User's Manual

COBALT UHF-SERIES CHAPTER 6: ETHERNET/IP INTERFACE
PAGE 89 OF 140
CHAPTER 6:
ETHERNET/IP INTERFACE
The Cobalt UHF-CNTL-IND-02 model is designed to support many common
Industrial Ethernet protocols and can be implemented in a wide variety of existing
host / PLC applications. One such popular Ethernet protocol is Ethernet/IP (EIP).
This chapter focuses on the process of setting up the Cobalt Industrial RFID
Controller to communicate (via Ethernet/IP) with a ControlLogix Programmable Logic
Controller (PLC).
Also in this chapter are descriptions of EMS’ HTML Server and OnDemand Utilities,
as well as systematic instructions to help configure the Cobalt Industrial RFID
Controller for Ethernet/IP environments.
NOTE: This manual assumes that users are already familiar with Ethernet/IP, industrial
Ethernet communications protocols and programmable logic controller technologies.
For specific information regarding the protocol used by your particular RFID application,
please refer to the appropriate documentation from your host / PLC program provider.
IMPORTANT:
 Users of the Cobalt Dashboard utility should exit the application before attempting
communications between the Industrial Cobalt and an EtherNet/IP host
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).
 When installing the UHF-CNTL-IND-02 for communication over EtherNet/IP, the
ODVA Guidelines for EtherNet/IP Media System installation should be followed (refer
to www.odva.org, ODVA PUB00148R0 (Pub 148), EtherNet/IP Media Planning and
Installation Manual, 2006 ODVA).
 Follow ODVA recommendations for switching and wiring Ethernet/IP.
 If the Ethernet/IP network enables I/O Messaging for remote I/O, etc., or if other UDP
traffic is present, then the Gateway must be protected by a switch that incorporates
IGMP Snooping or a VLAN.
6.1 ETHERNET/IP CONFIGURATION OVERVIEW
Based upon on the standard TCP/IP protocol suite, EtherNet/IP is a high-level
application layer protocol for industrial automation applications that uses traditional
Ethernet hardware and software to define an application layer protocol that structures
the task of configuring, accessing and controlling industrial automation devices.
Ethernet/IP classifies Ethernet nodes as predefined device types with specific
behaviors. The set of device types and the EIP application layer protocol is based on
the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) layer used in ControlNet. Building on these two
widely used protocol suites, Ethernet/IP provides a seamlessly integrated system
from the RFID Subnet network to the Host and enterprise networks.
The Cobalt is designed to communicate as an EtherNet/IP client device, which will
receive and execute RFID commands issued by the host / PLC (acting as
EtherNet/IP Server).