Part of: Field tools

Browse EtherNet/IP devices on your Mac.
Native on Mac. No Parallels.

Discover EtherNet/IP devices, browse CIP objects, read and write tags and attributes, and run implicit and explicit messaging from a native Mac app. No VM, no RSLinx.

Buy Direct · $29.99 Direct Download

$29.99

One-Time

CIP

Protocol

I/O + Explicit

Messaging

macOS Native

Apple Silicon + Intel

EtherNet/IP Explorer screenshot: a Logix controller's tag list with CIP type and live values. — A Logix controller's tag list with CIP type and live values.

EtherNet/IP Explorer screenshot: a discovery dialog listing EtherNet/IP devices with vendor, product, revision and serial number. — A discovery dialog listing EtherNet/IP devices with vendor, product, revision and serial number.

EtherNet/IP Explorer screenshot: the CIP object tree with identity attributes decoded into readable values. — The CIP object tree with identity attributes decoded into readable values.

Demo video

Watch the demo

A tour of EtherNet/IP Explorer for Mac: device discovery, live PLC tags, the CIP object tree, packet logger and a built-in adapter simulator.

Chapters

Watch on YouTube

The Problem

You're running Windows VMs just to browse a CIP device.

The common EtherNet/IP tools (RSLinx, FactoryTalk, EIP Scanner) are built for Windows. On a Mac that means Parallels on top of the Windows tool, or command-line libraries with no GUI.

Parallels + Windows Tax

Parallels Desktop is a yearly subscription. Add a Windows license and the right RSLinx edition, just to read a CIP attribute from a Mac.

No Mac Option

The usual choices are Windows-only Rockwell tools, Java apps, or CLI utilities with no GUI for device browsing.

Java/Electron Bloat

The cross-platform EtherNet/IP tools that exist need a Java runtime or Electron: a heavy install for a tool you open during commissioning.

CLI-Only Tools

opENer, cpppo: powerful but command-line only. No GUI for browsing CIP objects, no attribute editor, no connection manager. You're parsing hex output manually.

Features

CIP browsing and messaging in one app.

Implicit and explicit messaging, CIP tag browsing, device discovery and connection management, plus trend charts, EDS import, a raw packet logger and a built-in adapter simulator.

Device Discovery

Automatically discover EtherNet/IP devices on your network. See device identity, vendor ID, product name, serial number, and firmware revision in seconds.

CIP Tag Browser

Navigate the complete CIP object hierarchy of any device. Browse classes, instances, and attributes in a tree view. Supports standard CIP objects and vendor-specific extensions.

Implicit (I/O) Messaging

Establish Forward Open connections for real-time cyclic data exchange. Configure T->O and O->T connection parameters, request/reply sizes, and connection timeouts.

Explicit Messaging

Send unconnected explicit messages to read and write CIP attributes on demand. Access any object class, instance, and attribute with full parameter control.

Assembly Instances

Read and write assembly instances for I/O data exchange. View assembly data in hex, decimal, or binary. Configure input and output assemblies for your device.

Attribute Read/Write

Read and write attributes of CIP objects: Identity, Message Router, Connection Manager, Assembly, and vendor-specific classes. Tag values cover BOOL, SINT, INT, DINT, LINT, USINT, UINT, UDINT, ULINT, REAL, LREAL, DWORD and Logix STRING.

Forward Open/Close + Connection Manager

Open and close CIP connections from the GUI. Set priority, timeout multipliers and transport classes, watch connection states, and run several connections at once.

Communication Logging

Full request/response logging with millisecond timestamps. Debug timing issues, malformed CIP packets, and timeout problems. Export logs for analysis.

Trend Charts

Plot live tag values on real-time line charts with an auto-scaling time axis. Add any tag to the trend, pick a window (30s, 1m, or 5m) and watch cyclic I/O or polled values evolve.

EDS Import

Load a device .eds file to replace raw class/instance/attribute numbers with friendly parameter names like Motor Speed and Output Current. Parses the [Param], [Assembly], and [Enum] sections so the CIP tree reads like a datasheet.

Raw Packet Logger

Capture every EtherNet/IP wire frame (TX and RX) hex-dumped with millisecond timestamps. Expand any frame to inspect the CIP payload, and export the full capture to CSV for the network team.

Built-in Adapter Simulator

No PLC on the bench? Start a built-in EtherNet/IP adapter that self-generates realistic tag values: VFD speed, current, torque, and temperature. Point the explorer at 127.0.0.1 and exercise Forward Open, reads, and cyclic I/O against a live device before you ever touch hardware.

Screenshots

See it in action

EtherNet/IP Explorer screenshot: a packet logger showing each session command with a hex and ASCII view of one frame. — A packet logger showing each session command with a hex and ASCII view of one frame.

EtherNet/IP Explorer screenshot: a built-in EtherNet/IP adapter with a motor drive template and its tags. — A built-in EtherNet/IP adapter with a motor drive template and its tags.

Compare

How it compares to what you're using now

The two usual workarounds on a Mac, side by side.

