TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW SERIES

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EtherNet/IP – TM
• Compatible with the Ethernet-APL physical layer
that enables long reach and hazardous area capable
CIP on Ethernet Technology Ethernet for process field devices. Ethernet-APL is
made up of the IEEE 802.3cg-2019 (10BASE-T1L),
EtherNet/IP™ was introduced in 2001 and today is the most IEC 60079, and IEC 61158 standards.
developed, proven and complete industrial Ethernet network
solution available for manufacturing and process automa- • Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) support, as
tion. EtherNet/IP is a member of a family of networks that defined in international standard IEC 62439-3, which
implements the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP™) at its provides high-availability for Ethernet networks.
upper layers. CIP encompasses a comprehensive suite of PRP technology creates seamless redundancy
messages and services for a variety of manufacturing and by sending duplicate frames to two independent
process automation applications, including control, safety, network infrastructures.
security, energy, synchronization, motion, configuration and
information. As a truly media-independent protocol that is • Options for industrially rated devices incorporating
supported by hundreds of vendors around the world, CIP IP67-rated connectors (RJ45 or M12) with module
provides users with a unified communication architecture and network status LEDs with device labeling for
throughout the manufacturing enterprise. ease of use

With media independence comes the ability to choose • 

W ith the optional QuickConnect™ feature,
the CIP Network best suited for each application. One of minimization of power-up delays for applications
these possible choices is EtherNet/IP, which adapts CIP to where devices must connect and be ready to
Ethernet technology. Why adapt CIP to Ethernet? communicate with minimal delay (e.g., end of arm
Ethernet, and TCP/IP– the Ethernet standard – is the same robotic tool changers)
network technology used in the majority of local area net-
work (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) architectures • S
upport for functional safety with CIP Safety™
found in commercial applications around the world. These implemented in devices
architectures connect computers and peripherals to one
another, links business operations to the enterprise, pro- • S
ynchronization of clocks across a system of
vides users with access to web-based applications and interconnected devices using CIP Sync™
has an installed base numbering in the billions of nodes. By
leveraging the economies of scale in this proven commer- • S
 upport of high-speed motion control applications
cial technology, EtherNet/IP provides users with the tools with CIP Motion™
to deploy standard Ethernet technology for manufacturing
and process applications, improving connectivity between • Device level security with CIP SecurityTM
people, partners and processes, devices, departments and
systems in industrial applications, and opens up new oppor- • Energy usage monitoring and management via
tunities for productivity, efficiency and flexibility. CIP EnergyTM

EtherNet/IP offers several unique advantages for manufacturing

and process automation applications:

• Complete
 producer-consumer services let you
simultaneously and seamlessly control, configure
and collect data from intelligent devices over a single
network or use a single network as a backbone for
multiple distributed CIP Networks.

• C
 ompatible with standard Internet protocols —
e.g., HTTP, FTP, SNMP, and DHCP — and standard
industrial protocols for data access and exchange
such as OPC UA.

•  ompliance with IEEE Ethernet standards provides

C
users with a choice of network interface speeds
— e.g., 10, 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps and beyond — and
a flexible network architecture compatible with
commercially available Ethernet installation options
including copper, fiber, fiber ring and wireless,
and topologies including star, linear and ring.

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What is EtherNet/IP? hierarchies and message prioritization, EtherNet/IP
provides more efficient use of bandwidth than other device
networks that use a strictly source-destination model.
EtherNet/IP systems can be configured to operate either
CIP Security™ CIP Motion™ Motor Control Transducer I/O Other Semiconductor CIP Safety™

Common Industrial Protocol (CIP™)

Profiles Profiles Profiles Profiles Profiles Profiles Profiles Profiles
in a controller/device type of relationship or in a distributed
CIP Security™ CIP Sync™ CIP Energy™ Object Library Safety
control architecture using peer-to-peer communications.
Objects Objects Objects (Communications, Applications, Time Synchronization) Object Library

Data Management Services

Explicit and I/O Messages
Safety Services
and Messages
The Physical Layer
Originator Services
CIP Security™
for Modbus® Device Connecting Management, Routing
Objects
EtherNet/IP uses standard IEEE 802.3 technology at the
Integration
(TLS, DTLS)

