Open specifications, such as those managed by ODVA, both provide vendors with the ability to build products that will interoperate with products from other vendors and allow users to choose products that will interoperate in multi-vendor systems. Specifications ensure a common network interface for a given device type. In order to achieve interoperability of devices with multiple vendors, product compliance with these specifications is essential.
ODVA oversees product compliance with the CIP Network Specifications. ODVA accomplishes this oversight in two ways. First, each vendor is required to sign a Terms of Usage Agreement for the ODVA technology or technologies for which they intend to make, have made, sell or have sold products. In signing this agreement, the vendor agrees to comply with the network technology specification and meet a set of user responsibilities. Second, ODVA's conformance testing provides general industry with the vendor-independent assurance that products built to the ODVA specifications comply with the ODVA specifications.
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