Price

$29.99 one-time

Parallels subscription + Windows + RSLinx edition

Free

Native macOS

Yes: Apple Silicon

No: Windows VM

Yes (Python)

CIP Object Browser

Yes: tree view GUI

Yes

No: CLI only

Implicit Messaging

Yes

Limited

Explicit Messaging

Yes

Device Discovery

Yes: automatic

Yes

Manual only

Assembly Instances

Yes: read/write

Yes

Limited

Forward Open/Close

Yes: GUI managed

Yes

No GUI

Connection Manager

Yes: full GUI

Yes

GUI

Native macOS app

Windows only

None: CLI only

Installation

One app download

Buy 2 apps + VM setup

pip install

Subscription

None: one-time

Parallels subscription

None

Use Cases

Built for field engineers who carry MacBooks.

PLC commissioning, Rockwell integration, drive configuration, network debugging. EtherNet/IP is everywhere, and now you can work with it natively on your Mac.

PLC

PLC Commissioning

Browse CIP objects on Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix PLCs. Read tags, verify I/O mapping, and check connection states, all from your MacBook.

DRV

Drive Configuration

Read and write parameters on Rockwell PowerFlex and other EtherNet/IP drives. Browse assembly instances to verify motor control data and feedback values.

I/O

I/O Module Testing

Test EtherNet/IP I/O modules using implicit messaging. Set up Forward Open connections and monitor cyclic data exchange in real time.

NET

Network Debugging

Device not responding? Capture every CIP packet with timestamps and full decode. Export to CSV and hand it to the network team.

DEV

Embedded Development

Developing an EtherNet/IP device? Use explicit messaging to test your CIP implementation. Browse your device's object model and verify attribute responses.

INT

System Integration

Verify EtherNet/IP connectivity during system integration. Confirm devices appear on the network, test assembly data exchange, and validate connection parameters before go-live.

Part of: Field tools · Debug one device from your laptop: protocol apps, terminal database browsers, utilities.

How MacTools EtherNet/IP Explorer differs from…

Voltrus SCADA
This app is for commissioning and debugging one device from your laptop. Voltrus SCADA watches many devices around the clock, with dashboards, alarms and history on your own hardware.
Voltrus Gateway
Voltrus Gateway has no screens to click through: it is a self-hosted service that exposes Modbus, OPC UA, EtherNet/IP, S7, DNP3, BACnet/IP and MQTT to your own software over one gRPC API.
MacTools suite
Working with more than one protocol? MacTools has one native app per protocol, each sold on its own: 4 paid apps from $24.99 one-time, and free downloads with an optional one-time Pro licence.

Next step

Not sure? See which one you need →

FAQ

Common questions

Does this work on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4)? +

Yes. MacTools EtherNet/IP Explorer is a native app built with Rust and Tauri. It runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. No Rosetta, no virtual machines needed.

Do I need Parallels or Wine to run this? +

No. This is a native app. No Windows, no Parallels, no Wine, no Java, no Python. Download the app and run it.

Does it support both implicit and explicit messaging? +

Yes. EtherNet/IP Explorer supports both implicit (I/O, connected) messaging for real-time cyclic data exchange and explicit (unconnected) messaging for on-demand parameter reads and writes. Both use standard CIP protocol over EtherNet/IP.

Can I browse CIP objects and attributes? +

Yes. The CIP tag browser lets you navigate the object hierarchy of any EtherNet/IP device. Read and write attributes for any class instance: Identity, Assembly, Connection Manager, and custom vendor objects.

What EtherNet/IP devices are supported? +

Any EtherNet/IP device that implements the CIP protocol and answers the standard identity, attribute and connection services. Tag browsing and tag reads target Logix controllers (ControlLogix and CompactLogix). We have not published a list of tested third-party devices.

Is this a subscription? +

No. It is a one-time purchase of $29.99. No recurring fees, no in-app subscriptions, no hidden costs.

Does it support Forward Open/Close connections? +

Yes. EtherNet/IP Explorer provides full Forward Open and Forward Close connection management. Configure T->O and O->T connection parameters, request/reply sizes, and connection timeouts through the Connection Manager interface.

How does device discovery work? +

EtherNet/IP Explorer sends identity request broadcasts on your network. Devices respond with their identity object: vendor ID, product name, serial number, and firmware revision. All discovered devices appear in the device list automatically.

Can I read and write assembly instances? +

Yes. EtherNet/IP Explorer supports reading and writing assembly instances for I/O data exchange, and implicit connections (Forward Open) for cyclic data. Assembly data is shown as raw bytes.

Can I connect to Allen-Bradley PLCs? +

Yes, for Logix controllers: ControlLogix (set a route path such as 1,0 for the processor slot) and CompactLogix. Browse CIP objects and tags, read tags, and establish implicit connections for I/O data exchange. Other Allen-Bradley families are not covered by a tested list.

What CIP data types are supported? +

Tag values: BOOL, SINT, INT, DINT, LINT, USINT, UINT, UDINT, ULINT, REAL, LREAL, DWORD and the Logix STRING structure, and arrays of these. Other attribute values are shown as raw bytes.

Buy

Browse CIP devices
natively on your Mac.

$29.99

One-time purchase, no subscription, no hidden fees

Buy Direct · $29.99 Direct Download

Stay Updated

Get notified about new features & device support

We add CIP features, device profiles and platform support regularly. No spam, only product updates.

From one device to the whole line

Monitoring this PLC 24/7?

EtherNet/IP Explorer is built for commissioning and debugging. For round-the-clock monitoring use Voltrus OEE (hosted, live availability and downtime per machine) or Voltrus SCADA (dashboards, alarms and history on your own hardware).

Voltrus OEE → Voltrus SCADA →

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