ODVA publishes new specs for networks

Summary

May 13, 2010 – ODVA published new editions of the specifications for ODVA networks, enhancing the EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, CompoNet and ControlNet technologies. ODVA’s biannual updates of these network specifications allow end users to meet an ever increasing scope of industrial automation applications. Coupled with the updates to the specifications published in November 2009, there have been 46 enhancements made over the past six months. Among these enhancements, the following are especially noteworthy: • For EtherNet/IP, improvements were made to the Device Level Ring (DLR) protocol to make it easier for users to locate a fault in the ring and to know what capabilities are supported by their DLR nodes. • In process control, newer pressure gauges can handle wider pressure ranges with much improved resolutions at both the high and low end. Accordingly, the CIP (Common Industrial Protocol) Trip Point Object has been extended to allow users more flexibility in setting the appropriate trip point(s) for their application. • Numerous improvements have been made to the Electronic Data Sheet (EDS) definitions, allowing the EDS file to be a more accurate representation of devices to the software tools. • The ability to integrate Modbus devices into a CIP architecture continues to be improved, most notably through the inclusion of a CIP-Modbus translator device profile in the specifications, as well as through the refinement and relocation of the Modbus Object to the CIP Volume. This refinement makes it easier for vendors of a formerly Modbus/TCP (or Modbus) device with extensive Modbus data structures to put their devices directly on a CIP network. It allows vendors to make the device’s primary data available via the appropriate CIP application objects, while still providing CIP access to all of the other data in the device’s Modbus data structure. • Due to the ongoing availability of new FPGAs and NPEs (Network Processing Engines) for the ControlNet Data Link Layer, diagnostic enhancements were made to make it easier for users to identify which implementation was provided in each of their nodes. The specifications are organized as a group of publications entitled The CIP Networks Library. Each specification is made up of one or more volumes of The CIP Networks Library. The current and latest editions of the specifications are: • The EtherNet/IP Specification Comprised of The CIP Networks Library: Volumes One (Edition 3.8), Two (Edition 1.9) and Seven (Edition 1.5) • The DeviceNet Specification Comprised of The CIP Networks Library: Volumes One (Edition 3.8), Three (Edition 1.9) and Seven (Edition 1.5) • The ControlNet Specification Comprised of The CIP Networks Library: Volumes One (Edition 3.8), Four (Edition 1.5) and Seven (Edition 1.5) • The CompoNet Specification Comprised of The CIP Networks Library: Volumes One (Edition 3.8), Six (Edition 1.7) and Seven (Edition 1.5) • The CIP Safety Specification Comprised of The CIP Networks Library: Volume Five (Edition 2.2) ODVA expects that devices containing new enhancements found in the latest specifications will be available in 2010. Specifications are available on a subscription basis, subject to a Terms of Usage Agreement. About ODVA ODVA, founded in 1995, is an international association comprised of members from the world's leading automation companies. Collectively, ODVA and its members support network technologies based on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP). These currently include CompoNet, ControlNet, DeviceNet, and EtherNet/IP, along with the major extensions to CIP -- CIP Safety and CIP Motion. ODVA manages the development of these open technologies, and assists manufacturers and users of CIP Networks through its activities in standards development, certification, vendor education and industry awareness. As part of its certification activities, ODVA offers conformance testing to help ensure that products built to its specifications operate in multi-vendor systems.