Build Expertise in Industrial and IT Data Communications for Modern Automation Systems
Introduction to Industrial and IT Data Communications (TS07) builds a foundational understanding of how modern automation systems communicate across industrial and enterprise networks.This course explains how data moves between devices, control systems and enterprise platforms, with emphasis on communication structure, addressing, framing and transport behavior. It also shows how industrial protocols operate over IP-based networks, helping learners understand both the logic and infrastructure behind reliable system communication.
Participants explore the key technologies used in industrial connectivity, including serial communications (RS-232, RS-422, RS-485), Ethernet fundamentals, switching concepts and IP-based transport protocols such as TCP and UDP. It also introduces widely used industrial and application-layer protocols, including Modbus, DNP3, EtherNet/IP, CIP and OPC/OPC UA, along with supporting services like DNS, SNMP, and NTP. In addition, TS07 covers modern infrastructure and integration topics such as wireless instrumentation standards, fiber-optic communication and virtualization basics. Cybersecurity fundamentals are introduced within the context of industrial networks, including segmentation strategies, firewall types, deep packet inspection and common social engineering risks. Learners also gain exposure to practical device configuration and troubleshooting techniques for switches and industrial firewalls.
This course helps technicians, engineers and operators build the confidence to diagnose communication issues, configure networked systems and support reliable industrial operations. Organizations benefit from reduced downtime, improved troubleshooting efficiency and stronger alignment between plant-floor systems and enterprise IT networks.
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Classroom (TS07)Length: 5 days |
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Learning Objectives
This course includes a broad scope of learning objectives. Expand the topic headings below to view the learning objectives you will be able to achieve upon completing this course.
Serial Communication Basic Concepts
- Explain general concepts of communication
- Determine the importance of serial communication
- Identify various communication channel classifications
- Simplex
- Half-duplex
- Full-duplex
- Identify different media types and their issues in communication
RS232 Standard
- Explain the history of the RS-232 communication standard
- Describe the mechanical and functional specifications
- Identify various circuits and cables
- Describe common cabling problems
- Explain useful tools for troubleshooting
Transmission Types
- Explain asynchronous transmission
- Describe the use of universal asynchronous receivers/transmitters (UARTs)
- Explain synchronous transmission
- Explain differential signaling advantages of RS-422 and RS-485 over RS-232
Message Framing
- Explain various types of data encoding
- Explain differences between ASCII and UNICODE
- Describe the various ways time and date are represented in computers
Protocols—Modbus and RTU
- Explain the protocol basics of framing
- Identify error detection, correction, and recovery techniques
- Define the Modbus-RTU protocol
Protocols—DNP 3.0
- Explain the architecture and models of the DNP 3.0 protocol
- Identify the topologies
- Describe communication transactions
- Define the frame structure
- Explain the function codes of the protocol
- Identify and list the supported data types
Ethernet Technology
- Explain the basic elements that compose an Ethernet message frame
- Explain the difference between a hub and a switch
- Explain the importance of adding an EtherType code to message frames
Ethernet Cabling
- Explain commercial ethernet cabling
- Identify cable categories
- Describe cable length/speed limits
- Explain industrial Ethernet connectors
- Identify Ethernet hardware
- Demonstrate Ethernet cabling practices
IP Addressing
- Explain the basics of IPv4 addresses
- Describe Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) IP addresses
- Identify IP subnet masks
- Recognize IP address rules
- Complete IP address and subnet usage activities
IP Network Architecture
- Compare industrial protocols to ISO model
- Differentiate OSI from IP model
- Describe the IP model
- Explain network-to-network connections
- Practice routing decisions
LAN Reliability
Part 1
- Explain the purpose of the Purdue model for plant networking
- Describe switched Ethernet architectures
- Identify bandwidth aggregation considerations
- Explain the three switch message passing modes and how they impact message latency
- Explain broadcast storms
