Complete Guide

EtherNet/IP Complete Guide

Industrial Protocol using standard Ethernet and TCP/IP. Primary protocol for Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley) systems.

Type: Industrial EthernetSpeed: 10/100/1000 MbpsReleased: 2001Organization: ODVA (Open DeviceNet Vendors Association)

1 Gbps

Bandwidth

Unlimited (network dependent)

Max Nodes

100m per segment

Max Distance

Yes

Real-Time

Protocol Overview

Industrial Protocol using standard Ethernet and TCP/IP. Primary protocol for Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley) systems.

When to Use EtherNet/IP

Choose EtherNet/IP for Rockwell/Allen-Bradley systems, North American facilities, or when standardizing on CIP family protocols.

Technical Specifications

Physical Layer

Physical Layer: IEEE 802.3 Ethernet
Cable Type: Cat5e/Cat6 Ethernet
Topology: Star, Tree, Ring, DLR (Device Level Ring)
Power Over Cable: No

Data Layer

Data Link: CIP (Common Industrial Protocol)
Encoding: Binary
Error Detection: CRC-32
Frame Size: 1500 bytes (MTU)

Performance

Scan Time: 1-10ms (CIP Motion: <1ms)
Deterministic: Yes
Real-Time: Yes

Certification

Certification Required: Yes
License Cost: ODVA membership and conformance testing
Version: Current

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

✓Uses standard unmodified Ethernet
✓Seamless IT/OT integration
✓CIP protocol consistency (DeviceNet, ControlNet)
✓Excellent diagnostics
✓Integrated safety (CIP Safety)
✓Strong motion control support
✓Large North American installed base
✓DLR for network redundancy

Disadvantages

✗Primarily Rockwell ecosystem
✗More complex than Modbus TCP
✗Requires managed switches for optimal performance
✗Configuration complexity
✗Less adoption outside North America

Common Use Cases & Applications

Allen-Bradley PLC systems

Automotive manufacturing

Food and beverage processing

Material handling

Packaging machinery

Motion control applications

Industry Adoption

Adoption LevelVery High

Market Share30-35% of industrial Ethernet (dominant in North America)

Geographic PresenceWorldwide, strongest in North America

Primary Industries

AutomotiveFood & BeveragePackagingMaterial HandlingDiscrete Manufacturing

Supported Message Types

Implicit (I/O)

Explicit (messaging)

CIP Motion

CIP Safety

Supported PLC Brands

Allen-Bradley Rockwell Schneider Electric

Omron

ABB Siemens

Phoenix Contact

Protocol Comparisons

EtherNet/IP vs PROFINET

Both are high-performance Industrial Ethernet; choice driven by vendor ecosystem (Siemens vs Rockwell)

View Detailed Comparison →

EtherNet/IP vs DeviceNet

Both are CIP family; EtherNet/IP is faster and replacing DeviceNet in new installations