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ODVA and the FDT Group report that technical work is underway in the FDT Group to develop an annex to the FDT2 specification for ODVA's family of CIP Networks. The new annex will ensure that support for an FDT-compatible Device Type Manager is possible for users of EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, CompoNet and ControlNet, who use the updates and enhancements to the FDT technology that are included in FDT2.

The FDT technology standardizes the configuration interface between field devices and host systems independent of the communication protocol used to transmit the data between them, allowing access to device parameters for applications where extensive device configuration might be needed. ODVA's CIP technology encompasses a suite of services for industrial automation applications, including control, safety, energy, synchronization, motion, information and network management. "Users deploy FDT and CIP in many similar automation applications, making compatibility of the two technologies very beneficial to users," said Katherine Voss, president and executive director of ODVA.

A technical working group has been formed within the FDT Group to prepare the annex for the FDT2 specification. The working group includes companies that are members of both ODVA and the FDT Group, and individual participants with subject-matter expertise in CIP and FDT2. The FDT Group expects the work to be completed in 2013, and included with both the FDT2 specification and in its IEC standard 62453. ODVA expects that there will be no impact on its specifications for the family of CIP Networks.