Rockwell Automation Implementation

EtherNet/IP for Rockwell Automation

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

EtherNet/IP is Rockwell's primary industrial Ethernet protocol. Native to all ControlLogix, CompactLogix, and Micro800 controllers. Studio 5000 provides seamless I/O configuration via Add-On Profiles.

When to Use EtherNet/IP

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

Rockwell Automation Hardware Requirements

Compatible Communication Modules

Integrated Ethernet (1756-L7x, 1769-L3x)

1756-EN2T/EN3T/EN4T (ControlLogix Ethernet)

POINT I/O (1734-AENT)

Stratix managed switches (5700/5400)

Kinetix 5500/5700 servo drives

Wiring Details

Network Setup

10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet. DLR (Device Level Ring) for redundancy. Star, linear, or ring topology. Port 44818 (TCP), 2222 (UDP).

Configuration

Studio 5000: Add module from catalog to I/O Configuration tree. Select communication path. Auto-discover devices via RSLinx. Download EDS files for new devices.

Rockwell Automation Software & Programming

Function Blocks & Instructions

Automatic tag creation for I/O modules

MSG for explicit messaging

Produced/Consumed tags for peer-to-peer

CIP Motion for servo drives

CIP Safety for safety I/O

Rockwell Automation Code Example

// Automatic I/O mapping:
Conveyor_Run := Local:2:O.Data[0].0;  // Output to 1734-OB8 module, point 0
Sensor_State := Local:2:I.Data[0].0;  // Input from 1734-IB8 module, point 0

// Explicit messaging via MSG:
MSG(
  MessageType := CIP_Generic,
  Service_Code := 16#0E,  // Get Attribute Single
  Class := 16#01,
  Instance := 1,
  Attribute := 1,
  Source := ReadData,
  Dest := 192.168.1.10,
  Path := 2,1,0  // Backplane, slot 1, port 0
);

Rockwell Automation-Specific Implementation Notes

Native Rockwell protocol with deepest integration. Automatic I/O tag generation. DLR provides sub-100ms failover. CIP Motion for synchronized multi-axis control. Produced/Consumed tags enable peer-to-peer without controller logic. Stratix switches provide quality diagnostics.

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