GE IC698ETM001-EP Dual-Port Ethernet TCP/IP Module

Description

In the interconnected pulse of modern industrial automation, where a PLC stranded on a serial island means blind spots in production dashboards, delayed recipe pushes, or hours lost to on-site programming, the penalty for network isolation is measured in throughput and trust. Engineers modernizing Series 90-70 systems for IIoT, MES integration, or remote diagnostics routinely battle legacy comms bottlenecks—9600-baud SNP links that choke on 10 KB logic uploads, unmanaged Ethernet drops that invite cyber drift, or the operational drag of physically swapping EPROMs for firmware updates. These gaps fracture data fluidity and inflate total cost of ownership through custom gateways, travel budgets, and reactive support. The GE IC698ETM001-EP slices through this as a dual-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet TCP/IP interface module for GE Series 90-70 PLCs, embedding full-duplex, auto-negotiating connectivity directly into the VME backplane—converting a 1990s workhorse into a secure, web-enabled node without external hardware.

Picture a tire curing press where a 90-70 CPU781 controls 64 molds, but OEE data only reaches the plant floor HMI via nightly floppy dumps—or a pipeline terminal where remote 90-70 racks sit dark to the SCADA until a tech flies in with a laptop. The GE IC698ETM001-EP becomes mission-critical when seamless, high-reliability Ethernet is required to unify I/O signals, alarms, and historian tags under one IP fabric. It eliminates serial latency by supporting 32 simultaneous TCP connections—Modbus TCP servers on port 502, SRTP channels for Logicmaster/Proficy, HTTP web server for module health, and ICMP for ping diagnostics—all while passing Genius or VME I/O data transparently. In broader industrial automation contexts, it accelerates digital threads with secure remote firmware flashing, email alarm triggers via ladder logic, and direct OPC UA bridging through gateways. For specifiers, decisive specs include its 700 mA @ 5 V draw, dual RJ-45 with auto-MDIX, and embedded web server—details that shape rack power, cable topology, and cybersecurity posture. By dismantling these connectivity silos, the GE IC698ETM001-EP forges a resilient, data-fluent automation backbone where every %R, %AI, and fault bit flows freely to the enterprise, driving faster decisions and proactive uptime.

Embedding the GE IC698ETM001-EP into a Series 90-70 VME rack is like grafting a modern nervous system onto a proven chassis—it occupies any VME slot (typically next to the CPU), draws 5 VDC from the backplane, and exposes dual shielded RJ-45 ports with integrated magnetics for direct CAT5e/6 runs up to 100 meters. Auto-negotiation handles 10/100 Mbps and full/half duplex, while auto-MDIX eliminates crossover guesswork. Internally, it runs a hardened TCP/IP stack with ARP, ICMP, UDP, TCP, Modbus TCP, and SRTP services, mapping PLC memory (%R, %AI, %M, %G) to socket endpoints for client reads/writes.

In the comms stack, it layers parallel to the CPU (e.g., IC697CPU781 or CPU782), enabling bidirectional flow: a remote SCADA writes a setpoint to %AQ via Modbus TCP; the GE IC698ETM001-EP validates the packet, updates the register, and the CPU executes—all within a 10 ms scan. Diagnostics are robust—front-panel LEDs show LINK/ACT per port, 100 Mbps, and FAULT, while %S status bits report IP conflicts, connection drops, or port errors, routable to HMIs or email via function blocks. The embedded web server serves live register views, connection tables, and firmware upload—no software install needed. Security includes IP filtering, port disablement, and password-protected SRTP. Picture the workflow: a mold fault sets %M200; the ETM pushes it to an Ignition SCADA via SRTP, while a maintenance engineer in another state connects via Proficy to flash firmware over Ethernet—all over secure, isolated VLANs. For integrators, its hot-swap design and DHCP/static IP config via Logicmaster minimize downtime, making the GE IC698ETM001-EP the definitive Ethernet lifeline for legacy 90-70 process control.

Deploying the GE IC698ETM001-EP unlocks a cascade of operational gains—starting with real-time visibility: alarms that once waited for a 9600-baud poll now push instantly to HMIs and mobile apps via SRTP, shaving minutes off mean-time-to-response in safety loops. Bandwidth scales with demand; 32 TCP sockets support dense data logging to historians while leaving headroom for remote programming, eliminating the “no one can touch the PLC during production” bottleneck.

Security hardens without add-ons: IP whitelisting blocks rogue scans, and SRTP encryption shields logic uploads from packet sniffers—critical in shared plant networks. Maintenance shifts to proactive: the web server’s connection monitor flags a dropped SCADA link before operators notice stale data, and firmware updates deploy over Ethernet in under three minutes, no EPROM burner needed. Commissioning accelerates—Logicmaster’s auto-discovery pings the module, pre-populates IP settings, and validates Modbus maps in one pass, cutting network integration from days to hours.

Over the lifecycle, the module’s auto-MDIX and dual-port design future-proof cabling; a plant upgrading from 10 to 100 Mbps needs only a switch change. It’s a force multiplier for 90-70 systems—turning isolated controllers into collaborative assets that reduce data latency, lower integration costs, and elevate process control from reactive to predictive.

The GE IC698ETM001-EP excels in rubber extrusion lines, where it networks 90-70 CPU781s to a plant-wide Wonderware SCADA, pushing die temps, fault codes, and OEE metrics in real time while supporting remote recipe downloads during changeovers. In oilfield tank farms, it connects remote 90-70 racks to a central DCS via Modbus TCP over satellite backhaul, ensuring critical system uptime with encrypted SRTP for secure off-site diagnostics.

Pharmaceutical API plants rely on it to tie 90-70 skids into a DeltaV overlay, streaming validated flow and pressure data while the web server enables audit-ready access logs. From cement kiln controls to automotive transfer lines, the GE IC698ETM001-EP anchors industrial automation with robust, secure Ethernet connectivity that drives compliance and agility.

IC698ETM001-DN – Earlier revision without web server

IC697CMM742 – Ethernet module for Series 90-70 (single port)

IC697CPU781 – Scalable CPU with VME backplane

IC697CHS791 – 9-slot VME baseplate for ETM pairing

IC697CBL700 – Shielded Ethernet patch cable (3 m)

IC697PWR711 – 100 W PSU for high-comms loads

IC697BEM731 – Genius I/O controller (complementary)

IC697ACC701 – VME slot filler for thermal management

Before inserting the GE IC698ETM001-EP, confirm VME power—700 mA @ 5 V fits most PWR711/PSUs, but verify with rack load sheet if running with BEM731 or analog. Pre-configure IP settings in Logicmaster (static preferred for control networks); enable SRTP and Modbus TCP services, and set a strong admin password. Use CAT5e/6 shielded cable, ground the shield at the switch end only, and route away from 480 V runs by >12 inches. Bench-test with a laptop: ping the module, access the web server (default 192.168.0.100), and verify SRTP login before rack-up. After insertion, monitor LINK/ACT LEDs—solid green + blinking amber confirms negotiation; if FAULT flashes, check IP conflicts or reseat.

Maintenance is light but disciplined: monthly web server checks for connection table health—drop any stale sockets via the reset button. Quarterly, cycle power to clear ARP cache and verify auto-negotiation with a managed switch’s port stats. In dusty plants, inspect the RJ-45 latch annually for debris; clean with compressed air. A persistent FAULT LED usually traces to duplicate IP—use the module’s MAC (printed on faceplate) to isolate via switch logs. This lean, diagnostics-driven cadence keeps the GE IC698ETM001-EP as a set-and-forget network bridge, letting you focus on data value, not connectivity fires.