Device Level Ring within a

Converged Plantwide
Ethernet Architecture
Rockwell Automation and
Cisco Four Key Initiatives:
• Common Technology View:
White Paper
A single scalable architecture, using open
EtherNet/IP™ standard networking
technologies, is paramount to enable the
Industrial Internet of Things for achieving the
flexibility, visibility and efficiency required in a
competitive manufacturing environment.
April 2019
• Converged Plantwide Ethernet
Architectures:
Collection of tested and validated
architectures developed by subject matter
authorities at Cisco, Panduit, and Rockwell
Automation. The content of CPwE is relevant to
both Operational Technology (OT) and
Information Technology (IT) disciplines and
consists of documented architectures, best
practices, guidance, and configuration settings
to help manufacturers with design and
deployment of a scalable, reliable, safe, secure,
and future-ready plant-wide industrial network
infrastructure.

• Joint Product Collaboration:

Stratix® 5950 Industrial Firewall, FactoryTalk®
Network Manager™, Stratix 5700, Stratix 5400,
Stratix 5410, and Stratix 5800 Industrial Ethernet
Switches, incorporating the best of Cisco and the
best of Rockwell Automation.

• People and Process Optimization:

Education and services to facilitate
Operational Technology (OT) and Information
Technology (IT) convergence, which helps to
assist with successful architecture deployment,
and helps to enable efficient operations that
allow critical resources to focus on increasing
innovation and productivity.

Document Reference Number:ENET-WP016D-EN-P

  

Device Level Ring within a Converged

Plantwide Ethernet Architecture

The prevailing trend in Industrial Automation and Control System (IACS) networking is the convergence of
technology, specifically IACS operational technology (OT) with information technology (IT). Converged
Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE) helps to enable IACS network and security technology and OT-IT persona
convergence through the use of standard Ethernet, Internet Protocol (IP), network services, security services,
and EtherNet/IP. A reliable converged plant-wide IACS architecture helps to enable the Industrial Internet of
Things (IIoT).
Business practices, corporate standards, policies, industry standards, and tolerance to risk are key factors in
determining the degree of resiliency and application availability required within an IACS plant-wide
architecture. A resilient network architecture within an IACS application plays a pivotal role in helping to
minimize the risk of IACS application shutdowns while helping to maximize overall plant uptime.
A holistic resilient plant-wide network architecture is made up of multiple technologies (logical and physical)
deployed at different levels within the plant. When selecting a resiliency technology, various plant application
factors should be evaluated, including the physical layout of IACS devices (geographic dispersion), resiliency
performance, uplink media type, tolerance to data latency and jitter, and future-ready requirements. For more
information on resiliency technology, refer to Deploying a Resilient Converged Plantwide Ethernet
Architecture (CPwE Resiliency) Design and Implementation Guide (DIG).
The ODVA, Inc. Device Level Ring (DLR) technology is optimized to provide ring topology resiliency for
time critical IACS applications. DLR supports fast ring convergence (single-fault tolerant) in the event of an
IACS device or link failure. DLR also supports flexible topologies such as IACS device-level (embedded
switch), switch-level (Layer 2, IES only), and hybrid topologies for OEM (equipment, skid, machine) and
plant-wide IACS deployments. DLR is standard Ethernet (OT-IT convergence) with standard network
services such as quality of service (QoS) and IEEE 1588 PTP (Precision Time Protocol).
Deploying Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture Design Guide (CPwE
DLR) outlines several use cases for designing and deploying DLR technology with IACS device-level,
switch-level, and mixed device/switch-level ring topologies across OEM and plant-wide IACS applications.
CPwE DLR is an extension to CPwE Resiliency and was architected, tested and validated by Cisco Systems
and Rockwell Automation with assistance by Panduit.
CPwE is the underlying architecture that provides standard network and security services for control and
information disciplines, devices, and equipment found in modern IACS applications. The CPwE architectures
(Figure 1) were architected, tested and validated to provide design and implementation guidance, test results,
and documented configuration settings. This can help to achieve the real-time communication, reliability,
scalability, security, and resiliency requirements of modern IACS applications.

Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture

ENET-WP016D-EN-P 1
 Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture
CPwE Device Level Ring Solution Use Cases

Figure 1 CPwE Architectures

Note This release of the CPwE architecture focuses on EtherNet/IP, which uses the ODVA, Inc. Common Industrial
Protocol (CIP™), and is ready for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). For more information on
EtherNet/IP, CIP Sync™, CIP Motion™, CIP Safety™, and DLR, see odva.org at the following URL:
• http://www.odva.org/Technology-Standards/EtherNet-IP/Overview

CPwE Device Level Ring Solution Use Cases

An IACS is deployed in a wide variety of discrete and process manufacturing industries such as automotive,
pharmaceuticals, consumer packaged goods, pulp and paper, oil and gas, mining, and energy. IACS
applications are made up of multiple control and information disciplines such as continuous process, batch,
discrete, and hybrid combinations. One of the challenges facing industrial operations is the industrial
hardening of standard Ethernet and IP-converged IACS networking technologies to take advantage of the
business benefits associated with IIoT. A resilient network architecture (Figure 2) can help to increase the
overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of the IACS by helping to reduce the impact of a failure and speed
recovery from an outage which lowers Mean-Time-to-Repair (MTTR).

Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture

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 Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture
Release Notes

CPwE DLR outlines the concepts, requirements, and technology solutions for reference designs developed
around a specific set of priority use cases that were architected and tested for solution functional verification
with limited scale by Cisco Systems and Rockwell Automation with assistance by Panduit to help support a
resilient and converged plant-wide EtherNet/IP IACS architecture. The CPwE DLR Design Guide includes:
• Device Level Ring technology overview
• Design and configuration considerations for plant-wide IACS device-level, switch-level, and mixed
device/switch-level DLR deployments
• Selection of Industrial Ethernet Switches (IES)
– Allen-Bradley® Stratix® 5700 and Stratix 5400 managed IES
• The following represent a portion of the DLR application use cases;
– Single ring of IES
– Single mixed device/switch-level ring
– Multiple mixed device/switch-level rings
– Multiple distribution switch choices
– DLR support for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

Release Notes
This section summarizes the extensions to CPwE DLR in the April 2019 release:
• Quality of Service (QoS) requirements
• Multiple ring specifications
• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) for ring nodes
• Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) enhancement features
• DLR application use cases including single mixed IACS device/IES ring and multiple mixed IACS
device/IES rings

Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture

ENET-WP016D-EN-P 3
 Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture
Summary

Figure 2 Representative Plant-wide Switch-Level and Mixed Device/Switch-Level DLR Deployments

Industrial
Demilitarized Zone
(IDMZ)

Core Industrial Zone

Switches Levels 0-3
(Plant-wide Network)
Level 3 Site
Operations
(Control Room)
Distribution
Switch Stack

Soft
Starter I/O Servo
Drive Controller I/O Servo
Safety Drive
I/O
HMI

Safety
Drive Instrument I/O
Safety
Controller HMI
Controller
HMI I/O Safety
I/O I/O I/O
I/O
Servo
Controller I/O Drive
I/O I/O
Controller
Safety Controller
Controller

Cell/Area Zone – Levels 0-2 Cell/Area Zone – Levels 0-2 Cell/Area Zone – Levels 0-2
Redundant Star Topology – Flex Links Resiliency Redundant Star Topology – Flex Links Resiliency Redundant Star – Topology – Flex Links Resiliency

377761
Switch-Level Ring Topology Mixed Device/Switch Level Single Ring Topology Mixed Device/Switch Level Multiple Ring Topology

