Overview

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TCS DeviceNet Library

DeviceNet is one of the world's leading device-level networks for industrial automation. In fact, more than 40% of end users surveyed by independent industry analysts report choosing DeviceNet over other networks.

DeviceNet offers robust, efficient data handling because it is based on Producer/Consumer technology. This modern communications model offers key capabilities that allow the user to determine effectively what information is needed and when.

Users also benefit from ODVA's strong conformance testing policies, which ensure that products are interoperable. As a result, users can mix-and-match products from a variety of suppliers and integrate them seamlessly.

DeviceNet is a digital, multi-drop network that connects and serves as a communication network between industrial controllers and I/O devices. Each device and/or controller is a node on the network. As a producer-consumer network, DeviceNet supports multiple communication hierarchies and message prioritization. DeviceNet systems can be configured to operate in a master-slave or a distributed control architecture using peer-to-peer communication. DeviceNet systems have several features to deliver increased productivity through improved process control and information flow:

Operates in a master-slave or a distributed control architecture using peer-to-peer communication.
Supports both I/O and explicit messaging for a single point of connection for configuration and control.
DC power on the network is available to devices with limited power requirements.
Reduces connection points and physical size of network.
Follows the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, an ISO standard for network communications, so all necessary functions are defined, from the physical implementation to protocol and methodology to communication of control and information data within and across networks.
Provides seamless bridging and routing from DeviceNet to other CIP Networks, which currently include EtherNet/IP™ and ControlNet™.
Uses CAN (Controller Area Network) for its data link layer and CIP™ (Common Industrial Protocol) for the upper-layers of the network.

More than 700 vendors worldwide support DeviceNet, allowing users to employ best-in-class products from global vendors who are best suited to support them based on application expertise and geographic coverage.

DeviceNet, like other CIP Networks, follows the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, which defines a framework for implementing network protocols in seven layers: physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation and application. Networks that follow this model define a complete suite of network functionality from the physical implementation through the application or user interface layer. As with all CIP Networks, DeviceNet implements CIP at the Session (i.e., Data Management Services) layer and above and adapts CIP to the specific DeviceNet technology at the Network and Transport layer and below.