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IN12Q1_wago
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All the Right Connections

Feb. 9, 2012
Gateways and Protocol Adapters Help Users Resolve an Ever-Growing List of Network Options

If you design machines with network-enabled devices from one of the big players in the market, chances are pretty good that they have multiple versions with a range of network protocol capabilities. But not every manufacturer is able to offer the full range. Enter gateways and protocol adapters, which, if anything, are more necessary than ever.

In a survey conducted last month by Industrial Networking, respondents indicated that after reliability, integrating legacy and disparate networks was high on their list of network concerns.

"In my view, it's getting worse, not better," says Phil Marshall, CEO of Hilscher North America, which specializes in network connectivity. "Users were frustrated because every company continued to come out with its own derivatives of networking. Ethernet has just added another physical layer to interconnectivity."

Our survey respondents gave strong preference to EtherNet/IP, with about 65% indicating it was what they used most for control and automation networking.

The main reason for choosing the network that they use? For almost half (44%), it's the one supported by their primary automation supplier.

Marshall doesn't see the situation getting any better. "Each of the market leaders has a vision of how the network complements its control architecture," he says. "So as long as the market leaders have different visions on how the control systems need to work, network needs are going to remain different."

Standard and Safety
ENX Series AS-Interface Gateways support both Modbus TCP and EtherNet/IP protocols for seamless communication with standard and safety networks in a single gateway. 992 I/O are handled asynchronous to the Ethernet traffic, and the gateways also scan every AS-i node in 150 µs, which enables up to 62 safety e-stops, magnetic switches and safe outputs to be in one safety program.
Pepperl+Fuchs
(330) 486-0001
www.pepperl-fuchs.us
Efficiency Gates
Three 758 Series I/O-IPC models function as CANopen masters that directly interface with the SAE J1939 protocol. Carrying dual Ethernet ports for Modbus TCP communication, the I/O-IPCs are gateways to Wago's J1939 interface function block that supports large engine/generator efficiency.
Wago
(800) 346-7245
www.wago.us
Mod to Mod
MB-Gateway single-port Modbus gateway module converts Modbus TCP to Modbus RTU. The module has an automatic read function with one RJ45 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port and one RS-422/485 two- or four-wire serial port. It supports up to 12 Modbus TCP Client Ethernet connections and up to 128 RTU Server serial connections.
AutomationDirect
(770) 889-2858
www.automationdirect.com/modbus-gateway
Gateway to Modbus
EKI-1221D and EKI-1222D gateways provide transparent connectivity between Modbus serial devices and Ethernet-based Modbus TCP equipment. They have built-in Ethernet switches for cascading/daisy-chain connectivity that offers flexible cabling. Cascading connections support Ethernet auto-bypass to prevent accidental power failure in the event one of the Modbus gateways unexpectedly shuts down.
Advantech Industrial Automation
(800) 205-7940
www.advantech.com/ea
Tap In
netTAP 100 Gateway supports real-time Ethernet-to-Ethernet connections to bridge all popular real-time Ethernet networks. Supported protocols include EtherNet/IP, Profinet, EtherCat, Modbus TCP, Powerlink and SERCOS III. The standard module is available with master and/or slave protocols. The configuration tool is FDT/DTM-based for fast setup and ease of use.
Hilscher N.A.
(630) 505-5301
www.hilscher.com/usa
Connect to Fiber
Industrial Ethernet media converters convert the Ethernet, via an RJ45 port, to an optical port with SC or ST glass fiber connections, while remaining transparent to other network devices. They have Link Fault Pass-Through (LFP) technology, which uses mechanical relay outputs to alarm on power failure and port breakages on either fiber or Ethernet ports. Redundant power inputs allow for more secure connections.
Weidmüller
(800) 849-9343
www.weidmuller.com
EtherNet/IP to DF1
MGate EIP3000 has one or two EtherNet/IP-to-DF1 ports for connecting DF1 devices and EtherNet/IP devices to A-B PLCs for remote maintenance. It uses ProCOM, which generates four extra virtual serial channels for Ethernet data pass-through and maximum network flexibility, without modifying the existing system, and it supports two IPs—one for each serial port—so EtherNet/IP devices can communicate with two DF1 devices simultaneously.
Moxa
(714) 528-6777
www.moxa.com
Preserve the Legacy
EServ series for legacy serial communications in industrial environments aids the integration of legacy mission-critical components with newer network technologies by bridging the gap between older serial and contemporary Ethernet and Modbus Ethernet protocols. Connectivity options for 10/100Base-TX and multimode fiber applications are available in each series.
N-Tron
(251) 342-2164
www.n-tron.com
Convert and Integrate
Xcenet Ethernet expansion card for Data Station Plus isolates machine-level network traffic from the enterprise-level network for communication on separate networks. Supporting 10 simultaneous Ethernet protocols and three serial protocols, Data Station Plus and Modular Controllers provide protocol conversion and device integration. A second Ethernet port for communication increases bandwidth and allows communication on two distinct Ethernet networks simultaneously.
Red Lion Controls
(717) 767-6511
www.redlion.net
250 or 500
QuickServer configurable gateway is available in two models. The basic model for 250 points uses the building automation protocols BACnet/IP, BACnet MS/TP, LonWorks, JCI Metasys N2, Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP and SNMP. The enhanced level can accept 500 points and uses most of the 100+ protocol drivers in the FieldServer driver library.
FieldServer Technologies
(408) 262-2299
www.fieldserver.com
HART to Modbus
HCS HART Concentrator System converts a HART digital signal to a serial Modbus RTU communication protocol. This permits up to 16 smart HART-capable transmitters and valves to interface directly with Modbus-based monitoring and control systems. It allows monitoring by a Modbus system of HART instrument diagnostics using the Field Device Status Byte data that is available in HART's digital information.
Moore Industries
(818) 894-7111
www.miinet.com
Adapt to Digital
Bullet WirelessHART adapter with intrinsically safe certification enables existing or new wired HART field devices to communicate the PV and other valuable device information via WirelessHART. Loop-powered, it can be installed on a non-smart (analog only) device and will transmit a digital process variable. It can be connected to eight HART devices.
MacTek
(609) 801-0039
www.mactekcorp.com