Industrial Ethernet especially gigabit ethernet differs from its office counterpart by being more robust to ensure reliable operation even in harsh industrial environments.
The Industrial Ethernet also has substantial advantages in comparison with other technologies industrial network:
- Speed: The fastest Fieldbus (PROFIBUS DP) operates at the maximum speed of 12 Mb / s; Industrial Ethernet is based on 100Mb / s and up to 10Gb / s. An asset for demanding applications in response time.
- Redundancy: On a field bus, all the devices of the same segment use the same media. An anomaly on a piece of equipment, a connector, or the cable can affect the communication of all stations. With Ethernet, the media is not shared; an anomaly will only affect the station concerned by the link. Technologies such as RSTP, HSP / PRP, or proprietaries such as the TURBO RING from MOXA or the X-RING from Advantech make it possible to ensure operation even after a connection is cut.
- CEM: Ethernet is more robust than a field bus in digital factory concerning electromagnetic disturbances and fully responds to these issues (Standard EN50155 and M12 connector for transport, R12 for electrical substations, etc.).
- The cohabitation of protocols: It is impossible to make PROFIBUS and MODBUS devices coexist on the same cable, even if both are operating on RS485. Thanks to Ethernet, it is possible on the same network to connect, for example, PROFINET and MODBUS-TCP stations, while using this same network to consult a web page and send an email.
- Access to IT technologies: Managed industrial Ethernet switches have a Web server. A simple browser is enough to configure or diagnose the device. The description file (GSD, EDS, etc.) is stored in the device, no need to worry about incompatible versions. Some devices can automatically send an email to signal a fault or a maintenance operation or supply the sensors with power via POE.
- Transparency: Ethernet technology makes it much easier to access the device, even remotely, than on a serial bus.
