See how IXXAT’s Industrial Ethernet Module provides OEMs with a single hardware solution for multiple Industrial Ethernet protocols.

This video demonstrates how OEMs can utilize IXXAT’s Industrial Ethernet Module (IEM) to support multiple Industrial Ethernet protocols with a single hardware platform. Via SPI or Parallel-Bus your device will interface to the IEM and have access to EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET RT, POWERLINK, SERCOS III and Modbus/TCP networks. You will see how a simple IO board can communicate with both an Ethernet/IP network and an Ethernet POWERLINK by simply swapping the EtherNet/IP configured IEM for a POWERLINK configured IEM. The firmware inside the application CPU can support all of these protocols at once, and allows the OEM to quickly reach end users within many different markets.

Click here for more information about the Industrial Ethernet Module. North American customers please call 603-471-0800 x101 (for other countries +49-751-56146-0)

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Introduction, Protocols and Implementation

With the new one-day real-time Ethernet seminar IXXAT presents a topical theme and enables de-velopers and decision makers to get a quick overview of the important currently available pro-tocols as well as the specific features and char-acteristics at the implementation.

During the seminar, the protocols EtherNet/IP, Profinet RT & IRT, POWERLINK, EtherCAT, and SERCOS III are introduced. Besides functional criteria, e.g. the level of real-time capability, modeling of process and parameter data as well as data transmission functions, also implementa-tion options, extendability, flexibility and popularity are discussed.

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IXXAT’s FPGA based Industrial Ethernet Module (IEM) now integrates a high-capacity Switch-IP which enables customers to implement powerful and economic line topologies.

The IEM implements a cost efficient and flexible solution to adapt to various Industrial Ethernet technologies. The IEM is based on a powerful Altera Cyclone III FPGA which includes, besides an integrated 32-bit CPU, PHYs, magnetic modules and RJ45 jacks, the new 3-port switch IP for Profinet, EtherNet/IP and Modbus-TCP.

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Conformance of the Industrial Ethernet Module (IEM) as part of the POWERLINK Starterkit now approved.

As one of the first devices, the IXXAT POWERLINK Starterkit Controlled Node (CN)
receives the official certificate of the EPSG POWERLINK Conformance Test. The Starterkit consists of an IXXAT Industrial Ethernet Module, a carrier board, a CPU module as well as a demo application. The IEM, as base hardware for different real-time Ethernet protocols, is based on the IXXAT POWERLINK stack, in the protocol variant for POWERLINK, and comes with an integrated Ethernet hub for the 2-port network connection.

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By Christian Schlegel, IXXAT Automation GmbH

Today, the industrial automation market for Ethernet-based communication is increasing in demand. As with classical field busses, several protocol standards are available for Industrial Ethernet, which have to be supported by device manufacturers. Since these different Ethernet standards vary in their hardware and software requirements, a specific protocol solution for their integration into a device is required.

Despite the efforts of IAONA to find a common solution for industrial communication over Ethernet, disparate protocols emerged that were sponsored and promoted by a number of classic field bus suppliers. Eleven concepts to achieve Ethernet relevant for industrial communication are currently standardized within IEC 61158. Similar to the so-called “field bus wars” in the eighties, in the end, some of the eleven Industrial Ethernet solutions will be accepted in the market.

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By Christian Schlegel, IXXAT Automation

One solution circumventing the limitations of CANopen (limited bandwidth, limited system extension) would be switching completely to Ethernet POWERLINK. However, for many systems this would be like the tail wagging the dog since the POWERLINK technology is more expensive than the CANopen technology (e.g. cabling costs, hardware costs, system integration costs). Instead of converting a system completely from CANopen to POWERLINK, it often makes sense to build a new system structure using several subsystems. The following two system architectures are possible…

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Powerlink with redundant Managing Nodes according to the specification V 1.1.0 and WDS 302-A

A major safety feature for industrial communication is the continuous system availability, even if failures in essential components occur, e.g. in the communication master or in network connections (cables). To ensure a high system availability, the availability of the controller as well as of the network must be guaranteed.

For this reason, a highly available controller solution was considered for Powerlink at a very early stage, and was now specified in EPSG WDP 302 A and implemented by IXXAT.

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Support of all important Industrial Ethernet Protocols.

At the upcoming SPS/IPC/DRIVES fair in Nuremberg, IXXAT will present the new Industrial Ethernet Module, which enables customers to easily connect their devices to networks based on an Industrial Ethernet standard.

The new Industrial Ethernet Module was designed from the ground up to support various protocol standards.
At this, a powerful Altera Cyclone III FPGA is used and low manufacturing costs for the module were a focus of attention.
As a result, the new Industrial Ethernet Module is more powerful, lower priced, smaller and can be used more flexible than its predecessor.

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IXXAT is pleased to announce the availability of a new tool that enables the user to inspect respectively convert CANopen and POWERLINK device description files conforming to the CiA 306 and CiA 311, as well as the upcoming EPL V2.0 XML specifications.

In 2007 CAN in Automation (CiA), the international users’ and manufacturers’ group governing the development of the CANopen specifications introduced a new XML based device description file format as CiA 311 – CANopen device description. CiA 311 is based on the ISO 15745-1:2003 specification which defines generic elements and rules for describing integration models and application interoperability profiles.
A new and more flexible device description format was required due to the numerous enhancements introduced in CANopen that were not covered by the original EDS format as specified in CiA 306. In addition to the general benefits of a XML based syntax, the CiA 311 format has the particular advantage of allowing for localized device description files, a feature becoming increasingly important with the global acceptance of CANopen.

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Conforms to the latest Powerlink
specification DS 1.0.0

The current version 1.04.05 of the Powerlink stack from IXXAT Automation GmbH provides the following features:

• Node monitoring on Controlled Nodes (CNs) via object 0×1016

• Support of all priority levels on Managing Nodes (MNs) for the allocation of the asynchronous communication channel

• Support of all mandatory and many optional objects according to the Powerlink specification DS 1.0.0

• Modification of the Node ID at run-time via the object dictionary

• Tool for the stack configuration with GUI for scaling and generation of the IXXAT Powerlink software (especially static parameters and the object dictionary)

• Switching between MN and CN functionality at run-time by changing the Node ID

• Bug fixes and adaptations to increase the compatibility with implementations of other vendors

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