Blog - acontis

March 11, 2025

Understanding EtherCAT ENI Files

Learn about ENI (EtherCAT Network Information) files and their role in configuring EtherCAT networks. Understand how these XML-based files define network topology and enable seamless communication between EtherCAT MainDevices and SubDevices.

February 28, 2025

Understanding EtherCAT ESI Files

Learn about ESI (EtherCAT SubDevice Information) files and their role in configuring EtherCAT networks. Understand how these XML-based files provide essential information for seamless communication between MainDevices and SubDevices.

February 14, 2025

Developing Compact and Powerful EtherCAT Controllers with acontis EC-Master on the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano

The NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano is among the latest in NVIDIA 's lineup of powerful, compact AI and edge computing devices. This article provides a comprehensive guide to setting up and optimizing high-performance EtherCAT controllers using the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano – enabling the next step in mobile robotics and many other applications! You will learn how to set up the board for real-time Linux, configure the Linux kernel for optimal performance, and how to integrate the atemsys kernel module for best network performance.

January 22, 2025

After 20 years, Linux is Officially a Real-time Operating System

After over two decades of development, debate, and refinement, real-time preemption support has officially arrived in the mainline Linux kernel in 6.12. This groundbreaking milestone elevates Linux to new levels of reliability and performance, particularly for time-critical applications in industrial automation, robotics, and test and measurement. At acontis technologies, we celebrate this achievement as it aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering high-performance industrial software solutions.

October 16, 2024

RTOSVisor: Docker Container Support

Docker is a powerful tool that packages applications and their dependencies into lightweight, portable container images. These images can run consistently across various environments, ensuring smooth operation whether on a developer’s local machine, a cloud server, or any other infrastructure.

October 16, 2024

EtherCAT Open Mode

Even though the two EtherCAT modes Direct mode and Open mode were already defined in the first EtherCAT specification V1.0 from 2004, more or less all EtherCAT networks use direct mode – and even most users have not yet heard about Open Mode.

September 29, 2024

acontis Celebrates 20 Years of ETG Membership

This week marks a significant milestone for acontis technologies—we are celebrating 20 years since becoming member #123 of the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) on September 29, 2004.

August 15, 2024

Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) and Asymmetric Multiprocessing (AMP)

Explore the dynamics of Symmetric and Asymmetric Multiprocessing to leverage multicore processors for enhanced computing performance, diving into the intricacies of SMP’s resource sharing and AMP’s independent processing capabilities.

August 1, 2024

Future-proof automation with EtherCAT

This is the first part of a short series of articles which highlights some of the key benefits that our customers report to us when moving from classic field-busses like CANopen or DeviceNet to EtherCAT.

March 11, 2024

Understanding Real-Time Hypervisors

This article introduces the basic concepts and benefits of Real-Time Hypervisors in modern Industrial Computing and Industrial Controllers.

February 22, 2024

Transitioning from CANopen to EtherCAT: Understanding CoE (CAN Application Protocol over EtherCAT)

Learn how CoE (CAN Application Protocol over EtherCAT) simplifies the transition from CANopen to EtherCAT. Discover how it enables seamless reuse of communication protocols, object dictionaries, and standardized profiles.

August 7, 2023

EtherCAT SubDevice Stack on Linux with FC11xx

This article offers step-by-step instructions on how to implement the EtherCAT SubDevice Stack on Linux, using either the Beckhoff FC1100 PCI card or the Beckhoff FC1121 PCIe card.

May 15, 2023

EtherCAT SubDevice Stack on Raspberry Pi 4 with EasyCAT HAT

This article describes how to run EtherCAT SubDevice Stack on Raspberry Pi 4 with EasyCAT HAT

Real-time Linux + EtherCAT on Advantech IPC

March 20, 2023

Setting up Real-time Linux and EtherCAT MainDevice on an Advantech Embedded IPC

This article describes how to setup Real-time Linux and EtherCAT MainDevice on an Advantech Embedded IPC

March 15, 2023

Building a Real-time Linux Kernel in Ubuntu with PREEMPT_RT

In this blog article, we explain how to build a Real-time Linux Kernel in Ubuntu with PREEMPT_RT

March 7, 2023

Getting Started with EtherCAT® Using EC-Master on STM32MP135F-DK by STMicroelectronics

We are proud to announce that the acontis EtherCAT MainDevice Software EC-Master now supports the STM32MP135F-DK from STMicroelectronics

March 1, 2023

Setting up Ubuntu Linux 22.04 for Real-time Performance with EtherCAT

Ubuntu 22.04 now includes a real-time Linux kernel based on kernel v5.15 with the PREEMPT-RT patch. We take a look at how easy it is to add this real-time Linux kernel, and then test the performance for EtherCAT applications.

November 27, 2022

EtherCAT® EC-Master stack on Raspberry Pi 4

We are proud to announce that the acontis EtherCAT MainDevice Software EC-Master now supports the BROADCOM® System-on-Chip (SoC) BCM2711 as used on the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4).

September 6, 2022

acontis EC-Master vs Open Source (IgH EtherCAT-Master® (EtherLab®) and Simple Open EtherCAT Master (SOEM))

In this blog article, we will take a look at three different EtherCAT MainDevice software stacks. For each option and approach, we will look at the advantages and disadvantages, the main differences between them, and also the expected costs. Included in this comparison is the proprietary solution from acontis technologies the EC-Master and two open source implementations.

August 11, 2021

Real-time qualified Industrial PCs

When using Industrial PCs for control and data acquisition tasks, one of the selection criteria is real-time capability. In this blog we point out possible pitfalls regarding the determinism of IPCs; Furthermore, how to qualify IPCs as well as a variety of pre-qualified out-of-the box solutions.

EtherCAT Master Stack Performance Measurements

March 29, 2021

EtherCAT MainDevice Stack Performance

When using EtherCAT technology as a fieldbus, performance often plays a decisive role. On this page we show the performance and measurement results of the EC-Master.

September 22, 2020

Why RT-Linux is the Best Solution for Adding Real-time Capabilities to Windows

More and more applications, especially in the Industrial Automation, Medical and Data Acquisition, and Measurement Markets require deterministic real-time behavior. Windows does not natively support a real-time deterministic operation. However, there are many so-called “Windows real-time extensions” that can provide developers with a solution to take full advantage of Windows functionality while still preserving the real-time requirements of their application.

May 12, 2020

EtherCAT Cycle Time Calculator

We have created a simple online calculator where you can input a few parameters about your EtherCAT network to see the total communication time. This can be used as the basis for figuring out the fastest possible cycle time for your network. In this blog post we will break down the calculator and walk you through using it.

April 3, 2020

Using EC-Engineer with TI C2000 Microcontrollers

In furthering our partnership with Texas Instruments, it is now possible to use the acontis EtherCAT MainDevice software for evaluating and experimenting with EtherCAT SubDevices based on TI C2000 microcontrollers.

October 28, 2019

EtherCAT Technology Group officially supports EtherCAT G

The Technical Committee of the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) has accepted EtherCAT G as an addition to the EtherCAT standard.

September 19, 2019

Comparing Windows Real-time Extensions

As Linux becomes more and more popular as a real-time operating system, we look at how traditional Windows Real-time Extensions compare to acontis LxWin.

July 5, 2019

End of Life Support for Microsoft Windows CE

Microsoft has released their support end of life roadmap for Windows CE (Embedded Compact). Here is a migration path for alternative real-time solutions.