History
SNAP Ethernet I/O (EIO)
Introduced in 1998, the SNAP Ethernet brain with SNAP I/O modules was the first Ethernet-based I/O unit. This award-winning brain communicated over a standard 10/100 TCP/IP Ethernet network interface, bringing information technology (IT) standards to automation systems.
At the time, SNAP Ethernet I/O was a radical departure from the traditional serial and proprietary networks. But it was the first step toward real data sharing between IT and control systems, and the first step toward the industrial internet of things (IIoT). Today, Ethernet is the accepted standard for automation.
EIO units were originally used with a SNAP-LCM4 controller equipped with an Ethernet card and programmed with legacy FactoryFloor software. After the introduction of SNAP Ultimate I/O and ioProject software, EIO units were typically used with a UIO controller.
SNAP Ultimate I/O (UIO)
Following SNAP Ethernet I/O—and also communicating over a standard Ethernet network—came SNAP Ultimate I/O, the first combination controller/brain, a programmable I/O and communications processor.
Mounted on a rack with local SNAP I/O, UIO could be used on its own for local control, could also control SNAP Ethernet I/O units, or could be used as an I/O unit in a larger control system based on a more powerful Opto 22 controller.
The UIO controller/brain was programmed using the legacy ioProject software suite, the forerunner to today's PAC Project suite.
Use today
Just like our old SSRs and G4 I/O, EIO and UIO are still in use today in thousands of installations worldwide. We still support and in some cases still manufacture this older equipment, but we recommend upgrading to newer hardware and software to gain the benefits of additional features like new I/O modules and more extensive data communications.