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OPAL-RT supports EtherCAT slave via a CIFX 50E-RE PC card designed by Hilscher that can be used to send data to an EtherCAT master or receive data from it. This card family is based the unified standard supporting all Real-Time Ethernet and Fieldbus systems for PC-based automation.

EtherCAT (Ethernet for Control Automation Technology) is an Ethernet-based fieldbus system, invented by Beckhoff Automation. The protocol is standardized in IEC 61158 and is suitable for both hard and soft real-time computing requirements in automation technology.

Communications Protocols Product Reference > EtherCAT Slave > communication-protocols-diagrams_EtherCAT Slave.png

Software Platform Compatibility

Product Selection Guide

To emulate EtherCAT slave devices on the real-time simulator, both a diver license (OP3111) and a CIFX PCIe add-on module (OP3113) are required.

Type	Description	Product Number	Simulator Compatibility
Type	Description	Product Number	OP4510v2 OP4512 OP4610XG	OP5033XG	OP5600v2 OP5650	OP5700 OP5705XG OP5707XG
Driver	Driver license for EtherCAT Slave protocol. One license per CIFX 50E-RE PCIe board is required. A Hilscher CIFX 50E-RE PCIe board (Product Number OP3113, see below) is required for each slave driver. This board is used to interface the EtherCAT network with the simulator.	OP3111	YES	YES	YES	YES
Add-on module	EtherCAT CIFX 50E-RE PCIe Communication Interface. One driver license per CIFX 50E-RE PCIe board is required* (sold separately)	OP3113-OP4510	YES
		OP3113-OP5030		YES
		OP3113-OP56xx-OP57xx			YES	YES

* Available PCIe slot required. Note that OP4510 and OP4512 simulators only have one PCIe slot.