EtherNet/IP and CIP: A Practical Guide to Implicit vs Explicit Messaging for Plant Engineers [2026]
· 12 min read
EtherNet/IP is everywhere in North American manufacturing — from plastics auxiliary equipment to automotive assembly lines. But the protocol's layered architecture confuses even experienced controls engineers. What's the actual difference between implicit and explicit messaging? When should you use connected vs unconnected messaging? And how does CIP fit into all of it?
This guide breaks down EtherNet/IP from the wire up, with practical configuration considerations drawn from years of connecting real industrial equipment to cloud analytics platforms.