Rockwell sponsors open-source Ethernet/IP stack

Rockwell Automation is supporting the release of a free, open-source Ethernet/IP software stack for input/output (I/O) adapter devices developed by the Vienna University of Technology.

Designed to connect a range of products using open communication standards, developers can download the new licence and royalty-free adapter stack through Sourceforge.net.

The open-source communications stack was created and released to the global engineering community by the Odo Struger Laboratory team of researchers from the Vienna University of Technology's Automation and Control Institute.

The stack is an open-source implementation of Ethernet/IP, an open network standard made available through ODVA.

Ethernet/IP uses the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) on standard, unmodified Ethernet to enable communications from I/O to IT, connecting factory-floor devices all the way up to business-level systems.

Access to plant and production information allows users to effectively manage real-time control and information flow throughout the manufacturing and IT enterprise, which helps drive improved management and decision making.

Harry Forbes of the ARC Advisory Group said: 'An open-source stack with a support community gives industrial product developers a faster, more cost-effective way to integrate their products with CIP-based networks such as Ethernet/IP.

'Using open source accelerates time to market, decreases software development risk and reduces many costs of custom software development.

'In addition, the availability of a peer-reviewed open-source component for Ethernet/IP provides product suppliers with greater assurance of full interoperability,' he added.

Developers can use the open-source adapter stack in a variety of Ethernet/IP I/O adapter-class products, including basic sensors, actuators, simple drives and I/O components.

The lightweight adapter-class stack is scalable and written in the C programming language.

Its modularity and flexibility make it suitable for developers seeking a low- or no-cost communication stack for simple Ethernet/IP products.

Ethernet/IP allows networks, including motion and safety, to communicate on the factory floor, along with other common sets of IT capabilities such as video, data and telephony, according to the company.

This is claimed to result in a converged Ethernet architecture.

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