Beckhoff CU2508

CU2508 | Real-time Ethernet port multiplier

Description

The real-time Ethernet port multiplier allows the connection of eight Ethernet networks. The CU2508 is connected to the PC via a gigabit uplink. The PC offers high-performance data transfer to the multiplier, which allocates the data to the relevant 100BASE-TX port based on an analysis of a frame prefix and sends them time-controlled with µs precision. Received frames are also allocated a prefix including a timestamp and sent to the PC. With the support of a driver, users have eight ports with full real-time characteristics available. The CU2508 is used in applications in which several Ethernet ports are required that need to be realised outside the PC. TwinCAT supports the CU2508 and makes further network ports at the PC unnecessary. For extremely high demands, an EtherCAT installation can, for example, be distributed or expanded to up to eight lines in order to multiply the performance. The distributed clocks of the EtherCAT lines are synchronised. An EtherCAT cable redundancy with simultaneous usage of distributed clocks can also be realised using two ports of the CU2508.