The network controller netX 50 with its 32 bit / 200 MHz ARM CPU offers a high computing performance and controller functions for all leading fieldbusses and Real-time Ethernet systems. It has an internal dual-port memory and can be connected without additional components to a host system as communication interface. Together with a protocol stack and a real-time kernel the complete function can be implemented easy and without development risk. The easiest and cheapest possibility to evaluate the complete system and to add own functions is given by the netSTICK. It contains a complete communication interface for Real-time Ethernet respectively the fieldbusses PROFIBUS, DeviceNet or CC-Link and 8 MByte memory. It is realised as a type of a memory stick and is connected and used at the USB port of a PC. It contains an integrated debug interface and is shipped together with the HiTOP development environment of company Hitex. The provided Insider's Guide document contains beside comprehensive explanations and background information step by step instructions how write an application program with the license free real-time kernel rcX or how to load a protocol stack into the netSTICK and execute it. For this, HiTOP offers with its integrated GNU compiler a comfortable development and debugging environment. You can develop code unrestricted and load this for testing by the provided HiTOP to the netSTICK only. The ‘netX Configuration and Diagnostic Utility’ is provided in source code and allows to use the netSTICK as easy IO device with 16 digital input and output for different networks protocols.