Summary
CPwE is a collection of tested and validated architectures. The testing and validation follow the Cisco
Validated Design (CVD) and Cisco Reference Design (CRD) methodologies. The content of CPwE, which is
relevant to both operational technology (OT) and informational technology (IT) disciplines, consists of
documented architectures, best practices, guidance, and configuration settings to help industrial operations
and OEMs with the design and deployment of a scalable, reliable, secure, and future-ready plant-wide
industrial network infrastructure. CPwE can also help industrial operations and OEMs achieve cost reduction
benefits using proven designs that can facilitate quicker deployment while helping to minimize risk in
deploying new technology. CPwE is brought to market through a CPwE ecosystem consisting of Cisco,
Panduit, and Rockwell Automation emergent from the strategic alliance between Cisco Systems and
Rockwell Automation.
The Deploying Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture Design Guide
outlines several use cases for designing and deploying the ODVA, Inc. Device Level Ring (DLR) technology
throughout a plant-wide Industrial Automation and Control System (IACS) network infrastructure. The
CPwE DLR Design Guide highlights the key IACS application requirements, technology, and supporting
design considerations to help with the successful design and deployment of these specific use cases within
the CPwE framework. CPwE DLR was architected, tested and validated by Cisco Systems and Rockwell
Automation with assistance by Panduit.

Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture

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 Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture
Summary

More information on CPwE Design and Implementation Guides can be found at the following URLs:
• Rockwell Automation site:
– http://www.rockwellautomation.com/global/products-technologies/network-technology/architectures
.page?
• Cisco site:
– http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/enterprise/design-zone-manufacturing/landing_ettf.html
.
Panduit Corp. is a world-class provider of engineered, flexible, end-to-end electrical and network connectivity infrastructure solutions that provides businesses with the ability to keep pace
with a connected world. Our robust partner ecosystem, global staff, and unmatched service and support make Panduit a valuable and trusted partner.

www.panduit.com
US and Canada: Asia Pacific: Europe/Middle East/Africa: Latin America:
Panduit Corp. One Temasek Avenue #09-01 Panduit Corp. Panduit Corp.
World Headquarters Millenia Tower West World Periférico Pte Manuel Gómez
18900 Panduit Drive 039192 Singapore Westgate London W5 1XP Q Morin #7225 - A
Tinley Park, IL 60487 Tel. 65 6305 7555 United Kingdom Guadalajara Jalisco 45010
[email protected] Tel. +44 (0) 20 8601 7219 MEXICO
Tel. 708.532.1800 Tel. (33) 3777 6000
SmartZone is a trademark of Panduit.

Cisco is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at www.cisco.com. For ongoing news,
please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Europe is supplied by Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.

www.cisco.com
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Cisco Systems, Inc. Cisco Systems (USA) Pte. Ltd. Cisco Systems International BV
San Jose, CA Singapore Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Cisco has more than 200 offices worldwide. Addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers are listed on the Cisco Website at www.cisco.com/go/offices.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL:
www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between
Cisco and any other company. (1721R)

Rockwell Automation is a leading provider of power, control and information solutions that enable customers to be more productive and the world more sustainable. In support of smart
manufacturing concepts, Rockwell Automation helps customers maximize value and prepare for their future by building a Connected Enterprise.

www.rockwellautomation.com
Americas: Asia Pacific: Europe/Middle East/Africa:
Rockwell Automation Rockwell Automation Rockwell Automation
1201 South Second Street Level 14, Core F, Cyberport 3 NV, Pegasus Park, De Kleetlaan 12a
Milwaukee, WI 53204-2496 USA 100 Cyberport Road, Hong Kong 1831 Diegem, Belgium
Tel: (1) 414.382.2000 Tel: (852) 2887 4788 Tel: (32) 2 663 0600
Fax: (1) 414.382.4444 Fax: (852) 2508 1846 Fax: (32) 2 663 0640
Allen-Bradley, FactoryTalk Network Manager, Rockwell Automation, and Stratix are trademarks of Rockwell Automation, Inc..
Trademarks not belonging to Rockwell Automation are property of their respective companies.

CIP, CIP Motion, CIP Sync, CIP Safety and EtherNet/IP are trademarks of the ODVA, Inc.

© 2019 Cisco Systems, Inc., Panduit Corp. and Rockwell Automation, Inc. and all rights reserved. Publication ENET-WP016D-EN-P April 2019

Device Level Ring within a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture

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