FINS, Factory Interface Network Service, is a

network protocol A communication protocol is a system of rules that allows two or more entities of a communications system to transmit information via any kind of variation of a physical quantity. The protocol defines the rules, syntax, semantics and synchroniza ...

used by

Omron , styled as OMRON, is a Japanese electronics company based in Kyoto, Japan. Omron was established by in 1933 (as the ''Tateishi Electric Manufacturing Company'') and incorporated in 1948. The company originated in an area of Kyoto called ""( ja ...

PLCs, over different physical networks like

Ethernet Ethernet () is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 198 ...

, Controller Link,

DeviceNet DeviceNet is a network protocol used in the automation industry to interconnect control devices for data exchange. It utilizes the Common Industrial Protocol over a Controller Area Network media layer and defines an application layer to cover a rang ...

and

RS-232C In telecommunications, RS-232 or Recommended Standard 232 is a standard originally introduced in 1960 for serial communication transmission of data. It formally defines signals connecting between a ''DTE'' (''data terminal equipment'') such a ...

. The FINS communications service was developed by Omron to provide a consistent way for PLCs and computers on various networks to communicate. Compatible network types include Ethernet, Host Link, Controller Link, SYSMAC LINK, SYSMAC WAY, and Toolbus. FINS allows communications between nodes up to three network levels. A direct connection between a computer and a PLC via Host Link is not considered a network level.

References

Omron FINS Ethernet
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