MGate™ EIP3000 series products provide 1 or 2-port DF1 to EtherNet/IP
protocol conversion for users who need to connect Allen Bradley PLCs to
an EtherNet/IP network, and provide a cost-effective way to combine PLC
and SCADA software into the same system.
Protocol Conversion between DF1 and EtherNet/IP
MGate™ EIP3000 series products can be used to connect DF1 devices and
EtherNet/IP devices to provide Allen Bradley PLCs with remote
maintenance capability. By supporting PCCC objects on CIP, the MGate™
EIP3000 can communicate seamlessly with Rockwell Ethernet devices. The
EIP3000 protocol gateways come with either 1 or 2 serial ports to allow
users to select a suitable gateway depending on the size of the network.
Support for Multiple EtherNet/IP Connections
The MGate™ EIP3000 series products support up to 8 EtherNet/IP
clients and 8 EtherNet/IP servers simultaneously. Each client can send
up to 16 requests at one time.
Windows Utility for Easy Setup and Traffic Monitoring
Moxa provides a user-friendly Windows utility with multiple language
support for use with all of our MGate™ products. The utility also
supports a traffic monitoring function for EtherNet/IP and DF1
protocols.
Serial Redirector Function Provided
The MGate™ EIP3000 series products have a serial redirector function
that allows additional options for DF1 network integration. The serial
redirector function allows the commands of a serial master (command
initiator) to be redirected to the serial slave (command executor) on
another port. In addition, a serial master can operate simultaneously
with EtherNet/IP Clients or other serial masters without altering the
DF1 architecture or software. Using the serial redirector function,
EIP3000 gateways can establish redundant backup control or EtherNet
monitoring of DF1 networks that were originally designed for a single
serial master.
ProCOM—Virtual Serial Port for Multiple DF1 and EtherNet/IP Device Communication
Each MGate™ EIP3000 gateway supports a virtual serial port. A remote
PC uses a Moxa-provided Real COM or TTY driver to connect to the
EIP3000's virtual serial port. RSLinx and SCADA systems can use the
virtual COM port to communicate with an EIP3000 gateway. The virtual
serial port function gives RSLinux or some SCADA systes the capability
to connect to multiple DF1 and EtherNet/IP devices through a protocol
gateway.
Pull high/low Resistors and Terminator Selection
When using termination resistors to prevent serial signal reflection,
it is important to set the pull high/low resistors correctly so that
the electrical signal is not corrupted. Since no set of resistor values
is universally compatible with all environments, the EIP3000 has DIP
switches on the bottom panel for setting the termination and pull
high/low resistor values.
Built-in Isolation
Complex device networks that incorporate high amperage devices could
be subject to electrical signal distortion from electrical discharges,
magnetic noise, or common mode transients. MGate™ series products solve
this problem by using built-in optical isolation.