With the available network stacks, netX can be a Master or Slave for all the major industrial Ethernet and field bus technologies: EtherNet/IP (with CIP SYNC), Profinet (RT and IRT) EtherCat, Ethernet Powerlink, SERCOS III, Profibus, InterBus, DeviceNet, AS-I, CAN, Ethernet and Serial. The netX series of chips uses a patented arrangement of processors that can be programmed to interface to virtually any network physical layer and protocol, from simple serial protocols to high-speed networks such as 100Mbit Ethernet. netX 500 offers four communication channels, two of which may be used as Ethernet or fieldbus and the remaining only for fieldbuses. The two Ethernet channels are also interconnected with a switch or hub functionality that can utilize the IEEE 1588 Timer Function that is the basis for all the real-time Ethernet technologies.
