UNIGATE EtherNet/IP
Inhaltsverzeichnis
IP Addressing
EtherNet/IP devices need an IP address to communicate in a network. There are several ways to adjust the configuration of your UNIGATEs.
- BOOTP/DHCP Server Utility: Free Software from Rockwell Automation.
- Deutschmann Configuration software WINGATE
- Script: The Deutschmann Script language allows accessing the IP configuration of the device. It is possible to develop scripts that allow your application the access of the IP configuration.
- FTP: The IP configuration can be updated as a part of the device configuration via the built-in FTP-Server
The DHCP option is already enabled in the factory setting. The device gets it IP address from a DHCP server or the above mentioned Rockwell Software. With an invalid IP configuration (IP-address 0.0.0.0) it is not possible to disable the DHCP option, respectively with disabled DHCP option to set the IP address to 0.0.0.0. In this case the device firmware sets itself back to factory settings.
Note: More on this topic in the Document Recommended IP Addressing Methods for EtherNet/IP Devices
Address Conflict Detection
Address Conflict Detection (ACD) is a mechanism to detect avoid IP address conflicts. ACD was standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)in the document RFC5227 and is also used in EtherNet/IP networks. [1]
ACD-enabled devices check at the startup if there is an IP address conflict with another device. This process takes several seconds. When the test is complete and no conflict was detected, the device uses the configured IP address.
Our UNIGATE EtherNet/IP devices support ACD from firmware version 4.0 on. Due to the duration of the scan, it can happen that the check is not yet complete when the UNIGATE assigns its own IP address during the startup in the switch on message. In this case, and if there is no network cable plugged in, "0.0.0.0" will be displayed.
Option QoS
Quality of Service (QoS) is an umbrella term for a number of mechanisms that allow to handle data streams with different priorities. The individual data packets are identified according to their priority (Differentiated Services). EtherNet/IP can make use of these, which, for example, transfers real-time data with higher priority.
Marked packets can be received by all devices, even if they do not support QoS mechanisms. However, there are older controllers that drop packets with QoS marking and thus make an exchange of data with the QoS option enabled impossible.[2]
The UNIGATE EtherNet/IP products support Quality of Service from the firmware version 4.0. In the factory setting, the QoS option is enabled. You can, however, deactivate it (e.g. via Wingate) to ensure compatibility with the above mentioned old controllers.
Reset to factory settings
EtherNet/IP allows to reset attached devices to factory settings e. g. from within the engineering software. This loading of the factory settings can also be triggered through the execution of a system command.
Firmware update
The device firmware can be updated via the Ethernet interface. For more instructions go to the firmware update site.
Changeover to firmware version 4.0
With the firmware version 4.0 we carried out the changeover to a new protocol stack with extended capabilities. We have taken the utmost care to ensure the biggest compatibility with previous firmware versions, but some small differences, partly due to the EtherNet/IP specification, are inevitable.
| Innovations and differences | Firmware < 4.0 | Firmware ≥ 4.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Address Conflict Detection | ✘ | ✔ |
| Quality of Service | ✘ | ✔ |
| Connection-I/O-size < objekt size (e.g. 4 Byte I/O-Connection, 8 Byte I/O-objects) |
✔ is tolerated |
✘ IO-sizes must match |
| Factory defaults | ||
| DHCP client | disabled | enabled |
| IP address | 10.10.10.10 | 0.0.0.0 |
UNIGATE CL EtherNet/IP
Changeover to 2-port devices
The UNIGATE CL‑EtherNet/IP 2Port replaces the 1‑Port device UNIGATE CL‑EtherNet/IP. Alongside the 2‑Port‑device the new firmware version 4.0 is introduced.
Change in configuration storage size
With firmware version 4.0.7 we have completed the change to an extended configuration storage of 256 byte. We have paid attention to a maximal compatibility to previous firmware versions. But when updating a firmware version older than 4.0.7 to 4.0.7 or a more recent version please take into account the details listed on the page Updating to a firmware with extended configuration storage.
External links
- Deutschmann software
- Configuration software Wingate
- Starter kit software (e. g. EtherNet/IP-Scanner-Simulation)
- Third party software
- BOOTP/DHCP Server Utility by Rockwell Automation
- EZ-EDS EDS file editor by ODVA
- Miscellaneous
- Recommended IP Addressing Methods for EtherNet/IP Devices
- RFC5227 (Address Conflict Detection)
