Specifications

4 Communication Choices
1785-SO036C-EN-P - April 2002
Communication Choices Let You
Connect to the Future
Rockwell Automation offers many control and communication media
products that help you integrate plant operations. These products,
combined with other vendors’ products, provide plant-wide solutions
that meet your control system and business needs.
You determine your communication architecture based on your
networking needs. There are three main types of networks:
Information networks An information network:
• provides a link between the plant floor and manufacturing
execution systems
• connects to multiple vendor’s host computers
• has the capacity to transfer large data files
• supports standard network management and troubleshooting tools
Control networks A control network:
• offers real-time performance
• is deterministic and repeatable
• supports peer-to-peer messaging
• connects to programmable controllers, personal computers,
man-machine interface devices, drives, motion devices, etc.
• support programming and device configuration
Device networks A device network:
• reduces wiring costs because devices do not need to be directly
wired to a programmable controller
• supports device-level diagnostics
• connects to multiple vendors’ devices
Communication Choices
What to consider:
• type of information to send/receive
• system performance
• distance/size of application
• available networks
• future expansion