ODVA, DeviceNet: New CIP specs; ControlNet added; 2009 meeting

ODVA will publish new editions of the specifications for CIP Networks, enhancing the EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, CompoNet, ControlNet, and CIP Safety technologies. More interoperability....

By Control Engineering Staff May 12, 2008

Hannover, Germany –

ODVA

will publish new editions of the specifications for CIP Networks, enhancing the EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, CompoNet, ControlNet, and CIP Safety technologies. New capabilities extend device interoperability and application coverage to a greater range of devices and applications. In addition, ControlNet was added to the family, and an early 2009 date was set for ODVA’s next “annual” meeting. (The last was in September 2007.)Each network in the CIP family uses the same media-independent protocol– Common Industrial Protocol (CIP). This approach provides advantages to users, including a suite of messages and services for control, configuration, information, safety, synchronization, and motion, plus topology options for network adaptations to meet specific application requirements. With thenew publication, users can expect device suppliers to offer products with:• CIP Safety on DeviceNet and CIP Safety on EtherNet/IP . Introduced in 2005, CIP Safety is certified compliant with the functional safety standard IEC 61508 up to SIL 3. The latest edition includes new functionality to support network features often needed in process and SCADA applications, and installations utilizing wireless. Features include increased granularity in error detection and more flexibility in configuring safety reaction times.• Integration of Modbus serial devices into CIP Networks. Modbus translation services for Modbus TCP devices were added to CIP in previous editions in November 2007. A new “Serial Link Object” has been added to round out the Modbus translation services supported by CIP. Users and vendors will benefit from being able to integrate Modbus and CIP devices into a unified network architecture that retains seamless bridging and routing.• 18 enhancements in the new editions . Specifications are organized as a group of publications entitled The CIP Networks Library. Each is made up of one or more volumes of The CIP Networks Library, as follows:EtherNet/IP Specification, comprised of The CIP Networks Library, Volumes One (Edition 3.4), Two (Edition 1.5) and Seven (Edition 1.1);DeviceNet Specification, comprised of The CIP Networks Library, Volumes One (Edition 3.4), Three (Edition 1.5) and Seven (Edition 1.1);ControlNet Specification. comprised of The CIP Networks Library, Volumes One (Edition 3.4), Four (Edition 1.1) and Seven (Edition 1.1);CompoNet Specification, comprised of The CIP Networks Library, Volumes One (Edition 3.4), Six (Edition 1.3) and Seven (Edition 1.1); andCIP Safety Specification, comprised of The CIP Networks Library, Volume Five (Edition 2.1).ODVA expects that devices containing enhancements found in the latest specifications will be available in 2008. Specifications are available on a subscription basis, subject to a Terms of Usage Agreement. ODVA adds ControlNet technology ControlNet, one of the family of CIP Networks, is now wholly under the management of ODVA. The action, unanimously endorsed by ControlNet International, the organization that established ControlNet as an open standard for automation networks, puts ODVA in the position of being the single standards development organization responsible for developing, managing, and promoting the adoption of the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) and related networks. Consolidation under ODVA will assure that CIP will continue to deliver the best-in-class network protocol for automation applications on a number of hardware platforms optimized to meet requirements of the industrial marketplace, ODVA said.”Both the vendor and user communities of CIP Networks want one strong, unified organization for the management and promotion of the Common Industrial Protocol and the family of CIP Networks,” said Katherine Voss, ODVA executive director. “ODVA is proud to include ControlNet now as one of its own, and looks forward to supporting the entire community of ControlNet adopters.”Since 2001, ODVA and ControlNet International have operated under a joint technology cooperation agreement to develop and promote adoption of EtherNet/IP. They made CIP into the world’s leading media-independent network protocol for industrial automation and its industrial Ethernet adaptation, EtherNet/IP; into the world’s number one industrial Ethernet network, Voss suggested.“ControlNet International decided that the combination of ControlNet into the ODVA family of technologies, together with complete responsibility for EtherNet/IP, was the logical step for the management of the CIP Network standards and to promote their adoption,” said Scot Tutkovics, who served as chief technology officer of ControlNet International during the agreement. “Vendors and users of ControlNet and EtherNet/IP, as well as all CIP Networks, will reap increased benefits from the full backing and support of CI’s long-term partner, ODVA.” 13th Annual Meeting set for Florida ODVA’s 13th Annual Meeting of Members will convene in February 2009 at the Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-In-The-Hills (Orlando), FL. Open to members and nonmembers, the meeting is part of a multiple-day event with technical paper presentations, developers’ training, workshops, and networking events.“ODVA Annual Meeting of Members is a cornerstone event for the association and its members, drawing attendance from leading automation suppliers, OEMs, and users who come to learn the latest business and technical trends in CIP Networking technologies,” said Voss. “It is not surprising that the 12th Annual Meeting attracted attendees from 60 companies from over a dozen countries. The ODVA Annual Meeting is a unique venue that allows executives, technical experts, and marketing professionals to collaborate and share best practice implementations and technical knowledge in an open, vendor-neutral forum. ODVA welcomes anyone interested in learning more about CIP Networks to come to this important event.”The meeting will be 8 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, and will be supported by multiple days of CIP-related presentations and training.For information about the 12th meeting, in 2007, see:

Endorsement: EtherNet/IP Ethernet protocol gets ODVA annual meeting support

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