Industrial Ethernet

Ethernet is the basic internet technology for worldwide networking. The many possibilities of intranet and internet, which have been available for office applications for a long time, are now utilized for production automation with Industrial Ethernet.

Apart from the use of information technology, the deployment of distributed automation systems is also on the increase. This entails breaking up complex control tasks into smaller, manageable and drive-based control systems. This increases the demand for communication and consequently a comprehensive and powerful communication system.

Industrial Ethernet provides a powerful area and cell network for the industrial field, compliant with the IEEE 802.3 (ETHERNET) standard.

Ethernet enables a very fast data transfer (10/100 Mbit/s, 1/10 Gbit/s) and at the same time has full-duplex capability. It therefore provides an ideal basis for communication tasks in the industrial field. With a share of over 90 %, Ethernet is the number one network worldwide and offers important features which have essential advantages:

• Fast commissioning thanks to the simplest connection method
• High availability since existing networks can be extended without any adverse effects
• Almost unlimited communication performance because scalable performance is available through switching technology and high data rates when required
• Networking of different application areas such as office and production areas
• Company-wide communication based on WAN (Wide Area Network) technology or the internet
• Investment protection due to continuous compatibility with further developments
• Wireless communication using Industrial Wireless LAN

In order to make Ethernet suitable for industrial applications, considerable expansions with respect to functionality and design are required:

• Network components for use in harsh industrial environments
• Fast assembly of the RJ45 connectors
• Fail-safety through redundancy
• Expanded diagnostics and message concept
• Use of future-oriented network components (e.g. switches)

SIMATIC NET offers corresponding network components and products.