TCP/UDP
Physical and Data Link Layers. This standard provides a
specification for physical media, defines a common frame

Network Adaptations of CIP

CompoNet ControlNet DeviceNet
Network and Transport Network and Transport Network and Transport
Internet Protocol format for moving packets of data between devices and
supplies a set of rules for determining how network devices
Ethernet CompoNet ControlNet CAN
CSMA/CD Time Slot CTDMA CSMA/NBA respond when two devices attempt to use a data channel
Ethernet CompoNet ControlNet DeviceNet
simultaneously. This is known as CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense
Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer
Multiple Access/Collision Detection).
EtherNet/IP™ CompoNet™ ControlNet™ DeviceNet®

As a network with an active infrastructure, EtherNet/IP is

Figure 1: EtherNet/IP as Part of the CIP OSI Model
typically configured using a series of network segments
constructed of point-to-point connections in a star
EtherNet/IP, like other CIP Networks, follows the Open configuration. The core of this network topology is an
Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, which defines a interconnection of Ethernet Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches that,
framework for implementing network protocols in seven layers: as previously mentioned, can accommodate an unlimited
physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation number of point-to-point nodes. However, EtherNet/IP
and application. Networks that follow this model define a networks can also implement linear branching and single-
complete suite of network functionality from the physical fault tolerant ring topologies by utilizing embedded switch
implementation through the application or user interface technology and Device Level Ring (DLR™) technology.
layer. As with all CIP Networks, EtherNet/IP implements These alternate topologies can be combined to optimize
CIP at the Session layer and above and adapts CIP to cable routing and machine communications layout. Most
the specific EtherNet/IP technology at the Transport layer manufacturers offer pre-made or custom “patch” cables in
and below. This network architecture is shown in Figure 1. a wide variety of lengths. Typically, a backbone of switches,
in which each switch isolates a machine or a major part
Ethernet has the unique characteristic of being a network of a machine, are connected with high-speed copper or
with an active infrastructure. Therefore, unlike typical fiber optic cables. The other ports of the switch can be
industrial networks - which generally have a passive connected using twisted pair (e.g., CAT 5E, CAT 6) or fiber
infrastructure that limits the number of devices that can cables to the control devices for that part of the machine or
be connected and the way they can be connected - the manufacturing process. At a higher level, enterprise networks
EtherNet/IP network infrastructure can accommodate a built on EtherNet/IP networks can make use of commercial
virtually unlimited number of point-to-point nodes, and with technology to create architectures that range from complete
embedded switch technology, can also support linear and separation to a fully converged plant-wide Ethernet.
ring topologies providing users with unsurpassed flexibility
in designing networks that accommodate their current Depending on their performance requirements, users can
requirements while enabling easy, cost-effective expansion specify either Industrial EtherNet/IP products that have
in the future. implemented options for the physical layer to improve
reliability in industrial applications - such as high-noise
To further decrease complexity, EtherNet/IP provides a applications or harsh environments with liquid and dust
single point of connection for both configuration and control exposure requiring IP67 ratings - or Commercial Off-the-
because EtherNet/IP supports both I/O (or implicit) messages: Shelf (COTS) products. In addition, CAT 5E or later Ethernet
those that typically contain time-critical control data and cable is recommended for reliability in manufacturing
explicit messages, and those in which the data field carries applications, as this cable provides greater noise immunity
protocol information typical of client/server transactions and other safeguards against harsh industrial environments.
used in configuration and data collection. As a producer- Both copper (shielded or unshielded twisted pair) and fiber
consumer network that supports multiple communication cabling options are available, as well as sealed or non-

