Nuremberg, Germany – November 28, 2006 – ODVA and the FDT Group announce the publication of the Field Device Tool for CIP Networks: Annex to FDT Specification. This Annex provides the schemas required to implement the Device Type Managers (DTM) configuration option for the currently available adaptations of networks built on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP™), which include DeviceNet™, EtherNet/IP™ and ControlNet™. In addition to previous configuration options, the latest publication of the CIP Networks Library of specifications now also allows for DTM configuration for all CIP Networks.
With the increasing ability to multitask network diagnostics, prognostics and configuration along with conventional control tasks, DTMs will provide user with new opportunities for further productivity improvements in their plant networks. The addition of the DTM configuration option to CIP is part of the next generation of standards development activities to include plug-and-play configuration, providing users with homogenous environment regardless of the networks in use.
FDT Group's Managing Director Flavio Tolfo comments "The publication of the DTM configuration option for CIP is yet another step in the adoption of the FDT technology in the world of Discrete Automation. With this addition, equipment suppliers can now make full use of the DTM features for the devices connected to the familiar CIP Networks. FDT software architecture has one target, to give users freedom of choice. Freedom for users to choose devices and networks that are best suited to their machine, application or process – without being restricted by network technology. Users can now use the same software engineering tools (actually FDT container programs) to configure all of the common fieldbus networks."
Richard Harwell, ODVA's CTO and chair of the CIP Software Tools JSIG, states "The addition of FDT support of CIP Networks will bring important benefits to the CIP user and vendor community. It will enable the development of more powerful and flexible configuration and monitoring tools. It also extends the interoperability of CIP Networks with other network technologies by enabling the development of network independent common software tools."
The next editions of the DeviceNet and EtherNet/IP Specifications that include the DTM configuration option are now available from ODVA. The next step in this joint effort includes the inclusion of schemas in the Annex for the CompoNet™ adaptation of CIP.
About the FDT Group AISBL
The FDT Group AISBL is a not-for-profit corporation consisting of over 50 leading process and factory automation companies worldwide whose major purpose is to provide an open and non proprietary interface for the integration of field devices with engineering, automation and asset management systems. In this environment, end users, manufacturers, universities and research organizations are working together to develop the technology, provide development tools, support and training, coordinate field trials and demonstrations, and enable product interoperability. For further information please visit www.fdtgroup.org
About ODVA
ODVA, founded in 1995, is an international association comprised of members from the world's leading automation companies. Collectively, ODVA and its members support network technologies based on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP™). These currently include the network adaptations of CIP—EtherNet/IP™, DeviceNet™ and CompoNet™—and major application extensions to CIP—CIP Safety™, CIP Motion™ and CIP Sync™. ODVA manages the development of these open technologies, and assists manufacturers and users of CIP Networks through tools, training and marketing activities. In addition, ODVA offers conformance testing to help ensure that products built to its specifications operate in multi-vendor systems. ODVA also is active in other standards development organizations and industry consortia to drive the growth of open communication standards. For more information, visit its web site at www.odva.org.
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For more information, contact:
Adrienne Meyer
Manager, Marketing Communications
ODVA
4220 Varsity Drive, Suite A
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-5006 USA
tel ++1 734 975 8840
email ameyer at odva.org
Flavio Tolfo
Managing Director
FDT Group AISBL
NCI Business Center
Twin Squares
Culliganlaan 1B
Diegem, Belgium B-1831
tel ++32 2 403 13 3
email md at fdtgroup.org
DeviceNet, DeviceNet Safety, CIP, CIP Motion, CIP Safety, CIP Sync, CompoNet and EtherNet/IP Safety are trademarks of Open DeviceNet Vendor Association, Inc. (ODVA).
EtherNet/IP is used under license by ODVA.
Other trademarks are property of their respective owners.