DL4500 - User Manual:

The DL4500 hardware platform was designed to be a gateway which interfaces your Ethernet TCP/IP or Modbus TCP Networks to AB’s Data Highway Plus (DH+), Remote I/O, or DH-485 networks. Thus extending the life of existing Allen-Bradley PLC’s and SLC’s without Ethernet Interfaces. It comes in a DC powered Din-Rail Mountable compact cabinet for ease of portability and installation. The DL4500 combines the Lantronix Ethernet Microprocessor with our proven A-B interface.

The DL4500 comes with a RJ-45 Connector for the 10 Base-T Ethernet link, and a 3 pin Phoenix plug for connection to A-B networks. Power is supplied via a 2 pin Phoenix type plug which allows for 9-27 Volts DC to be connected. Included is a RS232 DB9 Configuration Port for access to the BIOS and Flash Burn Utilities. For more information please click on the following link to download the DL4500 User Manual:

DL4500 User Manual (ZIP - 2M)
DL4500-Hardware Quick Start 2005 (PDF- 918KB)
DL4500 Modbus TCP Hardware Setup (PDF - .99MB)
DL4500 Modbus TCP Quick Start (PDF - 832KB)
DL4500 RSLINX - Quickstart (PDF - 146KB)

DL4500-EDH-485
$1795 USD List

Ethernet TCP/IP to DH-485 (Ethernet DH-485)
DataLink's gateway interfaces your Ethernet TCP/IP Network to AB’s DH485, extending the life of Allen-Bradley PLC’s without Ethernet Interfaces. The DataLink solution allows applications such as RSLogix, RSLinx, and RSView to access devices on a DH-485 network from an Ethernet TCP/IP LAN, enabling users to run MMI applications or program and monitor PLCs on a DH-485 network from an Ethernet LAN station.

DL4500-EDH+
$1495 USD List

Ethernet TCP/IP to DH+ (Ethernet DH+)
DataLink's gateway interfaces your Ethernet TCP/IP Network to AB’s Data Highway Plus DH+, extending the life of Allen-Bradley PLC’s without Ethernet Interfaces. The DataLink solution allows applications such as RSLogix, RSLinx, and RSView to access devices on a DH+ network from an Ethernet TCP/IP LAN, enabling users to run MMI applications or program and monitor PLCs on a DH+ network from an Ethernet LAN station.

DL4500-MEDH+
$1995 USD List

Modbus TCP/IP Network to AB’s Data Highway Plus (DH+) (Modbus TCP DH+)
Datalink's gateway interfaces your Modbus TCP/IP Network to AB’s Data Highway Plus DH+, extending the life of Allen-Bradley PLC’s without Ethernet Interfaces.

The DataLink solution allows applications such as RSLogix, RSLinx, and RSView to access devices on a DH+ network from an Ethernet/IP LAN, enabling users to run MMI applications or program and monitor PLCs on a DH+ network from an Ethernet LAN station. Other MMI’s tested include Wonderware, Kepware, and Intellution.

The DL4500-MEDH+ (Modbus TCP) combines the Lantronix Ethernet Microprocessor with DH+ (Data Highway Plus) token-ring technology.

DL4500-MEDH-485$1795 USD List

Modbus TCP/IP Network to AB’s Data Highway (DH-485) (Modbus TCP DH-485)
Datalink's gateway interfaces your Modbus TCP/IP Network to AB’s DH-485 (Data Highway), extending the life of Allen-Bradley PLC’s without Ethernet Interfaces. The DataLink solution allows applications such as RSLogix, RSLinx, and RSView to access devices on a DH-485 network from an Ethernet/IP LAN, enabling users to run MMI applications or program and monitor PLCs on a DH- 485 network from an Ethernet LAN station. Other MMI’s tested include Wonderware, Kepware, and Intellution. The DL4500-MEDH-485 combines the Lantronix Ethernet Microprocessor with Datalink’s DH-485 network technology.

Ethernet/IP Background

EtherNet/IP (Ethernet Industrial Protocol) is an open communications protocol developed by Rockwell Automation, managed by ODVA and designed for use in process control and other industrial automation applications. EtherNet/IP can be easily confused as a combination of Ethernet (the physical layer, link, or medium used in most office and many industrial networking environments) and the Internet Protocol, the world’s most ubiquitous (internet) networking protocol and part of the TCP/IP model, comprising a suite of protocols operating at the link, internet (or networking), transport, and application layers.

By comparison, EtherNet/IP is an industrial application layer protocol operating over the Ethernet medium and used for communication between industrial control systems and their components, such as a programmable automation controller, programmable logic controller or an I/O system. Furthermore, the “IP” in EtherNet/IP, is not an abbreviation for “Internet Protocol” but instead stands for “Industrial Protocol”, referring to Rockwell’s adoption of Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) standards as EtherNet/IP was developed.

Confusing matters further is the fact that when using the OSI Reference Model, EtherNet/IP, at the application layer, operates over both Ethernet (at the physical layer) and IP (at the network layer) and thus complements each of these technologies.

History
EtherNet/IP was developed in the late 1990’s by Rockwell Automation as part of Rockwell’s industrial Ethernet networking solutions. With little or no input taken from other ODVA members, Rockwell gave EtherNet/IP its moniker and handed it over to ODVA, which now manages the protocol and assures multivendor system interoperability by requiring adherence to established standards whenever new products that utilize the protocol are developed.

Today, EtherNet/IP is most commonly used in industrial automation settings (e.g., water processing plants, manufacturing facilities, utilities) in the US and Asia for communication to and from Rockwell Automation’s Allen-Bradley-brand control systems. However, other industrial automation and control system vendors, including Opto 22 and WAGO Corporation, have developed programmable automation controllers and I/O capable of communicating via EtherNet/IP.

Schneider-Electric developed an EtherNet/IP cards for both PLC Quantum and Premium on the Unity Platform.

EtherNet/IP classifies Ethernet nodes as predefined device types with specific behaviors. Among other things, this enables:
- Transfer of basic I/O data via UDP-based implicit messaging
- Uploading and downloading of parameters, setpoints, programs and recipes via TCP (i.e., explicit messaging.)
- Polled, cyclic and change-of-state monitoring via UDP, such as RPI and COS in Allen Bradley's ControlLogix control systems.
- One-to-one (unicast), one-to-many (multicast), and one-to-all (broadcast) communication via TCP.