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW SERIES: ETHERNET/IP

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sealed RJ45 connectors for copper wires and LT, SC, ST or
MTRJ connectors for fiber optic cables. The Network and
Transport Layers
The Data Link Layer
At the Network and Transport Layers, EtherNet/IP utilizes
IEEE’s 802.3 specification is also the standard used for standard TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
transmitting packets of data from device to device on the Protocol) to send messages between one or more devices.
EtherNet/IP Data Link Layer. Ethernet employs a CSMA/CD TCP/IP has been used in office applications for decades, and
media access mechanism that determines how networked has wide familiarity and support. It provides the necessary
devices share a common bus (i.e., cable), and how they de- communication protocol features needed to implement
tect and respond to data collisions. fully functional networks (i.e., an addressing scheme and
mechanisms for establishing a connection with a device and
Originally, Ethernet worked in a half-duplex mode of exchanging data).
operation, meaning that a node could send or receive data,
but it could not do both at the same time. This caused data
traffic jams, which are unacceptable in time-critical control Application FTP HTTP OPC CIP SNMP
BOOTP
DHCP
applications. Now, with full-duplex Ethernet (the de facto
standard today), networked devices can both send and
receive packets of Ethernet data at the same time. This, Transport TCP UDP

along with advancements in switching technology makes

Ethernet suitable for use in the breadth of manufacturing or OSPF IGRP Explicit Real-Time IGMP
process applications. Messaging VO Control
ICMP
Network ARP RARP

IP

Data Link
IEEE 802.3 Ethernet
Physical

Figure 3: CIP – fully compatible with widely used

Ethernet and Internet protocols

Also, at these layers, the standard CIP messages used by all

CIP Networks are encapsulated. This TCP/IP encapsulation
allows a node on the network to embed a CIP message
The Media Access Control (MAC) protocol of the IEEE 802.3 inside an Ethernet message and send it to another node on
specification is what actually allows devices to “talk” on the the network, using the standard TCP/IP protocol.
Ethernet network. Each device has a unique MAC address
comprised of a 6-byte number that is regulated by IEEE and By using standard TCP/IP and Ethernet, the lower layers of
the product manufacturer to maintain uniqueness. This MAC the TCP/IP stack and Ethernet interface chips (e.g., MAC
address is used in the source address (SA) field of the frame controllers) will pass these messages through standard
to indicate what node sent the frame, and it is used in the Ethernet infrastructure (e.g., managed or unmanaged
destination address (DA) field to indicate the destination of switches, routers, etc.) to the destination node. TCP/
the frame. Setting the first bit to a “1” in the DA field indicates IP is used in EtherNet/IP to send CIP explicit messages,
a packet of data for multiple destinations, and enables an which are used to perform client-server type transactions
Ethernet node to transmit a single data packet to one or more between nodes. Some of these transactions will establish
destination nodes. communications relationships that leverage UDP/IP, to
exchange real-time data with other nodes on the factory
A single frame of industrial EtherNet/IP can contain up to 1,500 floor. This is all seamless from the application perspective,
bytes of data, depending on the application requirements. The which is made possible by utilizing standard Ethernet, TCP/
combination of real-time control with high-data capacity has IP and UDP/IP communications.
made industrial Ethernet the network technology of choice,
as more intelligence is embedded into smaller and less-
expensive devices. By utilizing standard Ethernet along with
standard TCP/IP and UDP, EtherNet/IP is uniquely positioned
to provide ease of configuration and operation, high data
throughput, straightforward connectivity and provides the
ability to merge the factory floor with the enterprise.

