IAONA’s IDA-Group, ODVA joined by SERCOS, EtherCAT, EPSG

Three more industrial network organizations agreed to work with IAONA, an "open-source" Ethernet organization of more than 130 vendors and end-users. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) that established IAONA as platform organization for IDA-Group and ODVA in 2000 was recently renewed and enlarged to include the Interest Group SERCOS (IGS), EtherCAT Technology Group (...

By Staff April 1, 2004

Three more industrial network organizations agreed to work with IAONA, an “open-source” Ethernet organization of more than 130 vendors and end-users. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) that established IAONA as platform organization for IDA-Group and ODVA in 2000 was recently renewed and enlarged to include the Interest Group SERCOS (IGS), EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG), and Ethernet Powerlink Specification Group (EPSG). The newly revised MoU was scheduled for signing by the partner organizations at Hannover Fair on April 21 at IAONA’s exhibit (Hall 11). IAONA works to achieve developments in industrial Ethernet that can serve users and providers “commonly, homogenously and all-embracingly.”

At an open board meeting in Ann Arbor, MI, in mid-February, IAONA and its partners developed a common understanding for a future strategy. Participating organizations included EPSG, ETG, IGS, Modbus-IDA, and ODVA. The five organizations revised the MoU, which allows them to jointly cover topics using IAONA’s platform, so they don’t have to be deal with them individually. IAONA says this helps users and providers because they don’t have to deal with so many different specifications. Topics covered within the MoU’s framework are: security aspects, cabling, use of IEEE 1588, and system aspects.

As a result, IAONA’s Joint Technical Working Groups (JTWGs) work with the partner organizations’ specifications and proposals for standards. According to the MoU, the JTWGs are open to all members of all partner organizations. The partners are also represented on IAONA’s Technical Steering Committee (TSC).

Among IAONA goals is support for the idea of a neutral communication platform. The overall organization adds that it will become increasingly beneficial to users and providers as implementations of industrial Ethernet grow more complex. IAONA says this will make it even more capable of being the driving force toward a harmonized Ethernet.

For more information about IAONA visit www.iaona.org .