ControlNet

ControlNet is a CIP network used for deterministic transport of time-critical I/O and peer-to-peer interlocks. It supports trunkline-dropline, star and tree topologies and can use redundant communication or intrinsically safe hardware options. ControlNet uses the Common Industrial Protocol for its upper layers and follows the OSI seven-layer model.

Source checked1/1 values · 2026-10-25

Specification

1 source

Transports	other
Architecture	producer consumer
Encoding	binary

Study notes

ControlNet uses CIP for its upper protocol layers.
ControlNet follows the OSI seven-layer model.
Topology options include trunkline-dropline, star and tree.
Redundant network communication is available.
The document references 'Technology Overview Series: ControlNet' for a comprehensive overview.
CIP is described as media-independent and covers control, safety, energy, synchronization & motion, information and network management.

Safety

Hardware options are offered for applications requiring intrinsically safe hardware.