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The TCP/IP Suite consists of the following: The process of opening a connection is called Connection
Origination, and the node that initiates the connection
• The TCP portion of the TCP/IP protocol is a establishment request is called a Connection Originator,
connection-oriented, point-to-point (unicast) or just an Originator. Conversely, the node that responds
transport mechanism that provides data flow to the establishment request is called a Connection Target,
control, fragmentation reassembly and message or a Target.
acknowledgements. Nodes will receive each
EtherNet/IP has two types of messaging connections:
message and acknowledge to the sender that it
was received. If the message is fragmented across
multiple frames, the sender will send the next  xplicit messaging connections are point-to-point
• E
fragment, which is acknowledged. This repeats relationships that are established to facilitate request-
until the entire message is received. At that time response transactions between two nodes. These
the receiving node will process the data and act connections are general purpose in nature and are
accordingly. Since TCP is ideal for the reliable typically used for frequent requests between the
transmission of large and small quantities of data, two nodes. They can be used to reach any network-
EtherNet/IP uses TCP/IP to encapsulate CIP explicit accessible items within a device. Explicit messaging
messages, which are generally used to transmit connections utilize TCP/IP services to move messages
configuration and diagnostic data, and also used to across Ethernet.
establish real-time (implicit) data transfers between
devices. • Implicit (I/O data) connections are established to
move application-specific I/O data at regular intervals.
• The IP portion of the TCP/IP protocol is the These connections can be set up as one-to-one
mechanism that assures packet routing through relationships or as one-to-many in order to take full
multiple possible paths. The ability to send advantage of the producer-consumer multicast model.
messages to their destinations even when the Implicit messaging uses UDP/IP resources to make
primary path is disrupted is the basis of the Internet multicast data transfers over Ethernet a reality.
Protocol. Because EtherNet/IP uses standard IP,
this same type of routing is used to maintain proper
separation of factory floor control elements and
other manufacturing systems through the use of EtherNet/IP supports three device classes based on network
standard infrastructure such as managed switches communication capabilities: Messaging Class, Adapter
and Layer 3 routers. Class and Scanner Class. Each class supports a basic set
of communications services, but may provide other optional
services too.
For real-time data transfer, EtherNet/IP also employs UDP
over IP to transport I/O messages that contain time-critical
control data. UDP is a connectionless transfer mechanism Messaging Class products support explicit messaging
that has low protocol overhead yielding smaller packet (connected or unconnected) that is sent to or received
sizes and makes multicasting data to more than one from all other classes of products. Messaging Class
destination possible. The smaller packets and multicasting products are the targets of explicit message connection
support make the Producer/Consumer model possible requests, and may also be originators of these requests,
with EtherNet/IP, and provide for streamlined data flow but they do not send or receive real-time I/O data.
through the system, while the CIP Connection mechanism
provides timeout mechanisms that can detect data delivery
problems. For these reasons, UDP is well-suited to the task Examples of products in this class include:
of transferring real-time implicit (i.e., I/O) data on EtherNet/IP.
• D
 evices that perform configuration and programming
EtherNet/IP uses two forms of messaging: of HMI products, robots and PLCs;

• U
 nconnected messaging is used in the connection • D
 evices with applications that provide an operator
establishment process and for infrequent, low-priority interface to control systems (i.e., HMI products);
explicit messages. The unconnected resources in a device
are referred to as the Unconnected Message Manager, or • S
 oftware applications that do not require real-time I/O
UCMM. Unconnected messages on EtherNet/IP utilize response (e.g., MIS applications); and
TCP/IP resources to move messages across Ethernet.

• Network configuration and diagnostic tools.

• C
 onnected messaging on EtherNet/IP utilizes
resources within each node that are dedicated in
advance to a particular purpose, such as frequent explicit
message transactions or real-time I/O data transfers.
Connection resources are reserved and configured using
communications services available via the UCMM.

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Adapter Class products are the targets of real-time I/O data source to each individual destination. In producer-consum-
connection requests from Scanner Class products. They er networks, a message is identified by its connection ID,
cannot send or receive real-time I/O data unless they are not its destination address (as is the case with source-des-
requested to do so by a scanner, and they do not store or tination networks). In EtherNet/IP this is realized using the
originate the data communications parameters necessary combination of the Connection ID and an IP Multicast group
to establish the connection. Adapter Class products receive address. Thus, the producer-consumer model provides a
explicit message requests (connected and/or unconnected) clear advantage for users of CIP Networks by making effi-
from all other classes of products. They may also exchange cient use of network resources in the following ways:
(peer) data using explicit messages with any class of device,
but they typically cannot originate such relationships.
• If a node wants to receive data, it only needs to ask for
Examples of products in this class include: it once to consume the data each time it is produced.

• I/O devices such as I/O blocks or racks of I/O modules • If a second (third, fourth, etc.) node wants the same
that produce and consume real-time I/O data; data, when it asks for it, the device will provide the
multicast address and Connection ID of the message
• Weigh scales, welders, drives and robots that send and already being produced, so that all nodes will
receive real-time data at the request of PLCs and other simultaneously receive a single message from the
controllers; network.

