User manual

Publication 1768-UM001C-EN-P - November 2007
46 Manage Controller Communication
Producing and Consuming
(interlock) Data
The controller supports the ability to produce (broadcast) and consume
(receive) system-shared tags over EtherNet/IP and ControlNet networks.
Produced and consumed tags each require connections.
For two controllers to share produced or consumed tags, both controllers
must be attached to the same Ethernet/IP or ControlNet network. You
cannot bridge produced and consumed tags over two networks.
The number of available connections limits the number of tags that can be
produced or consumed. If the controller uses all of its connections for I/O
and communication devices, no connections are left for produced and
consumed tags.
Produced and Consumed Tags
Tag Type Description
Produced A produced tag allows other controllers to consume the tag, which means
that a controller can receive the tag data from another controller. The
producing controller uses one connection for the produced tag and one
connection for each consumer. The controller’s communication device uses
one connection for each consumer.
As you increase the number of controllers that can consume a produced
tag, you also reduce the number of connections the controller and
communication device have available for other operations, such as
communication and I/O.
Consumed Each consumed tag requires one connection for the controller that is
consuming the tag. The controller’s communication device uses one
connection for each consumer.