Device Description File (DDF)

The features of an ETHERCAT slave are described in an electronic data sheet, the Device Description File (DDF). This XML-based document gives the characteristics of the device unambiguously and completely with a vendor-independence format.

The characteristics of the CI51x-ETHCAT devices are:

• Description of each input/output group of the device
• Parameters, which are required for the correct functionality of the device

The configuration of an ETHERCAT system is highly simplified with the DDF, which is normally provided by the vendor.