• Weigh scales, welders, drives and robots that also CIP also includes “device types” for which there are
receive explicit messages from control systems such Device Profiles. For a given device type, the Device
as controllers and PLCs; and Profile will specify the set of CIP objects that must be
implemented, configuration options and I/O data formats.
• HMI products that send or receive explicit or real-time This consistency in object implementation for a given
I/O data to/from PLCs or other controllers. device type provides another clear advantage for users
of CIP Networks by promoting a common application
Scanner Class products are the originators of I/O data interface for a given device type and interoperability in
connection requests to Adapter Class products, as well networks comprised of devices from multiple vendors. For
as to other Scanner Class products that support Adapter applications where unique functionality is required, it is
Class functions (i.e., peer-to-peer explicit or I/O data). These also possible for an EtherNet/IP vendor to define additional
products are typically also originators or targets of explicit vendor-specific objects in an EtherNet/IP-compliant product
connection requests to and from other classes of products, in order to support the functional requirements of particular
and they can also send or receive explicit messages to or applications that are unique to that vendor.
from all other classes of products.
Seamless bridging and routing is perhaps the most significant
Examples of products in this class include: advantage for users of CIP Networks for it is this mechanism
that most protects the user’s investment for the future. The
• P
 LCs, PC-based controls, other controllers and robots ability to originate a message on one CIP Network, such as
that send and receive real time data to and from I/O EtherNet/IP, and then pass it to another CIP Network, such
devices, PLCs, PC-based controls, drives, robots, as DeviceNet®, with no presentation at the Application Layer,
weigh scales, welders and HMI products; means that users can incorporate incremental application
improvements to existing installations and/or integrate
• PLCs, controllers and robots that send and receive explicit automation systems with diagnostic, prognostic and/or IT
message data to and from other PLCs, robots, weigh applications. Seamless bridging and routing between both
scales, PC-based controls, welders and HMI products. homogeneous and heterogeneous CIP Networks is enabled
by a set of CIP objects that defines CIP routing mechanisms
(this is not the Internet Protocol routing discussed earlier) for

The Upper Layers a device to use when forwarding the contents of a message
produced on one network port to another. This mechanism
does not alter the contents of a message during the routing
EtherNet/IP uses the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP), process. When using this mechanism, the user’s only
which is an object-oriented protocol, at the upper layers. responsibility is to describe the path that a given message
Each CIP object has well-defined attributes (data), services must follow. CIP ensures that devices that act as gateways
(commands) and behaviors (reactions to events). CIP’s between the different CIP Networks handle the message
producer-consumer communication model provides more correctly, independent of the CIP Networks involved.
efficient use of network resources than a pure source-des-
tination model by allowing the exchange of application
information between a sending device (e.g., the producer)
and many receiving devices (e.g., the consumers) without
requiring data to be transmitted multiple times by a single

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Management of the
EtherNet/IP Technology
EtherNet/IP is managed by ODVA, an international association of the
world’s leading automation companies. ODVA’s EtherNet/IP management
responsibilities include:

• Publishing The EtherNet/IP Specification;

• Overseeing the process to incorporate new enhancements to The

EtherNet/IP Specification;

• Licensing the EtherNet/IP Technology to companies desiring to

make and/or sell EtherNet/IP-compliant products;

• Promoting industry awareness of EtherNet/IP and its benefits; and

• 
Helping to ensure compliance of EtherNet/IP products with
the specification through conformance testing and conformity
reporting.

For more information about EtherNet/IP, CIP or ODVA, visit ODVA at

www.odva.org.

About ODVA
Founded in 1995, ODVA is a global association whose members
comprise the world’s leading automation companies. ODVA’s mission
is to advance open, interoperable information and communication
technologies in industrial automation. ODVA recognizes its media
independent network protocol, the Common Industrial Protocol or
“CIP” – and the network adaptations of CIP – EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet,
CompoNet and ControlNet – as its core technology and the primary
common interest of its membership. For future interoperability of
production systems and the integration of the production systems with
other systems, ODVA embraces the adoption of commercial-off-the-shelf
(COTS) and standard, unmodified Internet and Ethernet technologies as
a guiding principle wherever possible. This principle is exemplified by
EtherNet/IP – the world’s number one industrial Ethernet network. For ODVA
more information about ODVA, visit odva.org. Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
TEL: +1 734-975-8840
FAX: +1 734-922-0027
WEB: www.odva.org

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