Global Plant Engineering - October 2010 - (Page 8)

G lobal V i ews E Paving the way to a single network architecture Oulton: Ethernet has been very popular the widest range of applications including for many years as a programming and HMI discrete, safety, motion, process and drive network in industrial automation because of applications. Several Ethernet derivatives its speed and ability to handle large amounts are limited to niche applications – either by of data such as the download of a programdesign or by the narrow range of products mable controller program. As the that are currently available on the technology moved from 10 M and network. hubs to 100 M and switches, venSecond, unlike some Ethernetdors added many more automation based networks, EtherNet/IP uses products and expanded Ethernet’s the same standards that are used usage to include most, if not all, of for e-mail, the Internet and many the space occupied by traditional other popular applications in the fieldbuses. Customers are adopting very same way as those applications Brian Oulton Ethernet rapidly because it has now – without modification. This enabled been proven to work well, handle a variety vendors to adopt EtherNet/IP quickly, and of applications and is relatively well known provided many features and tools that already because of its use in the business enterprise. existed to be applied directly to industrial networking. Others moved slowly because their GPE: Among the variations of Ethernet modifications to standards prevented reuse of used in industrial applications, Etherthese features and tools; instead they had to Net/IP seems to be ranked second, only develop from scratch. to native TCP/IP. Why has EtherNet/IP Third, the EtherNet/IP standard is managed outpaced other “versions” of Ethernet? by ODVA, a fully open organization with balanced membership of vendors contributing to Oulton: EtherNet/IP is the world’s leadthe standards work and services provided to ing industrial Ethernet network for a number help other members. As a result, EtherNet/IP of reasons. First, it is capable of handling delivers interoperable Ethernet products from thernet has come a long way since its appearance in the early 1980s. The personal computer industry learned how to make the basic technology affordable. Automation vendors working toward a single network architecture have learned how to enhance its performance to become a robust networking solution for the plant floor. In order to get suppliers and users moving in the same direction, there needs to be standards. ODVA is a standards organization that manages the development of open technologies, and assists manufacturers through its activities in standards development, certification, vendor education and industry awareness. Global Plant Engineering spoke with Brian Oulton, an ODVA contributor and participant on behalf of Rockwell Automation, a principal member of ODVA to learn how Ethernet and EtherNet/IP are contributing to networking success on the plant floor. GPE: What factors are responsible for sharp increases in the adoption of Ethernet (in all its forms) for industrial networking on the plant floor in recent years? http://www.odva.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Global Plant Engineering - October 2010

Global Plant Engineering - October 2010
Contents
Comment
Global Views
Hannover Messe Report
Asia Report
Americas Report
Winning the Race Against Equipment Failure
Take 8 Steps to Debug Process Control System
Optimize the Enterprise: Measurement, Empowerment, and Control are the Essential Ingredients
Air Apparent: Compressed Air Audits Let You Find the Leaks in Your System
The Promise of the Smart Grid: A Flexible, Dynamic Energy Management System
Europe Report

Global Plant Engineering - October 2010