Catalogs > Automation Systems Catalog > Programmable Controllers > SoftLogix5800 Controller > System Overview
System Overview
Communication
A SoftLogix5800 controller uses communication interface cards to monitor and control I/O on ControlNet, DeviceNet or EtherNet/IP networks. The controller can also send or receive general communication messages to or from other devices on EtherNet/IP, ControlNet, DeviceNet, and RS-232-C serial (DF1 protocol) networks.
| If your application requires: | Use this network: |
Use this communication interface: |
| • plant management • material handling • configuration, data collection, and control on a single, high-speed network • time-critical applications with no established schedule • data sent regularly • Internet/Intranet connection |
EtherNet/IP | Windows-compatible Ethernet card |
| • high-speed transfer of time-critical data between controllers and I/O devices • deterministic and repeatable data delivery • configuration, data collection, and control on a single, high-speed network • time-critical applications with no established schedule • media redundancy • intrinsic safety |
ControlNet | 1784-PCICS 1784-PCIC |
| • connections of low I/O-count adapters, drives, and motor starters directly to plant floor controllers, without interfacing them through I/O modules • data sent as needed • more diagnostics for improved data collection and fault detection • less wiring and reduced start-up time than a traditional, hard-wired system |
DeviceNet | 1784-PCIDS |
| • modems • supervisory control and data AC quisition (SCADA) • bar code |
serial network | serial port on the computer |
EtherNet/IP Network
Ethernet Industrial Protocol (EtherNet/IP) is an open industrial networking standard that supports implicit messaging (real-time I/O messaging), explicit messaging (messaging exchange), or both and uses commercial off-the-shelf Ethernet communication chips and physical media. For EtherNet/IP access, the SoftLogix controller uses your user-supplied Ethernet.
Over an EtherNet/IP network, the SoftLogix controller supports:
- 64 TCP/IP connections
A single TCP connection can support multiple CIP connections.
- 128 Logix connections (I/O information)
A CIP connection transfers data from one Logix application running on one end-node to a second Logix application running on another end-node. A CIP connection is established over a TCP connection.
Compared to a 1756-ENBT EtherNet/IP module in a ControlLogix system, the SoftLogix5800 EtherNet/IP module:
- supports the same number of I/O connections
- supports the same number of messaging connections
- supports the same bridging functionality
- supports an EtherNet/IP statistics utility
- does not support a web-based interface
- does not support email via MSG instruction
ControlNet Network
The ControlNet network is an open, state-of-the-art control network that meets the demands of real-time, high-throughput applications. The ControlNet network uses the proven Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) to combine the functionality of an I/O network and a peer-to-peer network providing high-speed performance for both functions.
The ControlNet network gives you deterministic, repeatable transfers of all mission-critical control data in addition to supporting transfers of non-time-critical data. I/O updates and controller-to-controller interlocking always take precedence over program uploads and downloads and messaging.
DeviceNet Network
The DeviceNet network is an open low-level network that provides connections between industrial devices (such as I/O adapters, drives, and motor starters/protectors) and higher-level devices (such as PLC controllers and computers). The DeviceNet network uses the proven Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) to provide the control, configure, and data collection capabilities for industrial devices. The DeviceNet network is a flexible network that works with devices from multiple vendors.