EtherCAT® Network Configuration, Diagnosis, and Monitoring
EC-Engineer is the single tool that covers the complete EtherCAT engineering workflow — from initial network configuration in the office to live diagnosis on the machine.
Engineers use EC-Engineer to:
- Configure EtherCAT networks offline or online, from ESI file import to ENI file export
- Diagnose live systems remotely over TCP/IP — no local access to the controller required
- Troubleshoot intermittent and permanent faults with built-in topology visualization and error counter analysis
- Simulate real network behavior with integrated EC-Simulator, without any physical SubDevices
EC-Engineer runs on Windows, integrates directly with the EC-Master stack, and is available as a standalone tool or as an SDK for integration into your own engineering environment.
Configuration
EC-Engineer supports the complete configuration of all EtherCAT SubDevice types — based on the ESI files provided by device manufacturers.
Key configuration tasks:
- Import ESI files (ETG.2000), export ENI files (ETG.2100)
- Define cyclic process data (PDO selection and mapping)
- Set SubDevice startup parameters and init commands
- Define cabling topology and optional Hot Connect groups
- Configure Distributed Clocks (DC) synchronization
- Assign Station Alias Addresses
Configuration can be done offline (lab or office, without hardware) or online (connected to the real network). The Network Scan feature automatically detects connected SubDevices and the physical topology — regardless of whether SubDevices are connected to the local Windows PC or to a remote EC-Master controller.
Diagnosis
EC-Engineer connects to any running EC-Master system over TCP/IP and provides full visibility into the live EtherCAT network — without requiring local access to the controller hardware. Once connected (only the IP address of the MainDevice is required), EC-Engineer retrieves all relevant information directly from the EC-Master, including the ENI configuration:
- Display and control of EC-Master and SubDevice states
- Live process (I/O) data — read and write
- ESC register access (read and write)
- EEPROM read and write
- Object Dictionary access for EC-Master and SubDevices
- SDO mailbox transfers (upload and download)
- Firmware upload and download
- Side-by-side comparison of configured vs. detected network topology
Troubleshooting
EtherCAT networks provide extensive built-in diagnostics, and the acontis EC-Engineer is designed to make these accessible even without deep EtherCAT expertise. Errors in an EtherCAT network fall into three categories, each requiring different diagnostic approaches.
Category 1 covers permanent errors during network startup that prevent the network from reaching the Operational state. These include topology mismatches between the real network and the ENI configuration, SubDevice initialization failures, Distributed Clock synchronization problems, and complete frame loss despite correct cabling. The EC-Engineer's graphical topology view allows engineers to immediately compare the discovered network against the planned configuration, making it straightforward to identify missing or mismatched SubDevices.
Category 2 covers permanent errors while the network is Operational — cable disconnections at the MainDevice or between SubDevices, power loss, SubDevices dropping to a lower state, total SubDevice failure, or an unexpected device appearing on the network. Localizing the exact problem location within a potentially large network of hundreds of SubDevices is crucial for efficient troubleshooting. The EC-Engineer's topology view highlights exactly where in the chain communication is lost, allowing targeted intervention rather than time-consuming trial-and-error cable swapping.
Category 3 covers intermittent errors while the network stays Operational but with degraded quality — occasional frame loss and Working Counter Errors (WKC) in cyclic process data. These are the hardest to catch because they may appear only under specific conditions such as vibration, temperature changes, or electromagnetic interference. The EC-Engineer's "Self Test Scan" function sends large numbers of frames of varying lengths over a defined period, counts missing frames, and reads SubDevice error registers to identify vulnerabilities. By combining frame loss statistics with per-SubDevice error counter readouts, the EC-Engineer pinpoints marginal connections before they escalate into permanent failures.
Simulation
EC-Engineer includes a fully integrated simulation mode powered by EC-Master and EC-Simulator — no physical SubDevices required!
This enables:
- Full demonstration and testing of all EC-Engineer online functions without hardware
- Controlled reproduction of fault scenarios (e.g. SubDevice power loss, cable disconnect)
- Use across the entire development lifecycle: System Design → Planning → QA → Commissioning → Maintenance
Switching between Configuration, Diagnosis, and Simulation mode requires a single click in the toolbar — no project changes, no reconfiguration.
The seamless integration of EC-Engineer and EC-Simulator makes these helpful tools even more valuable during the complete development cycle – offering a unique feature-set for each single development phase!
EC-Engineer Software Development Kit (SDK)
For teams that need to embed EtherCAT engineering functionality into their own application, EC-Engineer is available as a Software Development Kit (SDK).
The SDK enables:
- Integration of all EC-Engineer functions (or a selected subset) into a custom engineering tool
- White-label / brand customization
- Deployment on Windows and Linux
Easy integration due to user interface layers based on the Microsoft® WPF Technology.
Read more about the EC-Engineer SDK...
Features
As the EC-Engineer is a fully-featured tool for configuration, diagnosis, trouble-shooting with built-in EtherCAT MainDevice functions as well as EtherCAT SubDevice simulation, we can only show some highlight-features here, for a complete feature comparison, please check the online documentation.
General Features
- Configuration of multiple MainDevice systems within one project
- EtherCAT SubDevices connected to the Windows PC
- EtherCAT SubDevices connected to the control system
- Tree View and Topology View
- ESI and EMI Manager
- Multiple Languages
- Modern User Interface based on Microsoft WPF technology
Configuration Features
- Import ESI (EtherCAT SubDevice Information) files according to ETG.2000
- Export ENI-(EtherCAT Network Information) files according to ETG.2100
- Automatic determination of the connected SubDevices (bus scan)
- SubDevice device copy and paste including all parameters
- PDO selection and configuration
- Adjustment and appending of EtherCAT SubDevice init commands
- Transparent integration of MDP (Modular Device Profile) SubDevices
- Fixed memory layout of SubDevices or
- Distributed Clocks (DC) Settings
- Definition of "Hot Connect" groups
- Programming Station Alias Address
- Other MainDevice and SubDevices parameters
Diagnosis and Monitoring Features
- EC-Master and SubDevice State (display and control)
- Process (I/O) data (display and control)
- ESC Register (read and write)
- EEPROM (read and write)
- EC-Master And SubDevice Object Dictionaries
- Mailbox transfers (Service Data Objects upload and download)
- Firmware upload and download
- Comparison of configuration and real network
New Features
More information about EC-Engineer
Please request additional information in our download area.