- Define spanning tree and rapid spanning tree
- Describe Ethernet fault tolerance
- Explain counter-rotating rings
- Explain power over Ethernet
- Describe how sniffing Ethernet traffic works with a LAN
- Identify remote switch mirroring or RSPAN
- Define some other switch features
- Explain auto port configuration
Making IP Networks Work
Part 1
- Define ARP and RARP
- Describe BOOTP and DHCP
- Explain broadcast addressing
- Summarize network address translation
- Identify parts of the IP datagram structure for version 4
- Explain header fields for IPV4
- Discuss difference with IPv6
- Describe the use of trivial FTP
- Explain hash codes
- Identify uses for encoding binary numbers
Transport Layer Protocols
- Explain TCP and UDP protocols and transport services
- Recognize the Port numbers used
- Describe TCP sessions
- Explain message fragmentation and detail error recovery using ICMP messages
Commonly Used Application Protocols
- Identify commonly used application protocols
- Explain root level DNS
- Describe plant automation systems
- Explain NetBIOS
- Describe system and host files
Common Time
- Explain SNTP
- Describe the need for common time
- Identify ways of getting and distributing time
- Identify timekeeping challenges
- Explain event logging
Remote Device Management (SNMP)
- Describe clients and agents
- Identify remote administration messages/commands
- Explain commercial SNMP clients
- Identify management information bases (or MIBs) and explain variables
Advanced Ethernet Switch Functions
- Explain Ethernet switches
- Identify hubs and switches
- Describe switch configuration
- Locate and apply switch settings
Advanced Layer 3 Switch
Part 1
- Define user authentication
- Explain port security concerns
- Describe the difference between CLI and web interface for switch configuration
- Describe how switches use VLAN technology
- Identify security features
- Explain configuration and administration options
Industrial IP Protocols
- Explain application layer protocols
- Identify industrial Ethernet protocols
- Define EtherNet/IP
- Describe common industrial protocol (CIP)
- Describe how to adhere to ODVA standards
Open Process Control (OPC)
- Explain OLE for process control (OPC)
- Describe interoperability standards
- Identify uses of OPC
Industrial Protocols
- Explain the use of Smart Instrumentation ‘bus’
- Identify the difference between Foundation Fieldbus (H1) and Foundation Fieldbus HSE
- Describe the need for Highway-Addressable Remote Transmitter (HART) and the added capability of HARTIP
Wireless Instrumentation Standards
- Identify the advantages and limitations of wireless device networks
- Describe wireless mesh networks
- Explain the benefits of WirelessHART mesh networks
- Explain the difference between standards
Fiber Optic Technology
- Explain fiber optic technologies
- Describe the difference between single-mode and multimode fiber
- Identify connectors and explain their use
- Calculate speed and distance variations
Basic Cybersecurity Concepts
Part 1
- Explain cryptography and how it applies to cybersecurity
- Summarize the concepts of public key infrastructure
- Identify cyber defense technologies
- Explain ways of creating cybersecurity
- Identify and describe cybersecurity technologies
- Explain what social engineering is and identify ways to protect against it
Firewalls for Industrial Use
- Identify industrial crade firewalls
- Explain Snort and what it is used for
- Describe the process of firewalling industrial protocols
Microsoft Windows Internals
- Describe the use of a command prompt
- Identify some of the commands for troubleshooting
- Explain the use of batch files and scripting
Virtualization Basic Concepts
- Define virtualization and explain the advantages it offers
- Describe virtual desktops and what they offer
- Describe virtual machines and their requirements
- Identify VMware tools
Topics Covered
View TS07 Topics
- What is Data Communications?
- ISO/OSI reference model
- Terminology basics
- Serial Communications
- Modem principles
- The EIA-232E standard
- Beyond 232: EIA-422/423/485/530 standards
- Transmission Types and Message Framing
- Data Link Layer Basics
- Data encoding
- Error detection/correction schemes
- Industrial Protocols
- Modbus and Modbus/IP
- DNP3.0 and DF-1
- LAN Technologies
- Overview of Ethernet technology
- Ethernet cabling and configuration rules
- Repeaters, bridges, routers and gateways
- TCP/IP Basics
- Is Ethernet ready for the plant floor?
- Industrial Ethernet design techniques
- Fiber Optics
- Standards
- Cables
- Applications
- Limitations
- Wireless Industrial Communications
- SP100
- Wireless HART
- Wireless Fieldbus
- Wireless Profibus
- Basic Cybersecurity
- Data Exchange
- Using OPC for Inter-system data exchanges