Rockwell Automation announces availability of the Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE) Design and Implementation Guide (DIG) 2.0 to help manufacturers converge their industrial and enterprise-level networks. The guide, a collaborative development effort from Cisco and Rockwell Automation, provides detailed design guidance, recommendations and best practices for deploying standard EtherNet/IP network technology. By following the guidance, manufacturers can achieve network convergence between manufacturing and IT systems within their enterprise, enabling greater business agility and opportunities for innovation with a high degree of security.

“To be competitive in a global manufacturing environment, engineers need access to real-time information on the demand side,” said Frank Kulaszewicz, vice president and general manager, Control and Visualisation Business, Rockwell Automation. “A single network architecture utilising standard Ethernet is the technology enabler for delivering this information, helping manufacturers achieve plantwide optimisation.” The guide is based on the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system and Cisco’s Ethernet-to-the-Factory, addressing topics relevant to both engineering and information technology (IT) professionals, and validating architectures tested in both the Cisco and Rockwell Automation labs.

“The new version of the Design and Implementation Guide incorporates more applications, products and content related to plant-floor applications, increasing the relevance for manufacturing and controls engineers,” said Chet Namboodri, global director for Manufacturing Industry Solutions at Cisco. “The updates in DIG 2.0 include guidance on key capabilities to help manufacturing companies achieve highly secure network convergence, and increased visibility and collaboration across their operations.”

The new guide features:
• Detailed cell/area zone recommendations for resiliency, segmentation, prioritisation, multicast management and security for real-time EtherNet/IP networks
• Resiliency testing with screw-to-screw performance for both ring and redundant star topologies to support implicit and explicit I/O messaging
• Design and implementation of highly secure remote access to industrial automation and control system (IACS) applications residing on EtherNet/IP networks
• Implementation details on new infrastructure components, including the Rockwell Automation Stratix 8000 industrial Ethernet switch
• Improved manageability options through enhanced ease-of-use features and integration of Stratix 8000 industrial Ethernet switches into IACS applications
• Positioning of FactoryTalk Integrated Production and Performance Suite and service platform within the manufacturing zone

Cisco and Rockwell Automation are committed to helping manufacturers bridge the technical and cultural gaps between plant-floor and higher-level information systems. By collaborating on products, services and educational resources, the industry leaders help enable manufacturers to converge their network infrastructure, delivering highly secure information throughout the enterprise and ultimately improving business performance.
To download a free copy of the Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE) Design and Implementation Guide (DIG) 2.0, visit www.ab.com/networks/architectures.html