1756-EN2T EtherNet IP Communication PLC Module 100M

Products Introdution

1756-EN2T is a high-performance Ethernet communication module of the ControlLogix series. It natively supports the EtherNet/IP protocol and is compatible with CIP (Common Industrial Protocol). It can realize seamless networking between PLC and industrial equipment such as host computers, HMIs, inverters, and remote I/O. It also supports basic network protocols such as TCP/IP and UDP/IP, and is equipped with two 10/100Mbps adaptive RJ45s. Ports support port redundancy and flexible configuration of network topology (such as linear, star), support network address translation (NAT), port mapping, configure network parameters and monitor port status through RSLogix 5000 or Studio 5000 software; support device-level ring (DLR) function to achieve rapid self-healing of network faults and improve system redundancy.

FAQ:

1.Is the 1756-EN2T compatible with all CPU modules in the ControlLogix family? Are there any special configuration requirements when paired with 1756-L61, 1756-L72 and other CPUs?

1756-EN2T is not compatible with all CPU modules in the ControlLogix series. Its core compatibility depends on the match between the CPU’s firmware version and the module’s firmware version, rather than a simple model.

Compatibility boundaries:

1. Fully compatible with ControlLogix 5560 and above series CPUs (such as 1756-L61, 1756-L72). These CPUs generally have higher firmware versions and have complete driver support for EtherNet/IP modules.
2. For early ControlLogix 5550 and earlier model CPUs, the CPU firmware needs to be upgraded to version v16 or above to adapt, otherwise the module will not be recognized or communication abnormalities will occur.

Configuration requirements for matching with 1756-L61 and 1756-L72:

1. No special hardware configuration: the module is directly inserted into any functional slot of the chassis, without the need for additional adapters.
2. Firmware matching requirements: It is recommended that the 1756-EN2T firmware version be no lower than the CPU firmware version, or keep the difference between the two versions within 2 versions to avoid functional limitations due to version differences (such as the inability to enable the DLR ring network function).
3. Software configuration requirements: When adding the 1756-EN2T module to Studio 5000, you need to select the firmware version number that is consistent with the actual module and fill in the slot number correctly. No additional compatibility parameters are required.

2. How many EtherNet/IP slave devices can be connected to the 1756-EN2T as a communication master? Does the number of slave stations affect the communication rate?

1. Maximum number of connected slaves: Supports up to 256 CIP connections, which can be used for implicit I/O connections or explicit message connections to EtherNet/IP slaves, and 128 TCP connections. However, the actual number of slave stations that can be connected is not fixed at 256. If a single slave station needs to occupy multiple CIP connections (for example, some complex slave stations involve both I/O data transmission and parameter interaction), the actual number of slave stations will be reduced; in the scenario of conventional simple slave stations (a single slave station occupies 1 CIP connection), up to 256 slave stations can be connected.
2. The impact of the number of slave stations on the communication rate: It will significantly affect the communication rate. On the one hand, the Ethernet port of this module only supports 10/100 Mbps rate. As the number of slave stations increases, the total amount of I/O data, device status feedback, and control instructions that need to be transmitted will increase simultaneously, which will easily cause the network bandwidth occupancy to rise, and then data transmission delays will occur. On the other hand, when the module handles concurrent data forwarding, protocol parsing and other tasks connected to each slave station, the load will increase as the number of slave stations increases. When the number of slave stations approaches the upper limit, or there are a large number of slave stations with high-frequency data interaction, data packets may be queued or even lost, further reducing the real-time performance and stability of communication.