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Home > Communications > Access Technology > LAN/WAN Technology
Industrial Ethernet - Market and Technology Directions
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| Published Date:
August 2006
Published By:
Practel, Inc.
Order Code:
R606-42
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Overview
Ethernet is a multi-purpose communication protocol that has become the data standard for home and office networking. In the late 1990s-2000, Industrial Ethernet products began to serve the communications requirements of industrial customers, replacing or supplementing legacy fieldbus protocols such as Modbus or Profibus. The target industry was involved in control and automation tasks in the utility, oil & gas, process control, factory automation and transportation markets. The proliferation of PLCs with Ethernet ports has helped to drive the widespread adoption of Industrial Ethernet in many markets.
Factory automation requires the most robust media and infrastructure available and involves specialty protocols layered over Ethernet TCP/IP (Ethernet/IP, ModBus TCP, PCCC). Plant floor applications may also have millisecond timing requirements making deterministic data transmission and processing essential. Ethernet is now recognized as the network of choice outside the office for its many strengths:
- Ease of Use
- Seamless information flow from using the same network throughout the enterprise.
- Maintainability
- Widely available expertise, including the present IT department.
- Economy
- Standardization brings economies of scale and potentially lower costs.
- Remote Access
- Simplified device-to-Internet connection makes data collection and diagnostics possible using a standard web browser.
This report is about technologies and markets for Industrial Ethernet, and particular about the Ethernet/IP protocol, which is fast becoming a dominant communications protocol in Industrial Automation in the U.S. Among multiple Ethernet variations adopted for the factory floor, we concentrated, for this reason, on this protocol: it is authors’ opinion that this protocol is establishing a leading position in the industrial market.
Unlike many options in the industrial Ethernet group, Ethernet/IP uses an open protocol at the application layer. While many other industrial Ethernet variants are effectively 'one-vendor' network, EIP enjoys support from a number of vendors and organizations. It is the only standard supported by four major networking organizations: ControlNet International (CI), the Industrial Ethernet Association (IEA), the Open DeviceNet Vendor Association (ODVA) and the Industrial Open Network Alliance (IAONA). As a result of its features and wide industry acceptance, EIP delivers the one feature that has eluded the automation community - interoperable Ethernet products from a community of vendors.
This report analyzes a wide area of the Industrial Automation network-related issues, including various Ethernet technologies and markets. It shows that the main feature of today networking at the factory floor is its “Ethernization”, with the “Ethernet Everywhere” concept extended from the office environment to industrial automation.
Several sections of the report are dedicated to the Industrial Ethernet media specifics. Particular, we emphasize importance of Plastic Optical Fiber and wireless Ethernet as medias gaining popularity, and gradually replacing wires. Comparison of these technologies and markets shows advantages of these advanced forms of media.
In the marketing part, the report studies the Industrial Ethernet market, its specifics and segmentation. It is authors’ opinion that in several years Industrial Automation will be “Ethernized” in a degree close to today’s Enterprise networks.
Target Audience
This report is important to a wide population of researches, technical and sales staff involved in the developing of the IE services and products. It is recommended for both industries IT and vendors that are working with related technologies. The report also helps to understand issues associated with relationship between IE and other technologies.
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