Rockwell Automation Ethernet Design Considerations Reference Manual - Manual (Page 20)

20 Rockwell Automation Publication ENET-RM002C-EN-P - May 2013
Chapter 1 EtherNet/IP Overview
Bridge across Networks Some EtherNet/IP communication modules support the ability to bridge or
route communication through devices, depending on the capabilities of the
platform and communication devices.
You have a bridge when you have a connection between communication devices
on two networks. For example, the bridge device has both EtherNet/IP and
DeviceNet connections, enabling Device 1 on the EtherNet/IP network to
communicate with Device 2 on a DeviceNet network through the bridge.
The bridge device can be an EtherNet/IP-to-DeviceNet bridging device or a
Logix5000 system with an EtherNet/IP communication module and a
DeviceNet communication module.
In the following example graphic, a workstation configures a drive on a
DeviceNet network and bridges EtherNet/IP networks to reach the drive.
CIP messages originating on this network Can bridge to this network
EtherNet/IP ControlNet DeviceNet RS-232 Serial
EtherNet/IP Yes Yes Yes Yes
ControlNet Yes Yes Yes Yes
RS-232 Yes Yes Yes Yes
IMPORTANT You can bridge between devices on different networks for only messaging.
You cannot bridge from one network to another for I/O control or
produced and consumed tags. This restriction applies regardless of whether
the two networks are either of the following:
• Same type, such as an EtherNet/IP network to an EtherNet/IP network
• Different types, such as an EtherNet/IP network to a ControlNet network
Bridge
EtherNet/IP
PanelView Plus
Terminal
DeviceNet
Drive
Switch