An adaptation of the IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) standard, the 10/100 Base-T standard uses twisted-pair wiring with a maximum segment length of 100 m (328 ft) and terminates with an RJ-45 connector. A 10/100Base-T network is capable of transmitting data on normal Ethernet (10 Mbit/s) and Fast Ethernet (100 Mbits/s) networks.

bootstrap protocol. A UDP/IP protocol that allows an Internet node to obtain its IP parameters based on its MAC address.

A bridge device connects two or more physical networks that use the same protocol. Bridges read frames and decide whether to transmit or block them based on their destination address.

Broadcast communications send packets from a one station to every network destination. Broadcast messages pertain to every network device or only one device for which the address is not known. (See multicast and unicast).

ConneXview is a set of configuration files to be used with HiVision 6.x network management software from Hirschmann Electronics GmbH & Co. KG. ConneXview makes it possible to manage Schneider Electric Transparent Factory devices using HiVision 6.0 or newer. ConneXview is built on the widely used simple network management protocol (SNMP).

dynamic host configuration protocol. DHCP is a TCP/IP protocol that allows network devices (DHCP clients) to obtain their IP addresses from a DHCP server through a request to the server.

A LAN cabling and signaling specification used to connect devices within a defined area, e.g., a building. Ethernet uses a bus or a star topology to connect different nodes on a network.

A device that connects networks with dissimilar network architectures and which operates at the Application Layer of the OSI model. This term may refer to a router.

The installed HTTP server transmits Web pages between a server and a browser, providing Ethernet communications modules with easy access to devices anywhere in the world from standard browsers such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.

input/output derived data type. IODDT is a structured data type representing a module or a channel of a PLC module. Each application expert module possesses its own IODDTs.

Internet protocol. That part of the TCP/IP protocol family that tracks the Internet addresses of nodes, routes outgoing messages, and recognizes incoming messages.

Internet protocol address. This 32-bit address is assigned to hosts that use TCP/IP.

local area network. A short-distance data communications network.

media access control address. A 48-bit number, unique on a network, that is programmed into each network card or device when it is manufactured.

programmable logic controller. The PLC is the brain of an industrial manufacturing process. It automates a process as opposed to relay control systems. PLCs are computers suited to survive the harsh conditions of the industrial environment.

TCP/IP reserves specific server ports for specific applications through IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority). Modbus requests are sent to registered software port 502.

A router device connects two or more sections of a network and allows information to flow between them. A router examines every packet it receives and decides whether to block the packet from the rest of the network or transmit it. The router attempts to send the packet through the network on an efficient path.

Remote Terminal Unit.

simple network management protocol. The UDP/IP standard protocol used to monitor and manage devices on an IP network.

The SNMP application that runs on a network device.

The subnet mask is a bit mask that identifies or determines which bits in an IP address correspond to the network address and which correspond to the subnet portions of the address. The subnet mask comprises the network address plus the bits reserved for identifying the subnetwork.

A network switch connects two or more separate network segments and allows traffic to be passed between them. A switch determines whether a frame should be blocked or transmitted based on its destination address.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. TCP/IP is the communication protocol of the Internet.

transparent factory Ethernet. Schneider Electric’s open automation framework based on TCP/IP.

Schneider Electric’s Transparent Ready products (based on universal Ethernet TCP/IP and Web technologies) can be integrated into real-time, data sharing systems, with no need for interfaces.

user datagram protocol. UDP is an Internet communications protocol defined by IETF RFC 768. This protocol facilitates the direct transmission of datagrams on IP networks. UDP/IP messages do not expect a response, and are therefore ideal for applications in which dropped packets do not require retransmission (such as streaming video and networks that demand real-time performance).