EtherCAT Master Stack

Protocol Stack for embedded solutions based on Real-time Operating Systems

IXXAT now offers an EtherCAT Master Stack, specially suited for the usage under real time operating systems on embedded platforms. At this, many conventional network interface cards are directly supported, so no special hardware is required for the Ethernet connection.

Already late last year, IXXAT extended its EtherCAT product portfolio by establishing a cooperation with acontis technologies GmbH, a leading technology provider in the area of EtherCAT. Besides the EtherCAT Master Stack from acontis, IXXAT also offers the adaptation to customer specific systems on a project base.

Fully implemented versions of the EtherCAT Master Stack are currently available for the operation systems Windows CE, VxWorks, RTX, On Time RTOS-32, QNX, CeWin, VxWin, Linux and Windows XP. The operation under Windows XP is intended for applications without special real-time demands. On request, the EtherCAT Master Stack is also offered as source code, which can be easily ported to other operating systems by using an abstraction layer.

Besides the primary process data transfer, including the XML based configuration, error detection and diagnosis, also feature packages are offered, e.g. for Ethernet over EtherCAT (EoE), File Access over EtherCAT (FoE), Hot Connect and Distributed Clocks.

The EtherCAT Master Stack is an ideal supplement for the Industrial Ethernet Module from IXXAT, enabling an easy implementation of EtherCAT based systems. At this, IXXAT also offers the Industrial Ethernet Module as design-in solution for the complete integration into the customer hardware.

For further information about the EtherCAT Master Stack please visit our webpage: www.ixxat.com/ethercat-master-stack_en.html.