Ethernet/IP is the main component that facilitates real-time data flow from the plant floor to the business area. To support and accelerate the convergence between industrial and enterprise networks, Rockwell Automation and Cisco collaborated to develop Converged Plant-wide Ethernet (CPwE) architectures, to provide education, design guidance, recommendations and best practices to industry.
The resources, comprising Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture and Cisco’s Ethernet-to-the-Factory, provide users with the foundation for success by addressing the cultural and technical challenges of Ethernet network convergence between IT and engineering. The CPwE Architectures include white papers and educational seminars; all aimed at providing best practices and implementation guidelines for the development of plant-wide architecture, while the Design and Implementation Guide helps users to deploy standard Ethernet/IP networks properly.
Using Ethernet technologies in IT and integrated manufacturing; including discrete, motion, process, batch, drive and safety applications, can help customers to establish highly secure information access on the factory floor and across their enterprise.
Industry adoption of Ethernet/IP for control and information has driven the wide deployment of standard Ethernet and IP network technology for manufacturing networks. The deployment acts as a technology enabler for the convergence of industrial and enterprise networks. Information convergence between manufacturing and business systems within the enterprise allows for greater business agility and opportunities for innovation www.ab.com/networks/architectures.html.
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