EtherNet/IP

EtherNet/IP is an industrial Ethernet protocol that applies the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) over standard Ethernet and TCP/IP. It enables real-time control and information exchange between PLCs, drives, and devices, and is widely deployed in Rockwell Automation and Allen-Bradley environments.

EtherNet/IP uses CIP to define how devices describe their data and behaviour, transporting cyclic I/O over UDP and configuration or messaging over TCP. Because it runs on unmodified Ethernet, it integrates easily with standard network hardware while supporting implicit real-time messaging. EtherNet/IP matters because it lets automation traffic share infrastructure with enterprise IT, simplifying connectivity and supporting the convergence of operational technology and information technology across the plant.