IEEE 802.3 Ethernet is traditionally an office networking protocol that has gained universal acceptance world-wide. It is an open standard supported by many manufacturers and its infrastructure equipment is widely available and largely installed. Likewise, its TCP/IP suite of protocols is found everywhere and also serves as the foundation for access to the World Wide Web. Since many devices already support Ethernet I/O, it is only natural to augment it for use in industrial applications. As such, EtherNet/IP was created in an attempt to overcome the shortcomings of traditional IEEE 802.3 Ethernet as applied to the industrial automation world.