PLCnext Technology Controller as EtherNet/IP Device

A PLCnext Technology controller can be operated as slave device in an EtherNet/IP (EIP) network, provided that this functionality is available with your current combination of controller type and firmware version. The controller can only be used as slave/target, but not as I/O controller.

The Ethernet/IP-specific parameters are available under the 'Ethernet/IP' category in the 'Settings' editor of the controller. The parameters in the category represent the attributes of the Ethernet/IP Identity Object (contains device-related identity values). All parameters are read-only.

For communicating with the Ethernet/IP network, the PLCnext Technology controller provides the system variables listed below that you can use in your code. The system variables are present in the Data List of the controller. The variables are prefixed with EIPD_ following the name of the variable (for example, EIPD_OUTPUTS).

Ethernet/IP system variable Description

EIPD_INPUTS Input process data (array of 128 Words).
Memory area for the input process data that the controller receives from the remote controller (Ethernet/IP master).

EIPD_OUTPUTS Output process data (array of 128 Words).
Memory area for the output process data that the controller sends to the Ethernet/IP master.

EIPD_VALID_DATA_CYCLE Indicates whether a connection exists and cyclic data is being exchanged between the controller and the Ethernet/IP master and whether the received data are valid.

EIPD_PEER_IDLE Indicates whether the Ethernet/IP master is in STOP state. STOP state means the application logic on the controller is not executed.
If EIPD_PEER_IDLE and EIPD_PEER_RUN are FALSE, the remote controller does not send its state.

EIPD_PEER_RUN Indicates whether the Ethernet/IP master is in RUN state. RUN state means the application logic on the controller is executed.
If EIPD_PEER_IDLE and EIPD_PEER_RUN are FALSE, the remote controller does not send its state.

EIPD_OUTPUTS_LENGTH Output process data length.

EIPD_INPUTS_LENGTH Input process data length.

Ethernet/IP system variable	Description
EIPD_INPUTS	Input process data (array of 128 Words). Memory area for the input process data that the controller receives from the remote controller (Ethernet/IP master).
EIPD_OUTPUTS	Output process data (array of 128 Words). Memory area for the output process data that the controller sends to the Ethernet/IP master.
EIPD_VALID_DATA_CYCLE	Indicates whether a connection exists and cyclic data is being exchanged between the controller and the Ethernet/IP master and whether the received data are valid.
EIPD_PEER_IDLE	Indicates whether the Ethernet/IP master is in STOP state. STOP state means the application logic on the controller is not executed. If EIPD_PEER_IDLE and EIPD_PEER_RUN are FALSE, the remote controller does not send its state.
EIPD_PEER_RUN	Indicates whether the Ethernet/IP master is in RUN state. RUN state means the application logic on the controller is executed. If EIPD_PEER_IDLE and EIPD_PEER_RUN are FALSE, the remote controller does not send its state.
EIPD_OUTPUTS_LENGTH	Output process data length.
EIPD_INPUTS_LENGTH	Input process data length.