Networks and Communications
Rockwell Automation and Cisco Systems®
Reference Architectures for Manufacturing
Reference Architectures for Manufacturing are part of an ongoing collaboration between Rockwell Automation and Cisco to provide customer education and network design guidance to help establish a robust and secure network infrastructure, utilizing Cisco's Ethernet to the Factory and the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture™.
Designed to facilitate seamless enterprise integration, Integrated Architecture is a control and information architecture consisting of the Logix Control Platform and the FactoryTalk integrated production and performance suite, featuring EtherNet/IP and other enabling technologies.
Reference Architectures are built on technology and manufacturing standards common between IT and manufacturing. These resources provide the foundation for success when deploying the latest, innovative technology. They also address the cultural and technical challenges of Ethernet network convergence between IT and Engineering, speaking to secured connectivity topics such as information visibility (e.g. KPIs, Regulatory), remote access, and guest access. This helps the two organizations to eliminate guesswork and decrease implementation costs while providing security, flexibility and visibility of information plantwide.
Rockwell Automation and Cisco are publishing ongoing phased releases of deliverables to provide solutions (such as documentation, products, technology, and services) to address Ethernet network convergence for manufacturing and enterprise applications. Rockwell Automation and Cisco have identified other published documents that will help customers properly deploy Ethernet networks. Included are published documents by ODVA, which Rockwell Automation and Cisco are principle members.
Focusing on Technology Trends and Application Topics
- Achieving Secure, Remote Access to Plant-Floor Applications and Data [PDF] — This whitepaper provides guidelines for remotely accessing automation systems to share plant data, applications, and resources, regardless of physical location.
- Patch Management and Computer System Security Updates [PDF] — A four step model and best practice guide to manage application software security patches within the manufacturing zone.
- Securing Manufacturing Computing and Controller Assets [PDF] — Recommendations and best practices for deploying a holistic security policy for helping secure your manufacturing assets from Rockwell Automation and Cisco.
- Production Software within the Manufacturing Reference Architectures [PDF] — This whitepaper provides general recommendations for deploying FactoryTalk Applications and Services within the Rockwell Automation and Cisco Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architectures.
- Reference Architectures for Manufacturing Whitepaper [PDF] — Overview of Rockwell Automation and Cisco collaboration outlining network design best practices, guidance and recommendations.
- EtherNet/IP: CIP on Ethernet Technology [PDF] — (ODVA) Overview of the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP), and how it is adapted to Standard Ethernet and Standard IP, resulting in EtherNet/IP.
- Securing Today's Global Networks in Industrial Environments [PDF] — Understand best practices and solutions for securing industrial automation and control systems by reading this whitepaper.
- EtherNet/IP: Guidance for Selecting Cables [PDF] — (ODVA)
- Techniques for Infrastructure Deployment: Reference Architectures in Manufacturing Networks [PDF] — (ODVA)
- Industrial Ethernet for Control Engineers [PDF] — Understand Ethernet technology and its benefits in the data networking environment in "industrial Ethernet: A Control Engineer's Guide Whitepaper.