3 Ethernet
3.1 System description
XI/ON: XNE-GWBR-2ETH-MB
10/2011 MN05002008Z-EN
www.eaton.com
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3
Ethernet
3.1
System description
Originally developed by DEC, Intel and Xerox (as DIX standard) for data transmission between
office equipment, Ethernet stands for the IEEE 802.3 CSMA/CD specification published in
1985.
The rapid increase of application and the worldwide use of this technology enables problem-
free and above all cost-effective connection to existing networks.
3.1.1
Ethernet MAC-ID
The Ethernet MAC-ID is a 6-byte-value which serves to uniquely identify an Ethernet device.
The MAC-ID is determined for each device by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers, New York).
The first 3 bytes of the MAC-ID contain a manufacturer identifier. The last 3 bytes can be
chosen freely by the manufacturer for each device and contain a unique serial number.
A label on the Eaton modules shows the respective MAC-ID.
In addition to this, the MAC-ID can be read out using the software tool "I/O-ASSISTANT".
3.1.2
IP address
Each Ethernet-host receives its own IP address. In addition to that the node knows its
netmask and the IP address of the default gateway.
The IP address is a 4-byte-value which contains the address of the network to which the node
is connected as well as the host address in the network.
The IP address of the gateway XNE-GWBR-2ETH-MB is predefined as follows:
The netmask shows which part of the IP address defines the network as well as the network
class and which part of the IP address defines the single node in the network.
In the example mentioned above, the first 3 bytes of the IP address define the network. They
contain the subnet-ID 192.168.1.
The last byte of the IP address defines the node’s address within the network.
IP address:
192.168.1.×××
netmask: 255.255.255.0
gateway:
192.168.1.1
Note
In order to build up the communication between a PC and an Ethernet-module, both
have to be nodes of the same network.
If necessary, the nodes’ network addresses have to be adapted one to another.
Please read Chapter 6.2 Changing the IP address of a PC/ network interface card,
Page 110.