IP plays a crucial role in the communication infrastructure. In industrial environments, where conditions are challenging for communication due to factors like noise, vibration, and harsh physical conditions, Ethernet/IP facilitates the seamless exchange of data between interconnected devices. CoreTigo’s TigoMaster 2TH, an industrial-grade IP67 IO-Link Wireless Master platform, as well as TigoGateway 1TE, and TigoGateway 2TC, industrial grade IP20 -Link Wireless Master platforms, support Ethernet/IP among other Industrial Ethernet protocols. These act as a bridge between IO-Link Wireless devices and the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), connecting directly to both the PLC and the IT network. This integration enables real-time communication and data transmission, contributing to the success of implementations in applications like machine retrofit, predictive maintenance, intelligent machine tooling, and wireless end-of-arm tooling for robots.