Has anybody done this in real life?

I am getting conflicting answers on this...
I would like to use a 1768-ENBT as a rack adaptor for a distributed rack of 1769 I/O. I searched the knowledgebase and found one saying the 1768-ENBT and the 1756-ENBT could handle this (not the EWEBs, though). I set the integrator down the path of replacing the 1769-ADN that was the only devicenet being used on the project.
The Distibutor told him it couldn't be done. Since they have been wrong before, I hooked up on a Live Chat session with Rockwell Automation. I asked him the same question, laid down the archetecture and he said it could be done... even gave particulars such as # od cards, distance to power supply, etc.
I copy pasted the transcript to the integrator and he said they found technotes saying the opposite. I dug a little deeper and found those also.
Who do I believe... Rockwell Automation or Rockwell Automation? The one TechNote I don't want to believe was from 2007. I found other info about the increased capabilities of the 1768-ENBT... double the CIP connections and so on.
I don't want to try a $900 expirement... We don't have any L4x racks in the plant to recycle it on if it doesn't work. Has anyone from the real world try this?
I went down the 1769-ADN path years ago because of my boss's hatred of Flex I/O and it has treated us well. The 1769 I/O has faired well and our inventory is reduced as we use the same cards on all of the ML 1500's and Compact Logix.
Sorry so long winded.
Thanks

I can't answer your question. However, most Rockwell distributors have demo stuff. Have you asked your local distributor if you can use some demo hardware to run a test?

I have seen a control logic Enet rack and processor message another Enet in a distant rack to an I/o card without a processor.

I would say you can if you get the path right

Clint

I believe it depends on the processor. I am pretty sure (not 100%) you can't use it with a 1769-L23E for controlling EthernetIP I/O.

If you are using the L4x series processor, then I do believe you can use the add-on ethernet module for real I/O. I think that RSLogix5000 software will warn you if you try to do the impossible (provided your software is up to date).

Well, the distributer got with Rockwell and said it wouldn't work. I was so hoping the Rockwell Live Chat Guy was right but I guess those were made up facts! We tried to populate an I/O tree and RS5000 would not tolerate the ENBT card in slot 0.
It looks like either stick with DeviceNet or use a L35E as a remote rack adaptor.

A L32e is less expensive than a 35E. I would do a price point comparison with other EIP I/O points. I just did a job with Wago and it was nice and easy setup.

1MoCast said:

Well, the distributer got with Rockwell and said it wouldn't work. I was so hoping the Rockwell Live Chat Guy was right but I guess those were made up facts! We tried to populate an I/O tree and RS5000 would not tolerate the ENBT card in slot 0.
It looks like either stick with DeviceNet or use a L35E as a remote rack adaptor.

Click to expand...

Pretty sure the processor-as-remote-adapter wont work. You can add a Compactlogix processor to the tree but its only there to resolve produced & consumed tags; it doesn't appear mapped in the Controller tags like I/O. I guess you could have a simple program in the remote processor that mapped produced-comsumed tags to real I/O (or some aliasing scheme might work).