1794-AENT — FLEX I/O EtherNet/IP Adapter Module

The 1794-AENT is the EtherNet/IP adapter module for the 1794 FLEX I/O system. It connects a FLEX I/O node to an EtherNet/IP network, presenting up to eight I/O modules installed in the same node to the controller as a remote I/O device. The controller reads and writes I/O data over the network as if those modules were in the local chassis. Each FLEX I/O node requires one adapter — the 1794-AENT is the adapter for EtherNet/IP-based systems.

Specifications

Parameter	Value
Part Number	1794-AENT
Platform	FLEX I/O (1794)
Network Protocol	EtherNet/IP (CIP)
Ethernet Speed	10/100 Mbps, auto-negotiate
Ethernet Ports	1 × RJ-45
Max I/O Modules per Node	8
I/O Messaging	Class 1 cyclic (I/O) and Class 3 / UCMM (explicit)
IP Address Assignment	BOOTP, DHCP, or static (via rotary switches or software)
Field Power Pass-Through	Yes — V+ and V− rail to downstream terminal bases
Backplane Current (5V)	600 mA available to I/O modules
Control Power	24V DC (from field power rail)
Operating Temperature	0°C to 55°C
Standards	EtherNet/IP conformance tested, UL 508, CE

FLEX I/O Node Architecture

A FLEX I/O node is a chain of terminal bases on a DIN rail. The adapter module clips into the first terminal base at the left end; up to eight I/O modules clip into the remaining bases to the right. The adapter communicates with the controller over EtherNet/IP and exchanges I/O data with the attached modules over the FLEX I/O backplane rail built into the terminal base chain.

The field power rail (24V DC) enters the node at the adapter's terminal base and passes through to all subsequent terminal bases — field power for all eight modules comes from the same entry point. If a new power segment is needed partway through the node, a 1794-TB3S terminal base with separate power rails or a power extender module can split the node into independently-powered segments.

FAQ

Q: Does the 1794-AENT support Device Level Ring (DLR) topology?

No. The 1794-AENT has a single Ethernet port and does not support DLR. For DLR capability on FLEX I/O, the 1794-AENTR (dual-port) adapter is required.

Q: How many 1794-AENT nodes can one controller manage?

The limit is the controller's EtherNet/IP connection count and backplane current budget — not a fixed node count. Each node consumes one EtherNet/IP connection. Controllers with 256+ connections support dozens of FLEX I/O nodes simultaneously.

Q: What happens to I/O if the EtherNet/IP connection is lost?

The adapter executes the configured connection loss action for each I/O module — typically outputs de-energize (go to 0) and inputs hold last state until reconnection. The specific fault behavior per module is configurable in Studio 5000.

Q: Can analog and digital modules be mixed in the same node?

Yes. The eight module slots accommodate any combination of FLEX I/O module types — digital, analog, specialty (thermocouple, RTD, counter) — in any order. The adapter presents all of them over the single EtherNet/IP connection.

1794-AENTR I/O Ethernet/IP Module New Sealed 1794AENTR