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Industrial Ethernet - Market and Technology Directions

Practel, Inc.
August 1, 2006
SKU: PT1331277

Abstract Table of Contents Related Reports

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.

1.0 Introduction: 1.1 General; 1.2 Needs; 1.3 Ethernet/IP Introduced; 1.4 Ethernet Proliferation; 1.5 Goals; 1.6 Research Methodology; 1.7 Target Audience
2.0 Ethernet/IP: 2.1 Definition; 2.2 Benefits; 2.3 Acceptance; 2.4 Common Industrial Protocol; 2.5 Ethernet/IP Details Summary; 2.6 Different Approaches
3.0 IE Elements and Transmission Media: Major Trends: 3.1 Differences: Office and Industrial Ethernet; 3.2 Control Device Connections; 3.3 Gateways; 3.4 Details: Media; 3.5 Friendly Forces
4.0 Market: 4.1 General: Estimate; 4.2 Market Drivers; 4.3 Segments; 4.4 Price Considerations; 4.5 Wireless vs. Wireline
5.0 IE Groups and Standards: 5.1 General; 5.2 DeviceNet; 5.3 EPA and EPA (R); 5.4 EPL; 5.5 EtherCAT; 5.6 Ethernet/IP; 5.7 HSE; 5.8 IEC61850; 5.9 JetSync; 5.10 Modbus/TCP with Real-Time Extension RTPS; 5.11 Profinet; 5.12 Sercos III; 5.13 SynqNet; 5.14 TCnet; 5.15 Safety Communications; 5.15.1 ODVA (Open DeviceNet Vendor Association); 5.16 IAONA; 5.17 Summary
6.0 Industry Players: Aaxeon (Ethernet Switches and Connectivity Devices); Altera (Ethernet modules for IA); Avago Technologies (Fast Ethernet, Ethernet products); Beckhoff (EtherCat and other products); Cisco (Ethernet Switches); Contemporary Controls (Industrial Ethernet); Garrettcom (Ethernet Products); Hirchmann (Ethernet Switches); HMS (Anybus); Industrial Control Communications (Communications Devices); JDL Solutions (Wireless-ZigBee); Korenix (Industrial Ethernet Switches); Moxa (Wireline and Wireless Ethernet); N-Tron (Ethernet Switches); Omron (IA); Rockwell Automation (Communications Ethernet Products); Phoenix Contact (Ethernet media Converters); Phoenix Digital (Fiber Connectivity); Real Time Automation (EIP connectivity); Siemens Automation (Wireless and Wireline Ethernet); SixNet (Ethernet Switches); Westermo (Ethernet Wireless and Wireline); Woodhead (IE products)
7.0 Conclusions
List of Figures: Figure 1: Ethernet Channel: Simplified Structure; Figure 2: Ethernet Signal Frame: Basic Structure; Figure 3: Gigabit Ethernet Frame Extensions; Figure 4: CIP Protocol Stack; Figure 5: Wireless Choices; Figure 6: Example of a wireless Ethernet/IP network using explicit messaging. The network supports PLC programming, data collection and SCADA functions; Figure 7: Example of a wireless Ethernet/IP network using implicit messaging for non-critical data acquisition and control; Figure 8: IE Transmission Medias; Figure 9: Industrial Ethernet Devices Shipments in Millions; Figure 10: Industrial Ethernet Market Estimate ($M); Figure 11: Wireline Industrial Ethernet Market Segmentation; Figure 12: Wireless Industrial Ethernet Market Segmentation
List of Tables: Table 1: Requirements to IE; Table 2; IE and "Office" Ethernet; Table 3: Cable Choices; Table 4: Main Industrial Ethernet Protocols

Industrial Ethernet - Market and Technology Directions

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