What’s new with Ethernet, Wireless, and Traditional Serial Device Networks

For those of you choosing among the various networking systems, the most interesting points in recent research from ARC Vice President Chantal Polsonetti, (cpolsonetti@arcweb.com) the principal author of ARC’s “Factory Automation Networks Worldwide Outlook” are the following:

--The cost of wiring apparently does not impede the installation of Ethernet-based device networks. Noted ARC, much of the growth in these networks results from successful competition against traditional serial device networks. “In some quarters, the growing movement toward a single network technology throughout the plant or enterprise increasingly overshadows the compelling wiring savings delivered by traditional serial device networks,” said Polsonetti.

--The desire to eliminate wiring, however, still drives the current shift from traditional serial device networks to industrial networks.

--For device-level factory automation networks, the total available market for potentially attached devices and I/O remains unsaturated.

--Wireless device networks are still viewed as “the ultimate fieldbus” from the perspective of wiring savings, mobility, portability, and remote access compared to traditional serial device networks.

--Despite the fact that Ethernet does not offer large savings in wiring, its popularity continues to rise. Its ability to easily integrate with higher-level enterprise systems is viewed as a greater requirement than wiring savings.

--It is still important to track developments in the physical media of networks (Ethernet, wireless, and so on), but the main competitive advantage appears to be shifting to what is in the upper layers of the chosen OSI network stack. Noted the ARC report, the ability to port a media-independent protocol across a variety of network types delivers numerous advantages in key areas such as software tools, command sets, human-machine interface, ease of integration, upgradeability, support base, and others.

--The use of a common protocol makes it easy to add application-specific profiles; this is particularly true in areas such as motion control and functional safety, with many of the existing network promoters adding profiles that allow them to deliver such functions and meet emerging industry standards.

--The purchase of various networking products will likely increase in 2010, rising from the relatively low levels of purchasing seen in 2009.

The ARC report may help you with your device level network decision-making. For more information on this study, go to www.arcweb.com/res/fa-network.